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Cognitive Psychology 2PY260

RATIONALE FOR THE INCLUSION OF THE COURSE/MODULE IN THE PROGRAMME: 1. To provide detailed study of key concepts in cognitive psychology 2. To provide opportunities to analyse specific research in cognitive psychology and carry out small scale studies 3. To encourage effective communication of knowledge and insights in cognitive psychology using appropriate technical language SEMESTER AND YEAR OFFERED Semester 2 Year 2 CLASS SCHEDULE Tuesdays (3.30-6pm) CREDIT VALUE Three (3) PREREQUISITE (if any) Completion for all Level 1 subjects ACADEMIC STAFF Sam Jeng Mun B. Psychology (HONS) M. Clinical Psychology CONTACT E-mail: jengmuns@gmail.com (Consultation based on appointment Tuesdays before/after class) SYNOPSIS This course is designed to enable students to build on their understanding of cognitive psychology by applying analytical and research skills, on a small scale, to issues in cognition such as human reasoning, attention, memory, comprehension, problem-solving, and decision making. Students also learn how to communicate knowledge and insights in cognitive psychology using appropriate technical language. LEARNING OUTCOMES At the end of the course, learners will be able to: 1. Analyse various cognitive models and concepts 2. Apply knowledge of cognitive psychology to analyse data from a small scale cognitive research project 3. Communicate and explain various cognitive models in cognitive psychology terms

TRANSFERABLE SKILLS Students will acquire knowledge and research skills related to cognitive psychology which are applicable settings that require them to deal or work with individuals or groups who need help in improving attention, memory, comprehension, problem solving, reasoning and decision making skills in their daily lives. These skills can be used in designing programmes that are affected by factors involving the mental processes stated above. SUPPLEMENTARY TEXTBOOK Any Cognitive Psychology Textbook TEACHING-LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT STRATEGY This course combines lectures with group tutorials Assessment strategy Coursework Examination ASSESSMENT METHODS AND TYPES Coursework : 60% Examination : 40% MODE OF DELIVERY Lecture/Group Discussion SUMMARY OF COURSE STRUCTURE Introduction to cognitive psychology and perception in general The five senses Theories of perception 1. Visual perception 1 Constructivism The Empiricist tradition Perception more than the direct registration of sensation Illusions evidence for constructivism Visual Ambiguity Perceptions as Hypotheses Visual perception 2 Direct Perception Opposite of constructivism Information picked up directly rather than processed

 Optic array Invariants Optic flow Texture gradients Affordances Visual Perception 3 Computationalism History of computer computer psychology (information processing) David Marr Levels of processing Zero crossings 2. Attention 1 Selectivity Vigilance Mental concentration Internal/external Conscious/unconscious Attention 2 The Stroop Effect Inattentional blindness Mack and Rock (1998) Salience (own name effect) 3. Thinking and reasoning 1 Concepts and Categories: Memory and Meaning Mental Representations: Intentionality Visuospatial reasoning Thinking and reasoning 2 Causation Induction Deduction Mental models 4. Representation and language 1 Mental Representations

 Computational theory of mind Language of thought hypothesis Representation and language 2 Language and Thought Language and culture Language and Thinking in animals Representation and language 3 Language acquisition Language development Crucial stages Uses and types of language