Course Information & Syllabus PSYCO 258 LEC A1: Cognitive Psychology
Fall 2018
(Tuesday, Thursday/12:30pm-1:50pm/CCIS L2 200)
Instructor: Weimin Mou
Office: P-585 Biological Sciences Building
Office hours: Tuesday, 2:003:00 p.m., or by appointment Phone: 780-492-3601
E-mail: [email protected] T.A.: Xuehui (Kate) Lei
Office: P-545 Biological Sciences Building Office hours: by appointment
Phone: 780-492-5325
E-mail: [email protected]
Course Description: This course surveys a number of topics in cognitive psychology, including a brief history of the field, cognitive neuroscience, attention, perception, memory, knowledge representation, language, problem solving, reasoning and decision making. This course also addresses general issues such as basic research design, the use of models and paradigms, the role of theory, and interdisciplinary
influences on cognitive psychology.
Course Prerequisites: PSYCO 104 or SCI 100, and STAT 141 or 151 or SCI 151 Course Website: http://www.psych.ualberta.ca/~wmou/p258/index.html Course Evaluation:
2 midterm exams, worth 25% each Final exam, worth 50% (cumulative)
CogLab Assignments: The CogLab assignments are intended to get hands-on experiences in some classic experiments in the field. Students are STRONGLY RECOMMENDED to do the experiment by themselves. The knowledge relevant to CogLab assignments will be tested in midterm or/and final exams.
The CogLab assignments will also be discussed in class.
Midterms: The midterms will test material covered in the assigned readings, CogLabs, and lectures with multiple-choice questions. Although there is much overlap between the readings and lectures, it is not a complete overlap; some content is covered only in one or the other. Students are responsible for all material. The midterms will consist of multiple-choice questions. Midterms will not be handed back in class. There will be one exam viewing session after each midterm. If you wish to view your exam, please contact the T.A for the schedule or the location. One additional session is scheduled on Nov 20, 12:30pm- 1:50pm (class hours) for both midterm viewing. No other viewing session will be scheduled.
The University considers acceptable reasons for being absent from term work, including midterms, scheduled presentations or extension of deadlines to an assignment to be an incapacitating mental and/or physical illness, severe domestic affliction, or circumstances described in the University’s Discrimination, Harassment and Duty to Accommodate Policy (including religious conviction).
Examples of unacceptable reasons for missing an exam include (but are not limited to) personal events such as vacations, weddings, work, or family travel arrangements. Students are expected to read their syllabi and ensure that they will be able to attend those days when they will be graded.
For an excused absence where the cause is religious conviction, a student must contact the instructor(s) within two weeks of the start of classes to request accommodation for the term (including the final exam, where relevant). Instructors may request documentation from a pastor or imam, etc. to substantiate the student request.
Requests should be made to the instructor as far in advance as possible, but need to be made within 48 hours of the missed work or deadline.
If you miss a midterm due to illness or other approved absence, then the weight of the excused exam will be added to the final. No early or late writing of midterms is accepted; no makeup exams or assignments are accepted; no exceptions. See Calendar 23.5 for University examinations regulations.
Final: See the exam schedule for official date, time, and location. The 2-hour final exam will be
cumulative and test material covered in the assigned readings, CogLabs, and lectures in the entire course.
It will have multiple-choice questions. Deferred final exams will be scheduled at 10 a.m. on Monday, January 7, 2019 in P-217 Biological Sciences Building.
http://www.registrarsoffice.ualberta.ca/en/Examinations/Fall-2018-Winter-2019-Exam-Planner.aspx WARNING: Students must verify this date on BearTracks when the Final Exam Schedule is posted.
Grades are unofficial until approved by the Department and/or Faculty offering the course.
Students have access to their final exam schedule through Bear Tracks and on the Registrar’s website will in advance. Multiple exams and closely scheduled final exams is not a valid excuse for a deferral of one or more final exams.
A student who cannot write the final examination due to incapacitating illness, severe domestic affliction or other compelling reasons can apply for a deferred final examination. Students who failed at the start of term to request exam accommodations for religious beliefs are expected to follow the normal deferred final examination process. Such an application must be made to the student’s Faculty office within two working days of the missed examination and must be supported by appropriate documentation or a Statutory Declaration (http://calendar.ualberta.ca/content.php?catoid=20&navoid=4939#Attendance). Deferred examinations are a privilege and not a right; there is no guarantee that a deferred examination will be granted. Misrepresentation of Facts to gain a deferred examination is a serious breach of the Code of Student Behaviour.
Reexamination:
Reexamination is not permitted in a course in which a passing grade was achieved. A student who writes the final examination and fails the course may apply for a reexamination. Reexaminations are rarely granted. These exams are governed by University regulations
(http://calendar.ualberta.ca/content.php?catoid=20&navoid=4939 - Examinations_(Exams)) and Faculty of Science regulations (http://calendar.ualberta.ca/content.php?catoid=20&navoid=4970#academic-standing).
Misrepresentation of Facts to gain a re-examination is a serious breach of the Code of Student Behaviour.
Student Success Centre:
Students who require additional help in developing strategies for better time management, study skills or examination skills should contact the Student Success Centre (2-300 Students’ Union Building).
Students Eligible for Accessibility-Related Accommodations (students registered with Student Accessibility Services - SAS):
Eligible students have both rights and responsibilities with regard to accessibility-related accommodations.
Consequently, scheduling exam accommodations in accordance with SAS deadlines and procedures is essential. Please note adherence to procedures and deadlines is required for U of A to
provide accommodations.
If you have special needs that could affect your performance in this class, please let me know during the first week of the term so that appropriate arrangements can be made. If you are not already registered with Specialized Support & Disability Services, contact their office immediately (2-800 SUB; Email
[email protected]; phone 780-492-3381; www.ssds.ualberta.ca).
Exams: Your student photo I.D. is required at exams to verify your identity. Students will not be allowed to begin an examination after it has been in progress for 30 minutes. Students must remain in the exam room until at least 30 minutes has elapsed. Electronic equipment cannot be brought into examination rooms and hats should not be worn.
Cell Phones: Cell phones are to be turned off during lectures, labs and seminars. Cell phones are not to be brought to exams.
Learning and Work Environment: The Department of Psychology is committed to ensuring that all students, faculty and staff are able to work and study in an environment that is safe and free from discrimination and harassment. It does not tolerate behavior that undermines that environment. The Department urges anyone who feels that this policy is being violated to:
Discuss the matter with the person whose behavior is causing concern, or
If that discussion is unsatisfactory, or there is a concern that direct discussion is inappropriate or threatening, discuss it with the instructor, or in cases of dispute with the instructor, with the Chair of the Department.
For additional advice or assistance regarding this policy you may contact the student ombudservice:
(http://www.ombudservice.ualberta.ca/). Information about the University of Alberta Discrimination and Harassment Policy and Procedures is described in UAPPOL at
https://policiesonline.ualberta.ca/PoliciesProcedures/Pages/Human-Resources.aspx.
Required Textbook:
Goldstein, E.B. (2018) Cognitive psychology: Connection mind, research, and everyday experience (5th edition). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.
Representative exam questions: will be given frequently in classes.
Lecture Schedule & Assigned Readings:
Date Topic Readings (CogLab)
Sep 4 Introductory comments
6 Introduction to Cognitive Psychology Chapter 1 (Simple detection)
11 Cognitive Neuroscience Chapter 2 (Brain asymmetry)
13 Perception Chapter 3 (Visual Search)
18 Perception Chapter 3 (Apparent motion)
20 Attention Chapter 4 (Stroop effect, Change detection)
25 Attention Chapter 4 (Spatial Cueing, Attentional blink) 27 Short term and working memory Chapter 5 (Partial report, Brown-Peterson)
Oct 2 Short term and working memory Chapter 5 (Memory span, Phonological Similarity Effect) 4 Midterm 1
9 Long term memory I Chapter 6 (Serial position, implicit learning) 11 Long term memory II Chapter 7(level of process, Encoding Specificity)
16 Everyday memory and memory error Chapter 8 (Remember/know) 18 Everyday memory and memory error Chapter 8 (False memory)
23 Knowledge Chapter 9 (Prototypes)
25 Knowledge Chapter 9 (Lexical decision)
30 Visual Imagery Chapter 10 (Mental rotation) Nov 1 Visual Imagery Chapter 10 (Link Word)
6 Midterm 2
8 No class (I will be out of town attending Annual Meeting) 13 No class (Fall Term Class Break)
15 No class (Fall Term Class Break)
20 No class, midterm 1&2 exam viewing, location will be announced
22 Language Chapter 11 (Word superiority)
27 Language Chapter 11 (Lexical decision)
29 Problem Solving Chapter 12
Dec 4 Reasoning and Decision Making Chapter 13 (Wason selection) 6 Reasoning and Decision Making Chapter 13 (Risky decisions)
FINAL EXAM. The final exam will be held in the final exam period as per the exam schedule, tentatively scheduled for December 17 (Monday), 2018 at 2:00 p.m.
Grading: The grade will be allocated based on the individual performance as below approximately.
Adjustment may be made according to my expert judgement and the suggestions from the department chair and the faculty dean.
91-100% A+
88-90% A
85-87% A-
80-84% B+
75-79% B
70-74% B-
66-69% C+
62-65% C
58-61% C-
55-57% D+
50-54% D
0-49% F
University Policies:
Academic integrity
The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty.
Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the university in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the university.
All forms of dishonesty are unacceptable at the University. Any offence will be reported to the Associate Dean of Science who will determine the disciplinary action to be taken. Cheating, plagiarism and
misrepresentation of facts are serious offences. Anyone who engages in these practices will receive at minimum a grade of zero for the exam or paper in question and no opportunity will be given to replace the grade or redistribute the weights. As well, in the Faculty of Science the sanction for cheating on any examination will include a disciplinary failing grade (NO EXCEPTIONS) and senior students should expect a period of suspension or expulsion from the University of Alberta.
All students should consult the information provided by the Office of Judicial Affairs regarding avoiding cheating and plagiarism in particular and academic dishonesty in general (see the Academic Integrity Undergraduate Handbook and Information for Students). If in doubt about what is permitted in this class, ask the instructor.
Recording and/or Distribution of Course Materials
Audio or video recording of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the instructor or as a part of an approved accommodation plan. Recorded material is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the instructor
Policy about course outlines can be found in the University Calendar
(http://calendar.ualberta.ca/content.php?catoid=6&navoid=806&hl="syllabus"&returnto=search - Evaluation_Procedures_and_Grading_System).
Disclaimer:
Any typographical errors in this Course Outline are subject to change and will be announced in class. The date of the final examination is set by the Registrar and takes precedence over the final examination date reported in this syllabus.
COPYRIGHT: Dr. Weimin Mou, Department ofPsychology, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta (2018)