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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PS 307"
COURSE NAME: "Cognitive Psychology"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Summer Session II 2024
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Carola Salvi
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MTWTH 9:00 AM 10:50 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: PS 210 with a grade of C- or above
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:
Central topics include how perceptual information enters the mind; How attention is used to select from the array of available sensory information; How information is organized, stored, and retrieved from memory; How we convey information to others through language, and how knowledge is transformed by reasoning. We will also address how biological cycles, emotions, drugs, and culture may influence cognition.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The course is designed with 6 goals in mind, which will help you work towards achieving the main learning objectives of the major (indicated in parenthesis). At the end of the course students will be able to:
1. Understand the key concepts and themes and critically evaluate theories in cognitive psychology using the appropriate terminology (LOS1)
2. Explain the implications (and application) of cognitive psychology to everyday life (LOS1)
3. Understand and critically evaluate the strength and weaknesses of the methods used and the questions addressed in cognitive psychology (LOS2)
4. Critically evaluate cognitive psychology research, including quantitative data (e.g., statistics, graphs, tables) (LOS2)
5. Accurately summarize and present information from psychological sources (LOS3)
6. Being able to assess the veracity and scientific reliability of online end media content they read, by directly going to the scientific source. (LOS4 and 2)
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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 | E. Bruce Goldstein | Cengage Learning, Inc | 9781337408271 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Exams | During the session, 3 exams will be administered, 2 midterms plus a final exam. The midterms will review the assigned textbook readings, lectures, and additional material covered in the preceding classes. Each midterm is non-cumulative and covers approximately 1/2 of the course material. Exams will include various questions (e.g., multiple-choice, short answers, essay). The final will be cumulative, that is, it will cover anything discussed throughout the course. Each exam will be worth 45 points. Of the 3 exams, only your TWO highest scores will count towards your final grade. Your lowest (out of 3) exam score will be dropped. You have to take at least 2 exams. The extra exam allows those who have to miss a test (i.e., excused absence) during the semester to make up for it. This means THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP TESTS. No other arrangement will be made. | 90 |
| Atendance | Attendance in this class is mandatory and it will count as 10% of your grade. 8 excused absences are allowed | 10 |
-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.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
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.
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.
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.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed.
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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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PS307-1 COURSE SCHEDULE SummerII 2024
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(Subject to change with advance notice.)
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WEEK
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TOPIC & READING
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1
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Welcome and Overview
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Goldstein Ch. 1:Intro to Cognitive Psychology
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Goldstein Ch. 2:Cognitive Neuroscience
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Goldstein Ch. 3:Perception + Gestalt theory
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Goldstein Ch. 4:Attention
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2
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Goldstein Ch. 5:Short-Term & Working Memory
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Goldstein Ch. 6:Long-Term Memory: Structure
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Review
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Mid term 1
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Goldstein Ch. 7:Long-Term Memory: Encoding,
Retrieval, & Consolidation
Goldstein Ch. 8:Everyday Memory & Errors
Goldstein Ch. 9:Knowledge |
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Journal club
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4
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Goldstein Ch. 10:Visual Imagery
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Perception and problem solving: physiological markers of old theories
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5
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Journal club
Goldstein Ch. 11:Language
Students presentations on Journal club
Review
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Mid term 2 |
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FINAL EXAM
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