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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PS 307-2"
COURSE NAME: "Cognitive Psychology"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2020
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Bruno Galantucci
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 3:00-4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: PS 210
OFFICE HOURS:
by appointment
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course will examine the structure and function of mental processes, which account for human behavior. Topics include attention, perception, memory, problem solving, decision making, cognitive development, language, and human intelligence. Individual, situational, gender, and cultural differences in cognition will also be explored. An individual research project or research paper is required.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course will introduce you to basic themes in cognitive psychology such as perception, attention, memory, visual imagery and, with a particular emphasis, language. These themes provide foundational concepts for many other areas of psychology.
For each theme, you will learn about the basic introductory concepts and then interact with some of the original sources of such concepts.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Students will be able to analyze major concepts in the discipline of cognitive psychology and its major subfields
- Students will be able to analyze major theories and issues in the discipline of cognitive psychology and its major subfields
- Students will be able to relate everyday experiences and events in the world to relevant pieces of empirically based knowledge and theories in cognitive psychology
- Students will be able to analyze issues in the real world using cognitive psychology theories
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research and Everyday Experience 4th Edition | E. Bruce Goldstein | CENGAGE | ebook: 1305464060; bound book: 1285763882 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Exams | There will be three midterms (the dates will be announced on the first day of class) and a final. The exams will cover the assigned textbook chapters, the lectures, and the assigned readings. Each midterm will be non-cumulative and will cover approximately a third of the course material. The final will be cumulative. Each exam is worth 25 points toward the final grade and you grade for the category will be based on your best three tests (i.e., the lowest test score will be dropped). If you miss any of the exams, that will be your dropped score. Thus, NO MAKE UP EXAMS will be allowed for any reason.
(I am aware that if a student does not miss any exam, the policy above provides an opportunity to improve the grade. This is a side benefit enjoyed by every student who takes all of the exams, not a right which you can barter for other things. In other words, if you do miss an exam, please be aware that I will not provide an alternative opportunity to improve your grade.) | 75 |
| Quizzes | There will be five pop-up quizzes throughout the semester, each worth 5 points toward the final grade. Your lowest grade will be dropped. There will be no make-up quizzes. If you miss class on a day when a pop-quiz is administered, that will be your dropped score. Pop-up quizzes will be administered at the beginning of the class period. It is your responsibility to arrive in class on time. | 20 |
| Attendance | Attendance is very important for this class and will be monitored. At the beginning of the semester every student is automatically awarded five points toward the final grade for the attendance. After the third absence, each absence will lead to a penalty of two points toward the final grade, which will be subtracted from the attendance grade. For example, if you cumulate five absences over the semester, you will lose one point toward the final grade whereas, if you miss less than four classes, you will be awarded five points. In other words, a six points net difference. Students who miss class are encouraged to acquire all of the missed information from fellow students in the class. | 5 |
| Extra credit | One point toward the final grade will be awarded to any student who wins the “Best cartoon of the week” contest. The cartoon must be directly relevant to a point discussed in class the week before and contain a caption describing why it is relevant (max length 50 words). In order to be considered for that week’s contest, the cartoons and the captions must be submitted via e-mail (using the template slide posted on Moodle) by Sunday 1pm. Late submissions or submissions which do not comply with the requirements will be ignored. The last “Best cartoon of the week” contest will take place on Sunday, November 24.
The maximum amount of extra credit that a student can earn is two. | |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course. 93-100:A 90-92.99:A-
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluate theory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture and reference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments. 86-89.99:B+ 83-85.99:B 80-82.99:B-
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings. 75-79.99:C+ 70-74.99:C 65-69.99:C-
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail. 60-64.99:D+ 55-59.99:D 50-54.99:D-
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant. Below 50:F
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Attendance policy. Attendance is very important for this class and will be monitored. At the beginning of the semester every student is automatically awarded five points toward the final grade for the attendance. After the third absence, each absence will lead to a penalty of two points toward the final grade, which will be subtracted from the attendance grade. For example, if you cumulate five absences over the semester, you will lose one point toward the final grade whereas, if you miss less than four classes, you will be awarded five points. In other words, a six points net difference. Students who miss class are encouraged to acquire all of the missed information from fellow students in the class.
Classroom policy. Please be aware that the use of laptops, tablets, smartphones—or any other device that engages your attention during class time—is not allowed.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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TENTATIVE SCHEDULE (SUBJECT TO CHANGES AND ADJUSTMENTS)
| Classes |
Lectures |
Exams |
| 1-9 |
Intro to Cognitive Psychology (Ch. 1)
Cognitive Neuroscience (Ch. 2)
Perception (Ch. 3)
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MIDTERM #1 |
| 10-19 |
Attention (Ch. 4)
Short-term and Working Memory (Ch. 5)
Long-term Memory: Structure (Ch. 6)
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MIDTERM #2 |
| 20-28 |
Long-term Memory: Encoding, Retrieval and Consolidation (Ch. 7)
Visual Imagery (Ch. 10)
Language and communication (Ch. 11 + assigned readings) |
MIDTERM #3 |
| Review for FINAL |
| Finals week |
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FINAL
(all materials assigned for MIDTERMS 1-3) |
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