PSYCHOL 2006 - Foundations of Perception & Cognition
North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2015
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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, PSYCHOL 1001 and PSYCHOL 1004 or equivalent Corequisites PSYCHOL 2004 Incompatible PSYCHOL 2000A/B & PSYCHOL 2002 or PSYCHOL 2003 Assumed Knowledge PSYCHOL 2004 Assessment Online exercises, written assignments, written exam Course Staff
Course Coordinator: Professor Carolyn Semmler
Additional academic staff: Dr Matthew Dry - ph +61 8313 3856; Email matthew.dry@adelaide.edu.au
Dr Amy Perfors - ph +61 8313 5744; Email amy.perfors@adelaide.edu.au
School of Psychology Office: Ph +61 8313 5693; Email psychologyoffice@adelaide.edu.auCourse Timetable
The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.
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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 6th 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) Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1, 2, 5 The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 3, 4, 5, 6 An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 6, 7 Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 7 A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. 7 A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 6 An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 1, 2, 8, 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/
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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.
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 Perception Introduction to perception/ Notes on Methods Week 2 Perception Spatial vision/Body senses and binocular vision Week 3 Perception Motion perception/Attention Week 4 Memory Sensory memory/Attention Week 5 Memory Attention/Short Term memory Week 6 Memory Problem Solving/Working memory Week 7 Memory/Language Long Term memory/Introduction to language Week 8 Language Learning language 1/Learning language 2 Week 9 Language Using language/Evolution of language Week 10 Language/Decision Making Language and thought/ Introduction to decision making Week 11 Decision Making Descriptive decision making/ Perscriptive decision making Week 12 Decision Making Medical decision making/ Legal & forensic decision making -
Assessment
The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:
- Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
- Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
- Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
- Assessment must maintain academic standards.
Assessment Summary
Assessment Task Assessment Type Weighting 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 CentreAssessment 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).
Please refer to the Level II Psychology Handbook and the General Handbook for Undergraduate Psychology students (available at the links below) for further details relating to assessmentSubmission
Please refer to the General Handbook for Undergraduate Psychology students (available at the link below) for details on submission process/requirements, penalties for late submission, the process of applying for extensions, and the staff “turn-around” timeline on assessments and the provision of feedback and policy relating to re-submission/redemptive work.
http://health.adelaide.edu.au/psychology/current-students/forms-handbooks/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.
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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.
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Student Support
- Academic Integrity for Students
- Academic Support with Maths
- Academic Support with writing and study skills
- Careers Services
- International Student Support
- Library Services for Students
- LinkedIn Learning
- Student Life Counselling Support - Personal counselling for issues affecting study
- Students with a Disability - Alternative academic arrangements
- YouX Student Care - Advocacy, confidential counselling, welfare support and advice
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Policies & Guidelines
This section contains links to relevant assessment-related policies and guidelines - all university policies.
- Academic Credit Arrangements Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progress by Coursework Students Policy
- Assessment for Coursework Programs Policy
- Copyright Compliance Policy
- Coursework Academic Programs Policy
- Elder Conservatorium of Music Noise Management Plan
- Intellectual Property Policy
- IT Acceptable Use and Security Policy
- Modified Arrangements for Coursework Assessment Policy
- Reasonable Adjustments to Learning, Teaching & Assessment for Students with a Disability Policy
- Student Experience of Learning and Teaching Policy
- Student Grievance Resolution Process
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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.
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