|
|
JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "PS 307-1"
COURSE NAME: "Cognitive Psychology"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2024
|
SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Eleonora Vagnoni
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: PS 210 with a grade of C- or above
OFFICE HOURS:
|
|
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.
|
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
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.
|
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
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)
|
TEXTBOOK:
|
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
|
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Exam | During the semester, 3 closed-book, in-person midterm exams will be administered, plus a closed-book, in-person 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 1/3 of the course material. Exams will include a variety of questions (e.g., multiple choice, short answers, essay). The final will be cumulative, that is, it will cover anything that has been discussed throughout the course. Each exam will be worth 30 points. Of the 4 exams, only your THREE highest scores will count towards your final grade. Your lowest (out of four) exam score will be dropped. You have to take at least 3 exams. The extra exam allows those who have to miss a test (i.e., excused absence) during the semester to be able to make-up for it. This means THERE WILL BE NO MAKE-UP TESTS. If you miss any of the three test, that will be your dropped score. No other arrangement will be made. | 90 |
| Flipped Class | For the flipped classroom you will be required to read a paper before class. During class there will be an oral discussion of the paper and you will be asked to respond to few questions. There will be no make-up assignment. | 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:
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. Individual, situational, gender, and cultural differences in cognition will also be explored. A research paper is required.
|
|
|
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.
|
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.
|
|
|
SCHEDULE
|
|
Week 1 Introducing cognitive neuroscience
Introducing the brain
Week 2 Methods in Cognitive Psychology
Week 3 Perception
Week 4 Attention
In Person Midterm Exam 1
Week 5 Cognitive Development and Neural Plasticity
Week 6 Short Term Memory
Week 7 Long Term Memory
Week 8 Amnesia
In Person Midterm Exam 2
Week 9 The emotional Brain
Flipped Classroom
Week 10 The social Brain
Week 11 Language
Week 12 The Executive Functions
Week 13 Problem solving, judgment and decision making
In Person Midterm Exam 3
Week 14 Review of the material before the final exam
Week 15 Final Exam
|
|
|