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Cognitive Psychology (PSYC20007)
Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
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 demonstrate knowledge of:
- the historical and philosophical foundations of cognitive psychology;
- the key theories, models and experimental findings central to cognitive psychology;
- the research methods and ethical principles appropriate to the design and analysis of research questions in 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:
- critical review of the main theories in one or more areas of cognitive psychology;
- derivation of 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 empirical 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 cognitive psychology theories, measurement techniques, and research findings can inform everyday problems in areas such as:
- biases in decision-making;
- cultural assumptions of cognitive theories and methods for measuring cognitive processes.
- the role of cognition in the development and maintenance of psychological disorders;
- failures of attention and memory;
- reasoning and solving problems;
- eye-witness testimony;
- learning and remembering information;
Generic skills
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;
- work effectively in a team on a group project;
- critically analyse research findings.
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
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: 11 April 2024
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
An examination
| During the examination period | 50% |
An assignment
| From Week 5 to Week 9 | 40% |
Participation in a group oral presentation/debate
| From Week 10 to Week 12 | 10% |
An online hurdle module
| From Week 3 to Week 7 | N/A |
Hurdle requirement: Each piece of assessment must be submitted. | N/A | |
Hurdle requirement: Attendance of at least 80% of laboratory classes. In case of failure to meet the attendance requirement, additional work related to the missed class activities (e.g., an essay whose length is 500 words for each tutorial missed) will be required before a passing grade can be awarded. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Last updated: 11 April 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Annie Blunden Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24 hours of lectures and 12 hours of laboratories Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 3 August 2020 to 1 November 2020 Last self-enrol date 14 August 2020 Census date 21 September 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 16 October 2020 Assessment period ends 27 November 2020 Semester 2 contact information
Time commitment details
170 hours
Last updated: 11 April 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 Informal specialisation Science-credited subjects - new generation B-SCI Major Psychology Major Psychology Informal specialisation Selective subjects for B-BMED - Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Design
- Bachelor of Environments
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- 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
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 11 April 2024