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Cognitive Psychology (PSYC20007)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 |
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Mental processes such as attention, memory, language and categorisation form the basis of our creative human cognitive abilities. An understanding of these cognitive abilities and the methods used by cognitive psychologists to study them provides an essential foundation for ongoing study in psychology. Classic and current research findings will be discussed to reveal what is known about the workings of the human mind.
Specific topics may include: Perceptual processes and their role in cognition; the nature and function of selective attention; categorisation and the mental representation of knowledge; the structure, function and organisation of the human memory system; human linguistic ability, including language acquisition, language disorders, and models of spoken and written language processes; higher order cognitive processes such as explanation formation and decision making.
A quantitative methods component will be integrated into the lecture, tutorial and assessment structure of this subject to provide an understanding of and practical experience with the experimental design and statistical analysis techniques used to evaluate theories in Cognitive Psychology.
Intended learning outcomes
Knowledge: On completion of this subject students should demonstration knowledge of:
- the historical and philosophical foundations of cognitive psychology;
- the key theories, models and experimental findings central to cognitive psychology;
- the core assumptions of the major competing paradigms in cognitive psychology.
Skills: On completion of this subject students should have developed skills in:
- reviewing critically the main theories in one or more areas of cognitive psychology;
- deriving testable empirical predictions from a cognitive theory and assessing the adequacy of these against a set of experimental findings;
- summarising and analysing data in a way that is appropriate to the e
- mpirical test of a cognitive theory;
- working as part of a group to develop and present an oral presentation/debate on a topic related to cognitive psychology.
Application of knowledge and skills: On completion of this subject students should be able to apply their knowledge and skills to:
- explain how theories and research findings from cognitive psychology can inform everyday problems; for example, biases in decision-making; failures of attention and memory; eye-witness testimony, reasoning and solving problems; learning and remembering information; how cognitive processes are involved in the development and maintenance of psychological disorders.
Generic skills
Students will be given appropriate opportunity and educational support to develop skills to:
- conceptualise theoretical problems, form hypotheses, and arguments
- communicate ideas clearly in written and oral formats;
- participate in teamwork through small group discussions;
- research an area and analyse the information critically.
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this subject
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
51224 Cognitive Psychology 2
512226 Cognitive Psychology
Recommended background knowledge
Prior coursework in PSYC10003/PSYC80001 Mind Brain and Behaviour 1.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Assessment
Additional details
Written laboratory report of 1500-2000 words (40%) due mid-semester.
A multiple choice examination of no more than two hours (50%) to be completed at the end of semester during the specified University examination period.
Completion of weekly online quizzes on lecture content (hurdle requirement).
Participation in a group oral presentation/debate (10%) between weeks 10-12.
Attendance of at least 80% of the laboratory classes is a hurdle requirement.
In case of failure to meet the hurdle requirement, additional work will be required before a passing grade can be awarded.
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Meredith McKague Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 hours of lectures and 12 hours of laboratories Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 23 July 2018 to 21 October 2018 Last self-enrol date 3 August 2018 Census date 31 August 2018 Last date to withdraw without fail 21 September 2018 Assessment period ends 16 November 2018 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 15 February 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Goldstein, E.B. (2014). Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research and Everyday Experience, 4th Edition. Cengage Learning.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Psychology Major Psychology Informal specialisation Science-credited subjects - new generation B-SCI and B-ENG. Major Psychology Informal specialisation Selective subjects for B-BMED - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
subject coordinator approval required
Last updated: 15 February 2024