Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive Psychology
- Module Title: Cognitive Psychology
- Module Prefix/Number: PSYC 414
- Credit Hours: Three (3)
- Description: This course is designed to provide the student with an introduction to the psychological study of factors that influence human thought.
Research methodology and theory are emphasized throughout the discussion of topics including attention, pattern recognition, memory, language, reasoning, and problem solving. Students are expected to perform an experiment and write a research paper on selected topics. Writing assignments reflecting critical thinking are required. - Student Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this course, students should achieve the following Learning Outcomes 1.Understand and describe the events that led to the ‘cognitive revolution’. Students will be exposed to the idea of distributed processing that specifies many different areas in the brain process functions. It further explores the interaction between perceiving and taking action and focus on how attention is controlled by different types of attentional networks. 1.1 Define what is the mind and understand the evolution of cognitive psychology. 1.2 Explore what are neurons and its basic principles together with neural networks.
1.3 Understands how information for human perception and action works.
1.4 Analyze the different types of attention as information processing
2. Identity what are memory and its processes involved. A link between the ability to remember the past and to imagine the future will be discussed in-depth. Five memory principles that are applied to studying will elaborate in detail. Students will be introduced to autobiographical memory and knowledge that can cause memory errors. 2.1 Analyze the modal model of memory. 2.2 Discussion on the comparison of short-term memory and long-term memory.
2.3 Explore LTM with regards to encoding, retrieval and consolidation
2.4 Identify the factors such as everyday memory and memory errors.
3. Students will learn to comprehend the definitional approach to categorization and the idea behind the prototypical approach. Further exploration is done using mental scanning experiments and parallels between perception and imagery. Language as a system of communication and the technique of brainstorming to increase creativity will be illustrated. The approach to decision making using inductive reasoning will be highlighted and explored. 3.1 Discussion on basic properties of concepts and categories. 3.2 Exploration on imagery and perception of the brain mechanisms.
3.3 Gaining insight understanding on language
3.4 Analyze problem solving and creativity using Gestalt approach.
3.5 Identify the factors behind judgment, decisions and reasoning.
- Grading Scale: Your letter grade in this course will be determined by calculating your score on all assignments and exams as a percentage of the total possible score, on a standard grading scale:
Your Letter Grade Your Score as % of Total A 90–100 B 80-89 C 70-79 D 60-69 F 0-59 Assignments 40%
As part of the requirements, students must complete short assignments based on these studies. There will be 2 assignments, each attracting 20% of total course grade.
Assignment (Essay) 20%
Students are also required to turn in an essay assignment.
Guidelines for the essay assignment:
- Word limit: 1500 – 2500
- The assignment should be typed using Times New Roman, 12-point size, double spaced, and 1″ margins.
- The assignment should be edited for spelling and grammar.
- References to be provided using the APA guidelines.
Exam 40%
There will be a Final exam. The exam will be based on material covered in the textbook readings and lecture notes.
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Topic - Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Perception
- Attention
- Short-term and Working Memory
- Long-term Memory
- LTM: Encoding, Retrieval and Consolidation
- Everyday Memory and Memory Errors
- Conceptual Knowledge
- Visual Imagery
- Language
- Problem Solving & Creativity
- Judgment, Decisions, and Reasoning
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