3.1
Quality3.8
Difficulty55%
Would Retake321
Reviews55%
Would Retake
321
Reviews
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321 total ratings5
74
4
67
3
74
2
71
1
35
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“Ridiculous test questions”
PSYCH509 - 2.0 rating“Do not take this class”
PSY202 - 1.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
35%
Textbook Required
100%
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939589403
5.0
(1)PSYCHOLOGY509
5.0
(1)PSYCH411
5.0
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5.0
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3.7
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5.0
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Reviews (299)
hard class
He tries, but the speech impediment is distracting, he repeats himself a lot, and he just never seems to be able to get through all the notes before a test (which are hard but not impossible if you study the book).
Despite what everyone says, i happen to really like professor Dykman. I find the lectures very interesting for the most part, and i love the videos--they really help and it's a nice break from time to time throughout the hour+ lecture. The tests are hard but if you really study the book you will d
Great professor. It pisses me off that everyone is ****ing that he tests on stuff not lectured on, but he tells you that he tests 55% book and 45% lecture. Very interesting, this was the best class I have taken at Madison. Seems to have a love for his job that you dont see in most professors.
It seems like he is just getting material from books.. he rarely answers questions (and usually fails to notice there are questions). The information is interesting...but it could be taught in a different way to make it more interesting. If you go through the chapters carefully, the tests aren't bad
I personally though he was passionate about what he was teaching. His lectures are interesting, and his numerous movies are what got me through the lectures. Exams are difficult and there is a lot of material to study. Definetly not an easy class.
Arrogant. appears to be a nice guy and very helpful, but when emailed to switch an exam for a good reason, made a big deal about it. Lectures are interesting with lots are visual aids, but exams are very difficult.
His lectures are interesting with videos, which is always good in a power lecture. He's not a great speaker and has a temper (showed when he didn't make enough copies for our final and I sat for 20 min). Like any psych class, the curve is ridiculous and the tests are just too hard sometimes
Dykman is an interesting lecturer. He repeats himself a lot, but the movies are nice. The tests are terribly hard, sometimes they have questions on topics that he doesn't cover in class and are not in the book. No thanks to the curve either.
I thought Dykman was a great professor, and thought he did a good job. The videos were awesome because they help you get through class, and he tells you what you need to know for the test. If you read everything, it's pretty easy.
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His tests were really hard and included material that couldn't be found in the book and were not in lecture. I went and asked him for help several times and he was EXTREMELY rude and wouldn't help me. The material itself was very interesting, but he's boring to listen to lecture.
exams had ridiculously picky questions on them
Tests are very hard!
His tests are unbeleivable, I can study tons and still get a C. The curve is horrible. His lectures can be interesting because he shows videos, but he thinks he is the king of the world and acts like it all the time. Not reccomended.
He is very passionate about his subject, and he finds everything he teaches amusing (which amused me). No complaints with his teaching, but the test are HARD. Still, he runs an good lecture with videos and interesting topics
Hard exams (50 questions, mult. choice, 2 pts. each). As far as lecture goes, he's a nice enough guy, although he seems to have A LOT of voice cracks. His power lecture was painful to sit through, but he broke some of the monotony with vido clips (not on the exam). Fair enough prof for 202.
Tests are ridiculous. Picky questions and bell curve screws you over every time. Dykman seems very passive aggressive and quite rude when questions are asked. Don't recommend him.
I hated him. That is all there is to say. He always screwed up in lecture, making the not-so-confusing material confusing, and was always rude when questions were asked. He acted like he was a psychology demi-god, but in actuality he was probably (definitely) the WORST professor EVER!
Always screws up in lecture, what he says often contradicts the book. Tests are difficult.
The class is interesting and he shows a lot of video clips that are helpful. He tends to move slowly in lecture because he reiterates everything more than is necessary. His exams are pretty tough because he asks very specific questions that require a good understanding of the assigned readings.
Very knowledgeable of the subject, but that's to be expected because... well, he's a professor. He isn't particularly open, and he doesn't go through pains to make himself available, but tests are posted quickly... and they're goddamn hard.
I had him for abnormal psychology. He shows a lot of videos that are very interesting,which is cool since not a lot of my professors do that. His personality can turn a lot of people off and his tests are very difficult. He could be worse.
He'll brush you off as soon as look at you. Some professors go the extra mile to ensure their students are engaged and understand their material. Some treat their classes like they're working on a sales pitch for a product they know is going to kill you. He falls into the latter.
"Alllllright..." is how he begins every class. Reminds me of a puppet with strings the way he walks around. Very hard tests but that's just the dept. A medium level prof.
One of those professors that his little quirks make difficult it to follow or pay attention to what he is saying. His voice drove me crazy...
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really repetitive, contradicts the book all the time, never really answers a question.
easy class but if i hear ITS IN THE BOOK at a post test viewing session one more time!(he never answers or explains answers himself and proceeds to ignore you).... answering test questions AT a test review session is not allowed apparently. test questions too nitpicky. stereotypically ****!
I definitely don't recommend him for intro psych, but hes a lot better at abnormal because thats more of his specialty. his tests are nitpicky, memorize the very random obscure facts in the book. take the class with friends and go to lectures cause he's fun to laugh at.
Tough class. No matter how much I studied, I couldn't seem to break C's. He focuses his exams on stupid crap that seems irrelevant in your studies, and his lectures go in circles (very repetitive). Don't recommend it.
Horrible lectures!! Very repetitive, and slow-going, therefore he is consistently behind at least a week's worth of lectures. But you still need to know the material he didn't get to because it's "in the book". Ridiculous. Why would I pay tuition to teach myself most of material out of a book?
Awful. Lectures were painful to sit through. Exams were detail-oriented and very difficult. The curve hurts. If you must take 202, find another professor.
He repeats himself too much during lecture. His tests are horrible because they're so nitpicky and a lot of stuff on the test is minor details over 3 chapters of reading. He is also very unhelpful. He sent us a practice quiz for the test, but without the answer key. I asked him if he could send it because it's counterproductive, and he said no.
wow! this guy is rediculous. lectures are extremely boring and don't pertain to the reading. He has a wierd lisp, and says ooookay a lot. Basically, if you're going to take psych 202, take it from someone else.
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This psych 202 class is hard. He provides no real help for the exam, but his lectures do include some useful information over the book and that material will be on the exam.
don't take Dykman. lisps and difficult exams but decent on having interesting lectures.
The class is a good one if you really want to learn about mental diseases. Exams are very difficult and questions are very specific sometimes. Extra Credit mini exam is availible. But if you put the time into this class you will be rewarded.
The exams are mostly from the book. In lectures, he barely touches on what is in the book.
class is kind of boring.. he's very redundant. read other posts for his personality.. =|. But it was still interesting material, if you don't mind reading/teaching yourself out of the book. If you can focus on readings and just memorize facts for tests, you've got it down.
HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE.....DON'T TAKE.... Advice was to read each chapter 5 TIMES!!!!! Incredible boring class and extremely hard tests that focus in one the tiniest little detail. Again, horrible.
He is SUCH a quirky guy but that makes lecture more interesting, sometimes I just showed up to see him strut his stuff in front of class and listen to him stutter. His tests are difficult if you havent read the book, so read & skim the chapters and skim the lecture outlines and you'll do fine.
This professor was ridiculous. His lectures were never competely concise, and he was completely unapproachable outside of class. He has possibly the worst social skills of any professor I have ever had.
Seems friendly in class, but if approached is very unfriendly. Overtly organized (if you go to an exam review). Difficult tests, but if you study, you can do well, although ridiculous questions sometimes, some vague, some too detailed.
I agree, he is a bit ridiculous. I'm glad I had a friend in my class to laugh at him. I had to teach myself almost all the material. A few times he made offensive remarks about people with mental illnesses... but was polite when I confronted him about it.
I dropped his psych 509 class before it even started after a brief email interaction. He is the rudest person i've had the disservice of speaking with in a long time even through text. I was blown away. I was concerned enough to search him on this website and his scrolls of bad reviews sealed the deal--class dropped.
This man is ridiculous. He is so full of himself and makes such inappropriate comments that you just have to laugh at the guy. Besides a few very specific questions from the book, the exams are not too bad. There is also an extra credit quiz to boost your grade. Overall, I enjoyed the class and would recommend it.
I am now in graduate school, but took this guy for abnormal a couple of years ago. He is hands down, the WORST prof I have ever had. He picks specific unrelated details from the text to include on tests, and is not at all helpful outside of class during office hours. He gave me tons of attitude when I asked for his assistance on studying specifics.
An odd-ball for sure & it sometimes takes him forever to get out sentences. Has 4 exams, all are multiple choice. Go to every lecture and read all the chapters. 65% of the questions come from the book. You will do much better in this class if you are a psych major!
awful, rude, unfriendly, & cocky tests are nit picky & don't test general knowledge. Repeats himself over and over again because he's got a lisp/speech impediment... pretty much annoying. often makes you stay late to finish stupid clips which are the only semi-good of class then gets mad if you leave early or before they are done.
As long as you do the readings and review his notes tests are easy, everything you need to know is clear, no tricks. He sends you the lecture outlines ahead of time so notetaking becomes really easy. He is a bit quirky but that makes him entertaining and he cracks out a good joke every lecture. overall, i enjoyed the class
He really isn't that bad. If you do the readings and pay attention, it's easy to do well. I also think he's funny.
way too specific on tests, he picks the tiniest details to test on. know the book inside out. not helpful at all outside of class.
Absolutely terrible. He focuses on book content and only repeats things in lecture. In fact the only reason to go to lecture is to see the videos which you're not tested on anyway. In order to do well you have to memorize the book, not concepts but the nit picky facts and stats. He wants you to know percentages without overall connections.
yes hes a stickler for details, and yes its imperative that you take notes on every single thing that he says in class and highlight every even remotely relevant fact from the textbook. but if you know every mundane, trivial fact, the tests are straightforward. he is a little cocky, but he's also funny and pleasantly eccentric.
Was not helpful in explaining. Horrible at answering questions. Didn't like him at all
For Psych 202 he was pretty good. Interesting enough lectures. You have to understand though that more than half the material on the exams is from the book. But if you use the online tests they help a lot.
Horrible, horrible class. The material is interesting but if you don't enjoy memorizing every single statistic in the book, then its not for you. Don't take it if you don't have to.
The class is a weed out class. Luckily the exams aren't cumulative. He's a nice guy though. For exams you need to know 100+ pages of info plus notes so do go to class, he emphasizes some stuff not in the book. He uses videos which are kind of cool sometimes and he offers extra credit. This class takes a lot of work it isn't easy even with AP psych
worst professor EVER. do NOT take him.
his tests are ridiculously hard. you might think that you understand all the material but then once getting to a test you may only know half the questions. if you insist on taking his class memorize EVERYTHING. all of the tables, take notes on every word he says in class bc test questions are not about general content theyre about pointless details
I have a 3.9 GPA. I study hard for all my classes, but I agree: his tests are not about concepts and a little too picky for my taste. Would be nice to test for actually learning the concepts, even a a fine grain, without being somewhat pointless. He is a great lecturer and have no issues except the tests themselves.
SWEATS A LOT. TESTS ARE RIDICULOUSLY DIFFICULT. DIDN'T REALLY CARE FOR HIS COCKINESS OR UNWILLINGNESS TO HELP STUDENTS. PROBABLY THE WORST PROFESSOR I'VE EVER HAD, I'VE WARNED PEOPLE NOT TO TAKE THIS CLASS.
Ben Dykman... man, what can I say. His class is a flippin' riot. He's funny in his own way, and his video clips... I love it. The tests are hard though, and not always what you'd expect to be quizzed on. That's his downfall. And I've never been to his office hours, so I don't know how helpful he is there.
TERRIBLE. stay away from this class if you want to stay interested in psych. absolutely ridiculous tests!!
Ridiculous man. I went into this class already with an interest in psychology, but now, I'd never switch majors or take another pysch class again. He doesn't know how to lecture and never actually answers questions both in and out of class. I've never been disrepected by someone when I ask a question, but he definately changed that.
quite possibly the worst professor EVER. before taking this class i was considering majoring in psych and prof. dykman has completely ruined that for me. he's a horrible teacher, you basically have to memorize the textbook to even get C's on the exam, although thats impossible. understanding the material doesnt help at all, only memorizing
Don't know why everyone is hating on Prof Dykman. Not the most interesting professor, and definitely not the funniest, but I thought he was fine. I also didn't feel like his exams were unusually difficult. Read the book, go to lecture, and you will be fine!
honestly, i don't know why people are hatin on dykman either. all you have to do is go to lecture and read the book, and he is interested in the material and conveys it well. tests are definitely hard but if you study it shouldn't be that bad
No way...no matter how much you study he'll throw on a ridiculous question on the test. TERRIBLE PROFESSOR DO NOT TAKE HIM!!
He gives you lecture outlines so you don't have to write as on current reasearch. He asks extremely picky questions and gets flustered by questions in class. His tests are very hard and on a standard bell curve. He tends to make everything awkarad especially during the sex chapter. You'll have fun laughing at his awkard jokes and terrible wardrobe.
This class wasn't easy but not crazy difficult. U definitely need to read the book well, but the info is usually really interesting. needa know details for exams, not just general concepts. if u know material well, tests aren't too bad. gives lecture outlines for class so taking notes is easy. & he's funny, in his own weird way.
If you read, go to lecture, and thoroughly go through his lecture notes, the tests aren't really that bad. his speech impediment is somewhat distracting, but you get over it. has lots of video clips so lecture is actually really interesting. sense of humor was really awkward and uncomfortable. Not much extra credit, but some.
psych 509 is my favorite class that i've ever taken at madison. dykman makes it so interesting you won't want to skip class, and he includes tons of cool videos every time. he's a goofy guy but his nerdiness makes class all the more interesting & fun. if you work hard, read the text and study a lot, you'll do well. i definitely recommend 509!!
worst prof I have had at madison, I advise to stay away. His lectures are boring and he is horrible at answering questions. His tests test you on if you read the book ten times rather than if you understand the topics. If you take 509 read and reread and reread then probably reread again just to make sure you memorized every bit of trivial info
This is that psych. class that everybody wants to take - you learn about really intriguing disorders. Lecture is interesting, but reading and memorizing even the extra boxes in the book was not the most fun. You need to try in this class,but it's interesting material so it's not a chore. Dykman's strange but it's fun to laugh at him! I say take it!
A fascinating subject that is well taught by an organized and often humorous professor. Dykman's downfall, however, is that his exams are trivial. Do not take this class unless you want to memorize your lecture notes and the text. I exaggerate not. Also don't expect outside help, Dykman is condescending and doesn't care about his undergrad students
He really is a pretty descent professor. Well organized and detailed. His exams are not trivial, with the exception of maybe 1 or 2 questions per test. The rest of the questions tested understanding of key differences between disorders or the type of prospective. The material is interesting so studying the material is not hard work by any means.
Single worst professor at the University. His speech impediment renders him nearly incomprehensible. He is arrogant (refuses to accept that his explanations or logic sometimes falls flat or requires additional clarification), mean-spirited, and unapproachable. His exams were mostly questions about useless trivia--not relevant to the material!
He doesn't teach the concepts, he is purely looking for memorization. I went to the TA for help after the first exam and his EXACT words were "I don't really know what to tell you except to read the textbook twice and commit all of your notes to memory." I LOVED psych before Dykman and now he has literally made me want to change my major.
This professor would totally kill your love for Psychology. If you like reading your book 20 times and then get a C in your exams, take this class. But other than that don't expect to get any help from this professor, he doesn't care about you and won't accept what you say.
Hands down the worst professor of my collegiate career. I attend every lecture, listen attentively, and read every chapter of the book (while making outlines of the chapters). Still can't do well on his exams. He asks the most obscure and specific questions on his exams. He's not helpful in or out of class. Save your GPA, avoid him at all costs!
Very hard class. I suggest not taking it unless you are a psych major. The material is very interesting though. Reading the book is a MUST!! Plan to work very hard if you want a good grade.
I took this class despite reading all the warnings on this website because I'm a good student and I thought I could handle it. WRONG! I go to every lecture, read every page of the book and am probably going to get a C in the class. His exams are bogus. Even if you like the subject, take this class with caution--it will kill your GPA.
On each exam about 10% of the class gets an A. I initially wasn't in that group, but I wasn't going to be a post-exam cry baby. Instead I found out how the A students studied, and started doing what they did. Yes, that meant studying harder--it worked! Dykman is a great guy and great teacher. Clear, organized, interesting, nice to talk to.
So far I'm not happy with my grade. But I need to take personal responsibility. I want to give credit where credit is due. Dykman is a really nice person, caring, and a great teacher. He's smart, clear, comes in prepared, and is enthusiastic. He loves psych. Every lecture is interesting. I enjoyed discussing ideas with him. He's a complete man.
very specific
As has already been said, very difficult class. I am hoping to get a "C". The problem is that exams cover a VAST amount of info (3 chapters), but are only 60q's. You are left to memorize so much broad info that it's difficult to recall the specific details he tests.
This class is by far the most difficult class I've taken on campus,Dykman is a very good prof. You may need to do the readings two or three times but so what, they're fun to read. This class taught me how to study and it's so interesting! We covered everything from stress and anxiety disorders to schizophrenia and sexual disorders. Loved it!
This class requires a lot of study time to get an A. I recommend reading the text extensively! Remember small details from lectures too and understand overall concepts as well. Although lecture can be dull on occasion, when Dykman get confused about his own words and makes sexual innuendos without realizing it, its some good entertainment.
Abnormal psych should be a course that's fun to study for, but Dykman makes it exhausting. The information is so interesting, but instead of testing on concepts and understanding, he likes to make sure you payed attention to the italicized words in the text. Lectures are still interesting, and I'd recommend taking it if you're a psych major.
Hard to understand and frustrating at first but once you understand him you realize hes really into his psych and makes it pretty interesting. overall good guy
After reading the reviews for Dykman, I almost dropped the course I'm glad I didn't. The class is tough, but if you go to lecture, read the chapters (twice), and review Dykman's outline you can get at least a B i the course. Don't be lazy and you can do fine. Dykman really cares about the subject and if you pay attention, you'll see his humor!
This is a class where you have to know everything -- literally, everything. If you can memorize a lot of information and understand it conceptually, you'll be fine. The topics are fascinating and professor does a good job presenting it, plus there are videos to break the monotony of a power lecture.
This is definitely not a class you can slack off in. But as long as you do all the reading and attend lecture, you will be fine. I kept up with the reading and went to class and I usually only had to start studying the day before and I did well. As a professor he is very interested in psych and I really liked the video clips to break up the lecture
Dykman teaches quite well. He explains things clearly, so you really understand it. Exams are hard, but if you study, they're manageable. Questions already answered in the syllabus aren't his favorite. He's very helpful for other types of questions. I really enjoyed this course. He's a good guy, and sometimes funny. Worth taking a course with him.
Dykman's teaches clearly. You really understand what he's saying. He comes into every lecture organized and prepared. His enthusiasm shows he really likes psychology. Exams are challenging, but okay if you really study. Though his exams aren't easy, the cutoff for a passing grade is lower (and fair). So it all evens out. Recommended.
509 is an interesting topic, but be ready to literally memorize the majority of the textbook, and most things he says in class. he will find small details from his lectures and in the book to create multiple choice questions with very specific answers (varying by a few percent, for instance). this is NOT an easy class
After taking exam 1, I was going to fault Prof Dykman for asking picky questions. But I realized I can't fault Dykman any more than I can fault students who got those questions right and got an A, AB, or B on the exam. That was about 35% of the class. The problem is not Dykman nor his questions. Effective Professor!
I'm finding out I really need to study, come to class, and take good notes. In prior classes it was grade inflation and work deflation. But no more. This is a real college course! If you're ready to apply yourself, then take this class. Super interesting. Dykman's visuals make the concepts more meaningful, and help your remember the material.
Worst professor I have ever had. Not only are his tests unfair examinations of what you learned but he is mean/rude when you ask him a question. The tests did not test if you knew the info, only if you can remember useless stats or numbers. No way to tell what he will test you on. I can't say enough bad things about this professor and his class.
Exams are pretty ridiculous...re-read all the chapters 15 times and you might do well - if you've memorized all the boxes alongside the text. The class in incredibly interesting and he is a good lecturer, but he won't do anything to help out his students. I was incredibly frustrated with a class I was really looking forward to taking.
NOT recommended! Lectures are organized, but anyone could review the material and do his job without getting caught up on words. His exams are bogus & when he's actually accepting questions, he 'responds' condescendingly and irritated. Unless you want to read the book 4x and go to every class only to be subpar,save your enthusiasm for another prof.
I can tell that it's midterm cry-baby time again. No one who complains about Dykman's teaching or tests can explain why many students get an A or AB, and they don't. Your time is better spent studying rather than scapegoating. Freud's defense of displacement seems to operating here. Great instructor, great teaching, and really nice man. Hot too!
The chapters covered are not short so its difficult to study when the exams cover every tiny detail written in them. The exams dont test overall knowledge, but rather are a collection of random facts from the book. It doesnt help that these exams are the entire makeup of your final grade. He is also extremely rude when asked a simple question.
We live in an age of progressively lower standards. I appreciate Dykman's high standards. One day, when I choose a doctor, I want one who did well on Dykman's tests. That'll be someone who knows both the main points and the details. Dykman's a great guy, great professor.
Dykman is a great professor and passionate about his lectures. Yes, he makes difficult exams but if you go into the class knowing he is detailed oriented and prepare yourself you'll do well. The only thing I didn't like was the curve, because many people get high points and this means its hard to get an A, but a B is very possible. Take the ec quiz
Dykman means well and provides good video clips. But DAMN are the tests hard! I mean you need to memorize the chapters from the book entirely in order to do well. I imagine him scanning through the book, seeing a fact, and adding it as a test question, rather than considering the general knowledge and concepts that he wishes his students to gain
Prof. Dykman means well, and you can tell he's passionate about his class, but sometimes he gets so excited about something he's saying that he'll talk about it for ten minutes and derail the lecture. As a result, sometimes class ran late or sections of the PowerPoints were left out due to time constraints. The material is interesting though.
Dykman has really high standards for his students, but the thing is that the material is not difficult. If you really put the effort into going to class and doing the readings, you will do well.
Lecture was interesting and the material is actually pretty fun to read about, but the tests were unnecessarily tough, testing students on detailed information. this promotes memorization not understanding of the material. Oh and a final on the last day of the semester...that really sucked!!
i loved this class. And mr. dykman is kinda strange at times, but i loved him as a professor. you can really tell he knows what he's talking about and he's like a cute old man with how hard he tries and how into it he gets. The tests are kind of hard but attend lectures or get notes on them from someone and READ the book and you'll do fine.
I'm not a straight A student, but I average am AB, and let me just say I studied for a full week before these exams and I ended up w/ a C in the class. Interesting or not, classes like this are just not worth it to me, it feels so much better when your time and effort actually pay off in a decent grade. Read book 2x and went to every lecture.
His lectures sometimes run long or get off topic, so MAKE SURE you read all of the textbook because exams are 60% book material and 40% lecture material. The exams are very similar to the study guide that accompanies the book. If you do the study guides and also all your EC, it should be easy to get a good grade. Time consuming though...
Took 2 different courses with this man hoping I'd be prepared the 2nd time. Straight A student - Cs on all of his exams. He also could not answer questions from anyone without being rude. His exams nitpick in an illogical way. No learning - only memorization. Truly a disappointment as I feel the subject material is fascinating. :-(
OK instructor
Professor Dykman turns an extremely interesting topic into the most boring thing you'll ever listen to. His exams are near impossible (even if you know every line in the book and do the activities in the student workbook). He is super socially awkward so don't plan on getting anything from his office hours or from asking him questions after class.
I have never been so offended in my entire life. This man is extremely insensitive to every issue pertaining to mental illnesses. He claims that people with mental illnesses are "crazy" and legitimately laughs at the serious videos. The actual book material is absolutely amazing but he is a horrible heartless professor. Take 511 instead!!!
he is so bad!!! exams are ridiculously hard!!! do not choose him if possible!!! if you get c in the first exam, then drop the class!!!!!!! bad bad bad bad bad!!!!!
Has a terrible lisp which slows his speech to a very slow pace. Never gets through all of the material and seems to take the most random facts and throw them on tests. Hardest class I have ever taken. Highly encourage anybody to find a different professor.
he has a lisp and does put random ad unimportant stuff and the tests and it is time consuming BUT if you do what he says you need to do to get an A in the syllabus at the beggining of the semester you will. i am an average student and got an A on each of his exams because i sucked it up and did what he said. simple as that!
he has a lisp and does put random ad unimportant stuff and the tests and it is time consuming BUT if you do what he says you need to do to get an A in the syllabus at the beggining of the semester you will. i am an average student and got an A on each of his exams because i sucked it up and did what he said. simple as that.
I am a huge fan of psychology and get really good grades in other classes, but I epic failed in abnormal psych. I read the textbook three times and still couldn't manage the exams. He makes the class incredibly hard when not necessary. He is not helpful and condescending. Avoid taking his classes if at all possible!!!!!!!
Dykman is awesome. Clear, organized, passionate, helpful. Really smart too. An all-round great guy. I really enjoyed talking with him after class. You'll do fine if you study. He uses the same curve all the other Intro Psych professors use. The only person to blame if you don't get the grade you want is yourself. A pleasure and highly recommended.
This professor manages to take something that's interesting and make it even more interesting. A smart, scientific thinker, really understands theories. Always helpful and pleasant, but I don't ask him questions that are already answered on the syllabus. Exams are fair and not a problem if you study.This is a great course with a great professor.
Cracks lame sex jokes. Judges students by their grades. Exams very tough.
I'm not going to be another post-exam cry baby. I didn't get the grade I wanted, but I still have to admit that Dykman is a great teacher. Nice guy, smart, hot too! His jokes are always appropriate, but not all great. You can't answer his test questions using only your common sense. You gotta study (like you were in college).
I'm used to exam questions where I can eliminate a couple choices without reading the book. But I can't do that in this class. This guy puts time and effort into both his lectures and his exams. This is a true college level professor. Great class, great instructor.
The only people I know who criticize this class or prof are the students who are getting bad grades (or who can't spell). These criticisms are a good example of Freud's defense mechanism of displacement. This is a an all round great course taught by a wonderful prof. Take it, you'll enjoy it.
I wish this course was 2 semesters not just one. The professor makes it really interesting, illustrating every concept he teaches with photos, graphs, or video clips. He's easy to talk to and helpful. Test questions are clear if you study, less clear if you don't study. I'm looking forward to taking another class with this prof.
Hardest class I've taken thus far. It didn't matter how much I studied, I never got better than a C on the exams because 1/4th of the questions were extremely picky. AVOID TAKING HIM IF YOU CAN there are much better professors and none of them lisp.
This class is very interesting. True, the exams aren't pieces of cake, but with adequate studying, your efforts will pay off. Dykman is a real nice guy...his corny jokes, quirkiness, and understanding of the topic make the class worth taking. As others have posted, the main reason why people complain of bad grades is lack of proper preparation.
He made an interesting class almost unbearable. Lectures are dry unless there is a movie on and the exams are super hard: he will pick any random fact out of the book and slap it on the test.
Teacher is very clear cut on exams. Grade consists of 4 75q exams. Very picky questions. I came into UW-Madison with a 3.7GPA and got a C in his class. You pretty much have to memorize the book and his lecture,but even then the test could be incomprehensible.
As in all Intro Psych classes here,10% of the class gets an A. Instead of blaming the prof, it seems better to ask yourself why you're not in that 10% group. It's not the prof. or the picky questions. That didn't stop the A students.
This class is too easy. I looked at the cutoffs across the 4 exams. On average, you only needed to get about 50% of the questions right to pass the exam for a D grade. And you get 25% correct by chance. That's too easy. The curve in this class should be tougher, not easier!
Love this class... love this professor...real funny guy with very interesting lectures one of my favorite classes I have taken!!! :) ~must outline textbooks and memorize notes to do good on tests and if you do that the tests are easy
Prof is unclear, boring, and tests consist of random questions from book not covered in class making them very hard. do not recommend.
The class was too difficult for an intro class. The questions on the exams were extremely difficult to study for. You need to read the textbook cover to cover and memorize everything. I would not recomend taking him.
Thought his lecture was easy to manage and he makes it clear to do your readings from the book! As long as you know that book and your lecture materials well, you should be fine in this class
Teaches well, but his tests are impossible. I loved the material, but unless you have a photographic memory, stay away from him
You need to memorize the book and his lectures in order to do well on the tests. Do not have a heavy course load while taking his class. I personally just didn't have enough time to put into the class. He's very interesting though and the material is something worth learning.
This class is super interesting if you are into learning about mental illnesses.. & Dykman is very knowledgeable. BUT the tests are EXTREMELY hard and these are the only forms of assessment (besides 1 small extra credit opportunity). **DO NOT expect an A in this class.. a B is very hard, but possible
Knowledgeable Guy. Has a strange lisp. Endlessly fascinating class. Impossible exams. I am a good student, and was in the top 10% at Madison... until I took this class. Beware & Good Luck.
Horrible class went to every lecture and read everything and got a D. Material is super interesting but unless you memorize every statistic and word in book don't expect to get an A. Also not helpful, went to ask for help in office hrs and told me (in his words): "It's not my problem if you are struggling with the material." Pompous personality.
DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS! Unless you love memorizing every word in the book, and remembering every single word that comes out of his mouth during lecture, you will hate this class. Don't get me wrong, it's a very interesting class, but if your interested in your GPA you will stay away from it. I have 4 A's and a C this semester because of it
This class is really interesting but his tests are ridiculous. if you enjoy studying every insignificant statistics in the textbook as well as a good amount of conceptual information, you'll enjoy this class since his exams consists of such. his tests are ridiculously hard!!!!
He's a difficult professor, yes. But he is not impossible. I managed an A this semester in this class because I read the book. Just read the book thoroughly and think critically and you will be fine. It's such an interesting class! He's kind of a drone for a professor and is quite boring sometimes, but the material is so interesting!
He is not a good professor at all! He makes handouts for class which, at first, seems great. Then you take the exam and realize that nothing from his notes or the chapters you read in the book are relevant to the test. Good luck.
Dykman is superb in all respects. Interesting, enthusiastic, friendly, helpful, and the smartest professor I've ever had. He knows how to dig below the surface and deal with the meaningful issues. He realizes the importance of deep, rather than superficial, understanding. I wish he also taught smaller classes so I could learn more from him. Great!
Easily the worst professor I've had on campus. The complaints about exams are actually valid in this case; he will literally write a question on material from one of those small boxes on the side of a textbook page that everyone skims over. If you need this for School of Business, take it with someone else.
Read the book!! I got an F on the first test but ended up getting a B in the class once I figured out how to take his multiple choice tests. Great teacher though, I learned a lot. Offers an amazing 20 points of extra credit near the end!
Intro Psych taught by Dykman is fantastic. Very interesting material and everything is illustrated with photos, graphs or video clips. Class time seems to go really fast. Dykman is a really nice person to talk to. Very knowledgable, very helpful. I'm looking forward to taking Abn Psych with him.
He is a good professor. Go to lecture and write down everything he says, including stats you think are insignificant, he will bring these up in lecture. I never went to office hours, just studied hard and went to class. Also study hard on the extra credit quiz, I got a BC on the first exam and got an A in the class because of the extra credit!
As the semester comes to a close I know I'll miss this class and Professor Dykman. Every class has been filled with enlightening information taught by someone who is clear, interesting, enthusiastic, helpful and friendly. It was the class I enjoyed most this semester. I intend to take more classes taught by Professor Dykman.
Very detailed oriented and tricky
I thought he was a pretty good professor! Yes, his tests are tricky, but as long as you read the book and study it should be fine. I thought his lectures were interesting for the most part. The only complaint I have is that he often over explains things and then some material that were on exams didn't get covered in class.
Everyone told me dykman was such a difficult professor. Although he can have a condescending response to you if you ask him questions, overall the class is great! I studied my textbook day in and day out and I got an A on every test. When you study the book, it is not a ticky exam at all. Be passionate about the readings and you will succeed.
Dykman is known throughout campus as fantastic. His Abnormal Psych class is one of the most liked courses on campus. Smart, helpful, challenging. Getting an A is very possible if you work like you're supposed to. Great guy, great course. Take it and find out.
Super great course taught by super great professor. Plenty of concepts, all paired with visual images and videos so you'll remember it better. Dykman makes Ab Psych both visually and intellectually interesting. Very enjoyable. You need to study but you'll be rewarded if you do.
Everything you need to know for the exams is either explicitly given in lecture or is in the book. you just have to memorize it.
The textbook is everything. The exams were hard for me, and I think I could have done better, but I would have had to devote all of my time to studying. He is VERY picky with his test questions. I felt like I learned a lot from his lectures, yet it didn't show with my grades.
Dykman is hot in all respects. Interesting, clear, helpful. If you're willing to work (like you were really in college), you'll be rewarded with lots of interesting knowledge and a good grade, maybe even a great grade. He gives just as many A's as other Intro professors. I look forward to taking Abnormal Psych with him. Highly recommended.
Definitely NOT as bad as everyone says. Super interesting class, manages to keep my attention for the full power lecture. Yes, tests are challenging, but if you take good notes and STUDY those notes, you will be fine. Highly recommended.
D is a excellent prof;often funny.BUT,exams are HARD bc D tests on SO MUCH info+asks VERY DETAILED ?s;?s aren't "hard" if u know info,but 1st MUST gather/memorize nearly ALLinfo from lec+text.Thus,(1)know ALL lect notes VERY WELL(2)take THOROUGH notes of text(even seemingly surperflous details)+study notes MANY times. 1+2+HUGE study commitment =>A!
Dykman is a very tricky professor. I recommend not taking the class if you don't have to. He is so picky on details and the test question are so tricky. I liked the information you learn in the class but the tests are not a reflection of concepts, but instead details. Overall, not a fan of Dykman.
Mixed feelings. I loved coming to lecture because I loved the material we learned about and all of the videos we watched in class were extremely interesting! However, I found myself studying the textbook for hours a night just to get mainly BCs on the tests. Unless you are willing to memorize the textbook, take another psych class.
Take this class if you value learning. Don't take this class if you value grades. The course material is great, his power points keep you focused (with tons of awesome video clips and pictures), the extra credit is easy to build up, but your exam scores WILL NOT reflect your work. I did all the reading and went to lectures and still got a C.
He does a good job teaching the material, but he is extremely picky on the exams. Unless you put in a lot of work for this class, don't expect to get much higher than a C or BC on the exams. While the material is interesting, if you want to get a good grade in psych 202 for business or another pre-req, i would stay away from this professor.
The class is interesting and often entertaining but it is very difficult to do well on exams. The concepts are not difficult but the tests are far to specific. Don't recommend if you're worried about your gpa.
Material is interesting and important, especially for Psych majors. However, he is COMPLETELY unhelpful- ask him ANY question and his answer will be "Check the book" or "We talked about it in lecture" without explaining. TA, equally helpful. I literally study for DAYS before every test and always get C's because of the excessive amount of details.
I don't hate him but I don't love him either. He incorporates multiple video clips into each lecture which helps remember the information. However, no matter how much I study I always get C's on the exams because the information is so nitpicky and sometimes not discussed in lecture or the book. I recommend doing all 15 ec points. You will get a BC.
Super interesting class. Good videos, and learned a lot about different disorders. However, tests were unnecessarily difficult. Too many unimportant statistics. Professor was good, enjoyed his lisp and awkward sex jokes. MUST read textbook and go to every lecture to even consider doing well. STUDY and you'll be okay.
Professor Dykman is an awesome, interesting professor but it's definitely a difficult class. Never studied for a class so much in my life but it was definitely worth taking. Such an interesting subject and he shows cool video clips. Even though it's a hard class I highly recommend it!
Lectures are not nearly as important as reading and understanding the book. He will pick a specific statistic from lecture or the book and ask a question about it so you have to be prepared for that. He also has quite the lisp, which can make the class a little more interesting. If you read the book and do the extra credit you will be fine.
I loved Dykman's class! His lectures were interesting, and they're important to attend because a lot of his test material comes from lectures. When studying, make sure to review book and lectures, and pay attention to detail. No detail is too small for him to test on. Overall, the class was great and really interesting!
Loved this class. Super interesting, Dykman knows his stuff- very well-organized and provides lecture outlines. You have to know all material f/ lecture and book.. TAKE GOOD NOTES! Yes there are a few picky questions on exams but there are also some really easy q's too. If you did well in 202, you should be fine in 509. Recommended!
This class will consume your life, yet it was one of my favorite courses. Very interesting material, take comprehensive lecture notes and read every word of the textbook in order to do well on the extemely picky exam questions.
Dykman was a very difficult professor. His lectures were dry and often focused on the statistics of psychology findings rather than real-life situations. His exams were very tricky, even with hours of studying. I wish I would've taken 202 with a different professor!
Make sure you have a light course load when taking this class. The class is interesting, but incredibly hard. Make sure you know the book word for word, as well as all of the minute statistics he brings up in class. Not very helpful when asking for help. Managed a B, but spent ~20 a week on this class. His biceps are huge.
Dykman uses the same curve as all the other Intro Psych professors. If you score low on harder tests you'll also score low on easier tests. Either way you'll still be low on the distribution. So harder or easier tests doesn't matter. What matters is YOU! Great class, great professor, great guy! I really enjoyed him and the class.
Incredibly interesting class. UNFORTUNATELY you don't get to focus on the portions that are interesting and instead must focus on minute details and statistics. Tells terrible jokes, has unreal hard exams, overall awful professor.
This professor knows his stuff...but it consumes your life. You better have photographic and memorize every single % of people who __ while ___ and __....basically, take easy classes while taking this and dont ask for help.
This professor is a great teacher and real nice guy. Interesting, clear, enthusiastic, explains things well, nicely illustrates what he talks about. The hour goes by real fast. I'm looking forward to taking more classes with this guy. Read the book carefully, listen in class, and you'll be fine. Highly recommended.
I went into this class thinking it would be the death of me, but it wasn't bad. Seriously though, you know what you need to do to do well (read the text, pay attention to small details, go to lecture, take GOOD notes, etc). His tests are unfair, but they are doable if you know what the hell you're being tested on (like a good professor expects).
He's a great guy and his class is interesting, but the tests are never a fair assessment of knowledge. He puts emphasis on small, unimportant data within sidebars of the text. There is usually little overlap between text and lecture material.
Henriques subbed a unit for Dykman and there was a phenomenal difference in teaching style. I don't feel I learned much at all from him and whatever I did learn during the course was not reflected by the exams. A photographic memory and attention to seemingly irrelevant information is necessary to do well in his course. Avoid at all costs!
Very interesting class but the exams were difficult. He spent a lot of time on few disorders and left us to rely on the book for everything else. He focused a lot on minor details from the book but once you realize what he expects you to learn, it becomes a little easier.
The class was very interesting. We watched a lot of interesting films that better explained the diseases. However, we were rarely tested on symptoms; his exams were difficult and loved to ask about percentages. The book barely overlaps that lecture. Only take this class if you don't mind spending lots of time and getting a low grade in it.
Just an extremely annoying professor. He loves details that have very little relevance to the subject, and his tests follow along the same lines. Its not an easy class. I recommend this to no one. Not even my enemies.
I took both Intro and Abn Psych with Dykman. He's fantastic in every respect. Great lecturer, helpful, all round nice person. The only students who don't like him are the one's who don't like to study. He gives as many A's as anyone else. He's not to blame if you don't do well.
The class is a bear. Dykman himself is a nice guy and very knowledgeable in his profession; however, he dosen't seem to understand that students have other classes to dedicate time to. You must read every page of the book, every table, and every graph. Then when you think you have it, you realize that the degree of lecture overlap is nonexistent.
Dykman is a really nice guy, but his tests are not reasonable and he admittedly stated that he puts questions on them that he expects almost everyone to get wrong. The material is very interesting but studying for exams is seemingly impossible with the detail he expects.
an entertaining lecturer. you better be prepared to take detailed notes on the chapters and study off those, include every little detail or you'll find yourself guessing on the test. same with lecture. he offers an ec quiz but won't remind the class of the date, so pay attention to the syllabus. thinly veiled partisanship, probably due to election
Loved this class! The subjects were interesting and the professor was always enthusiastic. The tests were extremely difficult. Memorize your book.
Extremely interesting class! Professor is very enthusiastic and will answer every question. His lectures are very detailed and in depth, as are his tests. Lots of reading is necessary outside of lecture, as he doesn't cover much of the textbook. His tests are extremely picky, but if you take detailed notes and know your stuff, they're manageable.
Go to Lecture, you don't want to miss any lecture if you want to get an A. there's a lot of textbook reading outside of class. you need to know every word, small fact, in the textbook, just memorize all. He gives you Powerpoint lecture, so it's easy to keep up. The tests are pretty hard, especially the first one and the last one (total 4).
Great lecturer, clear, interesting, sometimes funny. Makes concepts come alive with photos, video clips, examples. Nice to talk to. Exams are manageable if you study. He give just as many A's and B's as the other psych professors. If the exams are harder, the curve is lower, so no big deal.
Good professor and helpful. Just keep in mind. He test EVERYTHING in the BOOK and Lecture outline! Don't think he would not test some strange or tiny thing.if you want to get an A. It's the same for you to take any psychology class. But it is a really interesting class and maybe the most interesting class I've ever took in the college.
Professor Dykman is an awesome teacher. His class is fun and interesting, and he is fair. He is super nice and just wants to be respected-show respect, he will like you. You have to read the book, and if you don't you will fail. Same for attending class. He curves AND gives a 15 pt EC quiz, so if you can't get a good grade, it is your own fault.
Easy class, not time consuming. just go to lecture and read the book the day before or day of the test and its an easy A
exams are impossible. A LOT of details required. interesting materials but extremely hard to study for.
His powerpoints that he provides in class are basically worthless,he doesn't put them online and rambles a lot during lecture. You basically need to memorize the book. Find a different prof at all costs, friends i talked to all had much better profs. As a positive he shows lots of video clips that are interesting.
Honestly, this class and prof get a bad rap. If you study diligently, take good notes, and read/note the book, the class isn't bad. I went from a BC on the first test to A and AB on the next two (plus 19/20 on the Extra Credit quiz) just by improving my studying methods. Don't be afraid of this class! Work hard and you'll be fine!
Absolutely awful - take this class with a different professor. He is incredibly hard to understand and his tests never ask about the key points of what was covered in the book or lecture.
DO NOT go into the class thinking its impossible because its not if you take the time to read the book. He is very clear during lecture and you aren't overwhelmed with note taking which is nice. He does test on details, but they aren't meaningless and if you read the book then you should know those details.
Challenging, but by no means impossible. Averaged a 94% on exams with only moderately more preparation than other classes (plus there's up to 5% extra credit available!). Arbitrarily nitpicky questions on exams were the exception, not the norm, but they did exist. Most questions were challenging in a fair and meaningful way.
Dykman is imtellectually, pedagogically, interpersonally, physically awesome. It's a great class with a great instructor. Dykman's a great all-round guy. It's the psych department and their weeding-out curve that's the problem--that applies to all the Intro Psych classes equally.
Very interesting class, Dykman is actually a very entertaining and dedicated professor. On the flip side, yes you literally have to memorize entire chapters for exams. And the exams have zero gimme questions. Every question makes you think.
The entire lecture portion of this class is ridiculous. Dykman presents material in an attempts to shock the class by what research has shown. This is all well and good, and would have been a fascinating approach, except all of his data seems to come from the early to mid 90's. I lost track of how many times he said, "I wish I had more recent data"
He was by far the worst professor that I have ever had. He was no help in class and his exams didn't test you on your knowledge of psychology but rather on how well you can memorize random and pointless studies found in the book.
It doesn't matter how hard or easy the exam is. 35% always get either an A, AB, or B. The problem is the Psych dept's weeding out curve. Dykman is great! Older studies are sometimes mentioned because they are classics. I'm glad I'm taking Intro Psych with Dykman
Stimulating lectures, stimulating video clips to illustrate concepts, clear and easy to follow explanations. All round nice guy. Helpful attitude. Follows the same weeding out curve as the other Intro profs. I enjoy this class.
He is boring and old. He speaks slowly and stutters and mumbles. He should probably retire soon.
Dykman is a great professor and a very nice person. He personifies intellectual and physical health--the only guy who could get a knee replacement and not miss a single class--in better shape than any other professor I know. He's clear, interesting, enthusiastic. I'm going to major in psychology because I took this class with him. He's inspiring!
Although he was very passionate about the subject, the organization of the lectures was iffy at best. A lot of time the information he gave was inconsistent with the facts presented in the textbook used, and explanations of some topics were really unclear. The exams are somewhat nitpick on minor facts, but they're doable if you read carefully.
If you have the option of taking Psych 202 with another professor I highly suggest you do that. Dykman is really passionate, loves psych, but teaching is NOT his thing. His lecture notes aren't very clear, he's hard to follow. His tests are 80% book material he doesn't cover. 80%!! In other words, you have to read every single page. Happy I'm done.
Dykman is superb in all respects. clear, organized, interesting lectures.hot!Don't expect to be spoon fed. You gotta study like you were really in college. Harder exams only mean an easier curve, If you don't do well in this class, you wouldn't do well in other classes. All psych profs use the same ridiculous weeding out curve.Great prof& class!
This class is not impossible, but it is indeed difficult. My test grades were a B, C, AB, A, so you really have to study (I made flashcards, which helped alot). READ THE TEXTBOOK. Some of the questions have to do with statistics or lecture notes not lining up with book notes. All psych profs use the same curve, so can't complain about that.
Interesting subject and Dykman seems to care about the class. That being said, the videos and examples he uses are outdated, he tests on extreme specifics from the textbook which was frustrating, and there was a tough curve as in all psych classes. If I could go back, I would take the class again but with any other teacher.
Professor Dykman was unclear on what he wanted for exams and did not ask about what he claimed was important in class. No study guides. Not much help in person either. I had really wanted to take this class and was excited about it until I took some of his exams as they did not reflect material presented in class. Do not recommend.
Dykman is great in all respects. clear, organized, interesting, helpful, a nice man. This is an interesting class taught by an interesting, enthusiastic professor. The lower the class mean on exams, the easier the curve, so difficulty is not a problem. All round great class. Important to take for understanding today's world.
Dykman is very knowledgeable on this subject and the class is super interesting. Attendance isn't mandatory but you will want to go, he shows a lot of really interesting videos. The exams are picky but if you are reading this you already have an advantage because you know you need to put just a wee bit more time into this class WORTH IT THOUGH
Do not listen to the comments on how good Dykman is, he is one of the worst professors I have ever had to endure for a semester. Poor speaker, drags on for what seems like forever, half his exam questions are from the examples in the margin of the textbook. DO NOT TAKE DYKMAN FOR PSYCH 202!
He is very nice but spacey and his exams were super hard! Most of the questions were things we never even went over in lecture because you are supposed to read the chapters on your own. You might as well read the chapters in your own time and skip lecture.
He can be a bit behind with the lecture outlines, but he is passionate and makes lectures fun and enjoyable to attend, even though not mandatory. Should attend though, exams are about 40% lecture, and 60% book, so missing a lecture only hurts yourself.
Although he seems like a nice guy in class, talking to him outside of class is not a similar experience. He does not see your point of view on things and often does not give you the light of day when you question his exam questions (which he writes the night before the exam). If you're stuck with him, GO TO CLASS, but really try avoiding him.
Dykman is a super nice guy inside and outside of class. Gives great, enthusiastic, interesting lectures. Sometimes funny too. You can tell the guy is real smart and really knows his stuff. Exams are fine if you study the way you're supposed to. This is a great class. I'm going to take Abn Psych with Dykman too. He's really helpful, sincere. Great!
Dykman is really nice. Always tries to be helpful. Gives interesting lectures. Funny too. Super smart. Inspirational. Great class. I'm going to take Cognitive Therapy with Dykman as well. He's really super nice. Wants to be helpful. Explains things really well. Will stay after class to explain things. Great guy, great class! You'll learn a lot.
He is the cutest old man ever. His pic on learn@UW with his dog is amazing! If you have him have fun reading each chapter at least 3 times. I mean thats what you have to do to get an A.
He goes on tangents for a majority of the class and they never have anything to do with the material. His tests are also based 50% on the book and in order to get the book questions correct you need to memorize the textbook
Dykman's exams involve virtually no critical thinking. Basically to do well in this class you will need to memorize the entire chapters of the textbook cos a question on any random detail is fair game. Attend all the lectures too
Horrible. Exams unnecessarily challenging.
Dykman is an all-round great professor. Smart, clear, helpful, interesting. People knock him because of exams. They forget the same curve applies to all classes. If you got an F in his class you'd get an F in another Intro class. I highly recommend Intro with Dykman. Super class with super man. I'm going to take all his classes. Great attitude too.
I'm a senior and Ab Psych with Dykman the best course I ever took at UW. If I wasnt' graduating I'd start a Dykman fan club. He's absolutely terrific and so too is his class. Super smart, super helpful super guy. He's a true expert teacher. Love him.
Professor Dykman is the sweetest and funniest man! He is so knowledgable about everything abnormal psychology related, and his lectures are packed with valuable information. My favorite class so far at UW! Exams are tough, but do-able. DEFINITELY attend lecture, take really detailed notes, and read the book a couple times, and you should be golden!
Dykman is passionate about psych and knows his stuff for the most part, always willing to help. honestly, tests aren't THAT bad just take detailed class notes and take notes when reading the book. Tests ask nit picky questions but if you study a decent amount and take GOOD notes you should be absolutely fine
Dykman got applause on the last day of class, and for good reason. He really knows how to make the lectures interesting and enjoyable. Classes whiz by, 75 minutes seem like 30 minutes. He's sincere and helpful. He finds your comments interesting, and builds on them. The material in this class is stuff you'll put to use in life. Great class & prof.
I really liked Intro with Dykman, it inspired me to take additional classes in Psych, esp those taught by Dykman. The man is really smart, knows a lot, and really likes psychology. If you ask him a question he's responsive and interested in what you have to say. Very reinforcing, very nice. Uses the same curve as the other Intro Psych profs use.
Dykman is an ok professor, the lectures were fun mostly because of his videos. His exams are frustrating because you basically have to read and memorize every detail/picture caption/word of each of the ~40 page book chapters.I would not recommend him, unless you are desperate.Exams are only graded content and are really frustrating.DO EXTRA CREDIT!
Be prepared to study hard for the tests. There are four tests so it's easy to improve if you don't do well right away. Use the study guide you can buy for the book. He asks about obscure details from lectures & textbook on tests. Expect to attend lectures even though not mandatory, that material will be on the test. Do the extra credit quiz!!
Dykman is a really good guy; he's nice, respectful, and considerate, I think. Sure, there might be a lot of memorizing or detailed textbook reading, but it's interesting material. Really excited to see that he's teaching 509 next semester!!
terrible, exam questions are random and very difficult for an intro to psych class. would avoid him like the plague
Great guy, interesting lectures, really difficult tests.
Slow lectures and gives a good outline to follow and fill in. Matches other professors perks. Not the best for help but he explains things descent in lecture.
This is a complete CBT therapy course taught by a complete professor. You'll really know how to do cog beh therapy after taking this course, and it'll help you get into graduate school. It looks good on your vita and it's good to say you took it. Dykman is smart, both clinically and scientifically. You'll really learn how to conceptualize and treat
Help is there if you need it but if you like most freshman students find yourself having a hard time finding freetime this class can be a struggle. Definitely recommend joining a BLC or something like that because you will not get above a C in the class without it, wish I would have. Also, tests are VERY difficult.
Starting this semester (Fall 2014) for psych 202 he made his class way easier: 1) 33% get A's or AB's 2) 15 points of extra credit will bump you up one letter grade 3) He drops your lowest midterm Honestly his class wasn't bad at all. Read the textbook and learn EVERY detail. Study the experiments he talks about in lecture. Good luck.
very intelligent, interesting, fair. Great course, great guy
just memorize the textbook. thats it. Dont expect to learn sth interesting. try to memorize all the details from the lectures and textbook
Ridiculous test questions. Why even bother studying if every single question is completely obscure and meant to trick you?
I took professor Dykman for abnormal psych. His lectures are unclear and tests are full of questions pertaining to the smallest details. Many of the things he says could be taken very offensively to somebody with mental disorders. He makes a lot of unnecessary generalizations about people with mental disorders. Disrespectful .
Dykman is a complete professor. Very smart, very clear lectures, gives lectures that are interesting. Just study like your supposed to. He's a very nice person, he'll gladly explain anything you don't understand. He has a lot of wisdom. He really makes you think. He's mind-expanding. I'm going to take as many courses with him as I can.
Dykman is with it. Is helpful, clear, exciting, often funny. Great audio visuals that make the course come alive. An easy grader if you bother to student. The curve he uses favors students. The only students I know who don't like him are students who are expecting an easy ride and don't bother to study, or take notes, or come to class. GREAT CLASS
He's a sweet old guy that will give you the help IF you ask for it. I went in to see him after I failed the first test (luckily, you can drop one) and he spent 45 mins having me read a paragraph from the book and answer questions bout it. He really cares but you need to pay attention IN CLASS and TO DETAIL IN BOOK. exams are 12 lecture 12 book.
You have to read the book to pass.
Luckily the grading procedure has changed in favor of the students recently! However, tests are tough. Half the material is from lecture, and half is from the textbook. YOU MUST READ THE BOOK TO PASS. Overall the class was fine.
Very interesting material, but I regret taking it with Dykman. Tests on the captions of pictures in the textbook, words questions ambiguously on exams, and expects you to memorize the textbook basically. Wouldn't recommend taking with a heavy course load because you'll be spending all your time on this class.
Incredibly interesting material, Dykman definitely knows his stuff, easy to see that he is passionate about what he does. The tests were challenging enough for this level but questions about mundane book details and specific percentages frustrated me greatly. Ran videos past class which is irritating. Overall, not bad but requires great effort
Some of the questions were specific things that he said once during lecture, however I would take this class again for sure. The lectures were very interesting, however the exams are half from lecture and half from the books. This class takes a lot of time, however if you are interested in psychology then it is worth it! I loved this class!
Most confusing and hard class I've taken so far. He's not very helpful and just overall disorganized and unclear. Hard tests! Be ready to read, the textbook is essential. I really wish I could have taken this class with a different professor because it is something I'm very interested in.
Methodically dissects psychological disorders in lecture. Write down everything he says, memorize diagnostic criteria for each disorder, know what differentiates similar disorders, and read book chapters twice before exams. Tedious, but will get you an A. He also adopted much more generous grading curve this semester - top 20% got As.
The class content is fascinating, but his teaching style makes it hard to understand well.. slow and unclear at times. I studied for all the tests and went to lectures, but ended up doing worse than I expected on exams. He usually drops the lowest midterm grade, though.
Lectures are super important if you want to do well on the exams. Reading is also super important for doing well. Exams: 75 multiple choice based on lecture and textbook. Write down everything he says, even minor details, because there's a good chance it'll be on the exam. Generous curve, but lectures are unorganizeddifficult to follow.
BEWARE! This guy does not like you if you're not a psych major. He thinks you should put in 40 hours into studying for each exam. In my opinion, he simply can not teach. He can't articulate the things that are important. This guy is definitely one of the worst professors I've had at UW. I went to class, did the reading, and that wasn't enough.
This is a great class taught by a knowledgeable, nice, clear, and very fair professor. His tests are fair. You just need to study (as if you were in college). I totally enjoyed this class.
Dykman is interesting, clear, knowledgeable, inspiring, smart, fair, a very nice person. Great course taught by a great guy. he makes interesting material even more interesting. Not to be missed.
Attending class and skimming the book will ensure you an AB. Dykman is endearing and comical. If you get easily frustrated by tough tests, it's time to learn to let it go. The curve will help you in the end. You'll learn a lot, but again, the tests might not make you feel that way.
He's good at what he does, but can be a bit insensitive in lecture. Exam questions are oddly specific; the kind of questions that are meant to trick you. Interesting course, but be ready to work if you want a good grade.
No homework, curved tests, gives extra credit, funny guy
Dykman will test you. The guy is a genius and good at what he does, but if you aren't a psych major you should definitely find someone else. His tests are 50% book, most of which IS NOT COVERED IN CLASS. Dykman loves to be tricky and will put questions that are going to make you think on his exams. I studied around 15 hours for each one.
He is the most boring, disorganized, and unhelpful professor I have ever had.
Dykman is organized, clear, illustrates everything with graphs or video, goes at the right pace, occasionally funny, super smart yet can relate to you on a personal level with everyday language, treats students super well, goes out of his way to be fair and understanding . I'm going to take every course I can with him.
Taking Intro Psych with Dykman is a great experience. Super clear, helpful, smart, fair. Superb in all respects. Keep up with the readings.
Try to avoid dykman, as he talks really slowly and half the tests are about material covered only in the book. So you have to read the whole thing to pass. That said, if you show up to class and read, the tests are easy. He gives a ton of extra credit, and there is no homework.
Professor Dykman enjoys what he does. Lectures can get long, but the material is useful. That being said, the exams are mostly on the book readings (3 chapters per exam, no cumulative final) but he tends to sneak in a few questions from lecture that you have to pay attention to answer correctly. This class was tough, but a decent intro class.
His lectures are boring, but you have to go no matter what otherwise you won't pass. Also you have to read the textbook, and not just skimming but actually taking notes on the readings because 50% of exam material comes from the book. Don't take this class if you don't have to... It's definitely not worth it.
I feel that this class & Dykman get a bad rep. but if you are a good student and go to class, take GOOD notes, and actually start to study about a week before the exam rather than cram the night before it is totally do-able. Dykman is awkward in a hilarious sort of way and a professor I'll miss! One of my favorite classes, but requires hard work.
I had heard many negative things about professor Dykman going into this class. Despite this, I really enjoyed my experience with him. If you put in effort and are willing to learn, you will do well. He loves what he does and cares that his students understand the material. Dykman is a good choice for PSY 509.
he's a really nice guy, super smart, very clear, very interesting, tries to help his students do well. supplements lecture with visual materials in an interesting way that helps you remember it better and want to come to class. super
knows the subject matter inside out, very smart, very knowledgable. He's a very caring person, very responsive to students. you feel you really know the material when the course is over. if you put in the work you'll be rewarded. the best course I've ever taken.
Cog behavior therapy w Dykman is the best clinical course you will ever take, maybe better than what you'll receive in grad school. He's very smart, clinically insightful, and caring. The course covers everything you need to know to be a truly effective clinical psychologist--a true scientist practitioner. Well taught
He's a really nice guy, but his syllabus says that the book is the only thing that will be tested on, when at least 40% of the exam questions are straight from lecture. There's no HW, so there's no real opportunity to boost your grade. Be prepared to memorize the textbook and lecture notes due to very detailed exam questions.
Do not take this class. He claims half of the questions are from the reading and half are from the lecture. Get ready to memorize every word of the textbook, as most of the questions use specific percentages etc. Lectures make no sense even if you have already read the textbook 3 times. Beware!!
good professor, really funny. I definitely learned a lot from his lectures! Do not miss a single lecture... he covers a lot of stuff that isnt mentioned in the required readings.
Dykman is easily the worst intro psych teacher. His lectures are fine, but the tests and questions are way too hard. Definitely avoid having him if you can.
I would have benefited much from a discussion class, but alas. Psych is the worst class I've taken so far, due to the heavy textbook readings that are hardly covered in class. While Dykman's lectures are far from bad, his tests are horrid, as 70% of the questions are based from textbook readings. And be prepared to do extra credit. you'll need it.
Although Professor Dykman's exams are pretty tricky, I think that the class itself is enjoyable. His lectures are always entertaining and interesting, even showing videos so that we get a good idea of the material; however, the amount of reading is a lot with other classes and the exams are 50% lecture and 50% book. Makes you work for it for sure.
Boring lectures. Impossible midterms. Worst class I've taken. Avoid Dykman at all costs.
Class is based solely off of 4 exams (but there is extra credit opportunity). His lectures are boring. Exams are 50% lecture/50% textbook, but lean more on the textbook, so make sure you read. Pretty nice guy, just boring. Makes a lot of stupid funny accidental jokes & goes on a lot of tangents. He tries to be helpful. Get a diff prof if you can.
Go to lecture and take good notes. Also take good notes on the book chapters. You'll need them for the tests, which are kind of nit picky but still doable. Study for tests at least 2 days in advance. Take extra credit chance. Professor has his funny moments and has ways to help ease the studying. A little effort goes a long way in this class.
Professor Dykman is the best professor I had the pleasure of learning from, and Abnormal Psychology is the best course I have taken in college. His lectures convey a lot of information, which can at times leave you scrambling to get everything down. His jokes are golden. Video clips give you an idea of what treatment is like. Read chapters twice.
Dykman is an extremely knowledgable professor and an all around great guy. He cares about his students and really wants them to excel in his class, and his age adds a sometimes unintended, quirky humor to his lectures, which is a bonus. If you reciprocate his interest in the course, do the reading, and attend lectures, his exams are pretty trivial.
I worked my butt off to get the grade I did and would not take this class with him again. He rarely acknowledged students with their hands raised. Lectures were dry, he doesn't do a lot to engage students. Tests are rote memorization but detail-heavy and require A LOT of studying to do well. Nice & knowledgeable? Yes. But he's not a good teacher
The lectures are very dry. His test are based off of the lecture and the book, but he tends to contradict the book in his lectures. Test questions are very specific. For an intro level psych class he focuses more on small details than the big picture when it comes to the test.
Although abnormal psychology sounds super interesting, Dykman sucks the life right out of it. I enjoyed reading the book more than going to lecture; but you have to do both to pass. Thankfully, he drops one exam score.
Dykman is clear, interesting, knowledgable, respectful of students and very nice to students. Very smart, knows a lot about a lot. His liking of psychology is contagious to the class. I'm more likely to be a psych major now. He'll inspire you. All round great teacher. HOT smarts and hot bod.
Prof. Dykman's Abnormal Psych class was definitely very difficult, but also very doable. Use the readings as reinforcements of the lectures, and don't be afraid to send him emails to clarify any confusion between the two. (he is good about sending emails to clarify content--if brought to his attention) The curve will help your grades in the end!
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100%
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