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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "PS 307-2"
COURSE NAME: "Cognitive Psychology"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Eleonora Vagnoni
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: TTH 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, language, and conceptual knowledge. 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:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
Cognitive Psychology A Student's Handbook Michael W. Eysenck, Mark T. KeaneRoutledge9781138482234  

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
ExamsDuring 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 ClassFor the flipped classroom you will be required to read a paper before class. During class 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:
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. The final exam period runs until ____________
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

SCHEDULE  

W1 

Introduction to the Course and the type of Assessment. What is a Flipped Classroom. The importance of Quizzes. Introducing cognitive psychology 

Goldstein, E., & van Hooff, J. (2023). Cognitive Psychology. Cengage Learning EMEA. Chapter 1 

Introducing the brain 

Goldstein, E., & van Hooff, J. (2023). Cognitive Psychology. Cengage Learning EMEA. Chapter 2 

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 

W2 

Perception 

Goldstein, E., & van Hooff, J. (2023). Cognitive Psychology. Cengage Learning EMEA. Chapter 3 

Perception 

Goldstein, E., & van Hooff, J. (2023). Cognitive Psychology. Cengage Learning EMEA. Chapter 3 

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 

W3 

Attention 

Goldstein, E., & van Hooff, J. (2023). Cognitive Psychology. Cengage Learning EMEA. Chapter 4 

Attention 

Goldstein, E., & van Hooff, J. (2023). Cognitive Psychology. Cengage Learning EMEA. Chapter 4 

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 

W4 

Review of the Material before the Midterm Exam  

Midterm Exam 1 in class 

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 

W5 

Short Term Memory 

Goldstein, E., & van Hooff, J. (2023). Cognitive Psychology. Cengage Learning EMEA. Chapter 5 

Short Term Memory 

  Goldstein, E., & van Hooff, J. (2023). Cognitive Psychology. Cengage Learning EMEA. Chapter 5 

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 

W6 

Long Term Memory Structure 

Goldstein, E., & van Hooff, J. (2023). Cognitive Psychology. Cengage Learning EMEA. Chapter 6 

Long Term Memory Structure 

Goldstein, E., & van Hooff, J. (2023). Cognitive Psychology. Cengage Learning EMEA. Chapter 6 

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 

W7 

Encoding 

Goldstein, E., & van Hooff, J. (2023). Cognitive Psychology. Cengage Learning EMEA. Chapter 7 

Encoding 

Goldstein, E., & van Hooff, J. (2023). Cognitive Psychology. Cengage Learning EMEA. Chapter 7 

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 

W8 SPRING BREAK 

______________________________________________________________________________________ 

W9 

Review of the Material before the Midterm Exam  

Midterm Exam 2 in class 

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 

W10 

Everyday Memory and Memory Errors 

Goldstein, E., & van Hooff, J. (2023). Cognitive Psychology. Cengage Learning EMEA. Chapter 8 

Everyday Memory and Memory Errors  

Goldstein, E., & van Hooff, J. (2023). Cognitive Psychology. Cengage Learning EMEA. Chapter 8 

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 

W11 

November Conceptual Knowledge 

Goldstein, E., & van Hooff, J. (2023). Cognitive Psychology. Cengage Learning EMEA. Chapter 9 

Flipped Classroom on Emotion and Cognition 

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 

W12 

Emotion and Cognition 

Niedenthal, P. M., & Ric, F. (2017). Psychology of emotion. Psychology Press. Chapter 8 

Emotion and Cognition 

Niedenthal, P. M., & Ric, F. (2017). Psychology of emotion. Psychology Press. Chapter 8 

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 

W13 

Language production 

Goldstein, E., & van Hooff, J. (2023). Cognitive Psychology. Cengage Learning EMEA. Chapter 11 

Language comprehension 

Goldstein, E., & van Hooff, J. (2023). Cognitive Psychology. Cengage Learning EMEA. Chapter 11 

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 

W14 

Review of the Material before the Midterm Exam  

Midterm Exam 3 

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 

W15 

 Judgment, Decisions and Reasoning 

Goldstein, E., & van Hooff, J. (2023). Cognitive Psychology. Cengage Learning EMEA. Chapter 13 

Problem Solving 

Goldstein, E., & van Hooff, J. (2023). Cognitive Psychology. Cengage Learning EMEA. Chapter 12 

_______________________________________________________________________________________ 

May 5-9 Final Exam cumulative in class