PSYCHOL 2006 - Foundations of Perception & Cognition

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2024

This course builds on the course components of the biological bases of behaviour, perception, and cognition studied in Psychology IA and Psychology IB. The aim of this course is to build a solid foundation in both perception and cognition. Students will examine how the brain processes sensory information to create a coherent representation of the environment and to allow individuals to perform daily activities. Students will explore the visual system from the simple detection of light to using visual information to control movements and will examine topics in cognition such as attention, memory, concept learning, judgement and decision making, and language. The focus will be upon understanding basic principles and theories as well as their potential application to real world problems such as eyewitness testimony, autobiographical memory, language development and problem solving. Previous or concurrent enrolment in PSYCHOL 2004 - Doing Research in Psychology is assumed.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PSYCHOL 2006
    Course Foundations of Perception & Cognition
    Coordinating Unit Psychology
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites (PSYCHOL 1000 and PSYCHOL 1001 and PSYCHOL 1004) or (PSYCHOL 1000 and PSYCHOL 1001 and PSYCHOL 1005) or (PSYCHOL 1100)
    Corequisites PSYCHOL 2004
    Assumed Knowledge PSYCHOL 2004
    Course Description This course builds on the course components of the biological bases of behaviour, perception, and cognition studied in Psychology IA and Psychology IB. The aim of this course is to build a solid foundation in both perception and cognition. Students will examine how the brain processes sensory information to create a coherent representation of the environment and to allow individuals to perform daily activities. Students will explore the visual system from the simple detection of light to using visual information to control movements and will examine topics in cognition such as attention, memory, concept learning, judgement and decision making, and language. The focus will be upon understanding basic principles and theories as well as their potential application to real world problems such as eyewitness testimony, autobiographical memory, language development and problem solving. Previous or concurrent enrolment in PSYCHOL 2004 - Doing Research in Psychology is assumed.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Conrad Perry

    Additional academic staff:
    Assoc Prof Carolyn Semmler: carolyn.semmler@adelaide.edu.au
    Dr Craig Thorley; Email: craig.thorley@adelaide.edu.au
    Assoc Prof Anna Ma-Wyatt; Email: anna.mawyatt@adelaide.edu.au
    Dr Mark Kohler; Email: mark.kohler@adelaide.edu.au


    School of Psychology Office: Ph +61 8313 5693; Email  psychologyoffice@adelaide.edu.au
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

    1 Define and distinguish the methods used by cognitive psychologists and psychophysicists to understand human behaviour
    2 Explain key mechanisms and define key theories within the sub-fields of perception, memory, decision making and language
    3 Develop and define testable hypotheses based on theories of cognition and perception
    4 Assess support for hypotheses using data generated by experimental investigations of cognition and perception.
    5 Summarise key findings from research in perception and cognition
    6 Relate everyday experiences and behaviour to explanations based on scientific knowledge generated by the field of perception and cognition.
    7 Understand and present the results of a literature review, results of an experimental investigation and conclusions based on experimental research.
    8 Use correct APA format for presentation and referencing  (APA 7th Edn.)
    9 Understand the strengths and limitations of research methodologies used in perception and cognition, including cultural and ethical considerations.
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1,2,3,4,5

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    2,3,4,9

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    7,8

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    6,7,8

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    6

    Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency

    Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.

    .

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    .

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    7,9
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    Goldstein, E. Bruce (2015). Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research and Everyday Experience (4th Edn). Wadsworth: Belmont, CA.    

    Mather, G. (2009). Foundations of Sensation and Perception. Psychology Press: London, UK.

    Both texts available at Unibooks. Older editions (2011) of Goldstein may also be used, however, reference to page numbers and chapters may not correspond and students will need to determine the corresponding page numbers for each section of the course.

    For additional information regarding required resources please refer to the relevant Undergraduate Program Handbook at the following link:

    http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/current-students/forms-handbooks/
    Online Learning
    This course may use MyUni for one or more of the following:

    •    Communication with students via Announcements and Discussion Board
    •    Submission of assessment
    •    Access to lecture recordings
    •    Access to tutorial materials
    •    Additional readings
    •    Self-directed learning activities
    •    Exam preparation materials

    Link to MyUni:
    https://myuni.adelaide.edu.au/


  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course will involve a series of lectures on each of the topics of perception, memory, decision making and language. These lectures are supported by a face-to-face tutorial, online activities and readings.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.


    Face-to-Face Contact Hours
    2 hours per week in Lectures over a 12 week period (Total 24 hours)
    4 hours per semester in Tutorials as scheduled (Total 4 hours)

    Revision of Material/ Tutorial Preparation
    2 hours per lecture (4 hours per week) revision of lecture content and set readings (Total 48 hours)
    2 hours per topic on self-directed learning activities (Total 8 hours)

    Assessment Tasks
    10 hours preparation of experimental tasks & 20 hours locating, reading and assimilating background material for preparation of the practical report (Total 30 hours)
    4 hours preparation for quizzes (4 hours)
    Exam revision as required (approx. 35 hours)
    End of semester examination (3 hours)

    Total time commitment: 156 hours
    Learning Activities Summary
    A detailed course timetable is provided under the Course Information area in MyUni. 

    Week Topic Lecture
    Week 1 Decision Making Introduction and Prospect Theory / The 'heuristics and biases' model
    Week 2 Decision Making The 'fast and frugal heuristics' model / Modern approaches: Bayes, machine learning, and metacognition
    Week 3 Decision Making Applications in healthcare / Applications in other domains
    Week 4 Perception Introduction to Perception / Some notes on methods
    Week 5 Perception Spatial Vision / Body senses
    Week 6 Perception Binocular vision and depth perception / Motion
    Week 7 Attention Auditory, visual, and divided attention
    Week 8 Memory Short-term memory / Working memory
    Week 9 Memory Long-term memory
    Week 10 Language What is Language? / What is Special about Language?
    Week 11 Language Language Acquisition / How is Language Used?
    Week 12 Language Language and Neuropsychology
    Disclaimer: This program is provisional and subject to change
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary
    Assessment Task Assessment Type Weighting Course Learning Outcome(s) being addressed
    Exam Summative
    (See Examinations for date)
    50% 1, 2, 5, 6 & 9
    Practical Report Summative
    (See My Uni for due date)
    30% 3, 4, 7 & 8
    Tutorial Attendance Summative 4% 1, 2, 5 & 9
    Quizzes Summative
    (See My Uni for due date)
    16% 1, 2, 5 & 6

    Assessment Related Requirements
    Detailed information on searching for psychology resources using the internet are available from the Library (see Maureen Bell, the Psychology subject librarian).

    Help with writing for Psychology is available via the Writing Centre
    Assessment Detail
    The Course Learning Outcomes are assessed as follows:

    Exam. The exam will consist of a combination of multiple choice questions and short answer questions. All readings and lectures over the course of the semester may be assessed. Details of exam times are available via the examinations web site.

    Tutorials. Attendance at tutorials is required. The tutorials require active attention and participation from every student in order to be maximally beneficial. For this reason, 4% of your final grade reflects tutorial attendance.

    Quizzes. Each of the four topics will be associated with a 10-question quiz available on MyUni in the Assignments tab. Each quiz is worth 4% of your grade, and can cover content from either the readings or the lectures for that section. You will be able to print out the questions and answer them later (i.e., you do not have to answer everything the first time you log on; however, you can only submit once, so be careful!).

    Prac report: Practical reports will be worth 30% of the grade and are explained fully in the Prac Report folder (found in the Assignments tab on MyUni).


    Submission

    No information currently available.

    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.