PSY 405 - 3 sh

Cognition

This course is designed to be an advanced topical course within the specific area of Human Cognition. Students will utilize their methodology skills attained form PSY 290 to examine the area of Cognition from both the practical and theoretical standpoints. Students will be responsible for in-depth readings of original research in several specific areas of Cognition. In addition, students will be involved in the basic methods of data collection, experimental design, data analysis, and report writing within the area of Cognition.

Psychology 290

Psychology 405 is a representative course number for core experimental psychology topics courses in a wide variety of content areas within psychology. The methodologies and topical specifics within Motivational psychology are sufficiently different from the other areas of experimental PSY 40x to warrant separate investigation. This course will be offered each Spring semester. Approximately 24 students will be enrolled each Spring semester.

As a result of successful completion of this course, student will be able to

1. identify the different issues and topics within the area of Cognition
2. examine the different theories of Cognition Which are of both historical and contemporary importance
3. demonstrate critical examination of the research support for each of those theories discussed
4. examine the different methodologies used in the area
5. teach critical evaluation of the current research articles in the field
6. be familiar with the breadth of subtopic areas within the field of Cognition
7. demonstrate increased sophistication in designing research experiments
8. integrate their experiences in designing, executing, and communicating an experimental research project
9. improve their writing skills through a series of written research papers and a major research project of their own design.

1. Sensory Memory
1. Sensory sensation
2. Stimulus pattern recognition
2. Attention and Short-Term Memory
1. STH inputs
2. STH outputs
3. When is STM used?
3. Learning & Memory
1. New learning
2. Forgetting
3. Reconstructive processes
4. Imagery
4. Semantic Memory & Retrieval
1. Retrieval cues
2. Semantic memory
3. Models of semantic memory
4. Forgetting from semantic memory
5. Concept Formation
1. How are concepts formed
2. Structure of concepts
6. Problem Solving
1. Problem characteristics
2. Processes in problem solving
3. Knowledge and experience
4. Expert systems
7. Language
1. Syntax
2. Phonemes, morphemes, and words
3. Phrases and phrase structure
4. Comprehension
5. Language and thought
8. Reasoning and Judgment
1. Syllogistic reasoning
2. Truth testing
3. Inferences about uncertainty
4. Heuristics and algorithms
9. Practical Applications
1. Applications for the law
2. Human factors
3. Education

The course is taught using lecture and discussion with a separate laboratory section. The lecture component is designed to give an overview of the topic areas. The laboratory is used to design and run Motivational experiments using the class as both experimenters and subjects. At the end of the semester the students then present the findings of their own research to the rest of the class.

Students will be required to:

1. be in regular attendance
2. complete all readings
3. adequately perform on tests
4. submit all papers and critiques
5. complete peer reviews on projects
6. design, run and analyze an individual project

Each student is required to submit a series of papers on the laboratory exercises conducted in the laboratory sections. In addition, two essay test are given in which the students explain the major concepts within Cognition. The students are also required to design and conduct an experiment either individually or in teams of two or three. These experiments are then written up and presented to the class. Evaluations are based on the write-up and the presentation.

No additional resources needed.

Ashcraft, M.H. (1989). Human Memory and Cognition. Scott, Foresman & Company.: IL.

Bourne. L.E., Dominowski, R.L., Loftus, E.F., Healy, A.F. (1986). Cognitive Processes, 2nd Edition. Prentice Hall Inc.: Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

Glass, A.L. & Holyoak, K.J. (1986). Cognition, 2nd Edition. Random House.: NY.

Matlin, M.W. (1994). Cognition, 3rd Edition. Holt, Rinehart, & Winston, Inc.: NY.

Puff, R.C. (1982). Handbook of Research Methods in Human Memory and Cognition. Academic Press.: NY.

Reed, S.K. (1988). Cognition: Theory and Applications, 2nd Edition. Brooks/Cole.: CA.