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Computational Behavioural Science (PSYC30023)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
To learn more, visit 2023 Course and subject delivery.
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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Fees | Look up fees |
Understanding human behaviour is a major challenge and a crucial step in solving many of the world’s most wicked problems. As access to computational power has grown and data sources have expanded computational modelling methods have become essential to progress in understanding cognitive and social processes. This course covers topics in perception, memory, language, reasoning, social structure and influence from a computational modelling perspective. For computer scientists, it illustrates how computational approaches can be used to capture and explain human behaviour. For behavioural scientists, it provides the skill set required to develop computational theories of cognition and social behaviour and to exploit new and emerging sources of digital data.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, students should be able to:
- Recognise and identify key terms of cognitive processes including perception, memory, language and reasoning
- Explain and illustrate processes that give rise to social structure and influence
- Build, employ, and analyse computational models of cognitive and social processes
- Communicate and critique the outcomes of computational modelling exercises in written form.
Generic skills
- Think critically and coherently about complex problems in the behavioural sciences;
- Translate aims and objectives for investigating complex problems into measurable questions, hypotheses, findings, and answers;
- Evaluate both various kinds of evidence to support answers to, and inferences about, complex problems;
- Synthesise and present evidence in meaningful and interpretable ways for others to comprehend;
- Critically recognise and articulate various limitations when investigating complex problems.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
None
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Recommended background knowledge
There are no prerequisite subjects but a basic understanding of computer programming will be assumed. For instance, completion of PSYC30013 Research Methods for Human Inquiry would be sufficient. The course is intended to be delivered in semester 2 to draw on previous training in this respect.
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: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Six computational notebooks
| Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 | 60% |
Final Exam
| During the examination period | 40% |
Attendance Hurdle requirement: Attendance of at least 80% of tutorial classes. In case of failure to meet the attendance requirement, additional work related to the missed class activities (e.g., short 500 word essay on missed topic) will be required before a passing grade can be awarded. | N/A |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Simon Dennis Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 12 x 3 hour lectures and 12 x 1 hr tutorials Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 24 July 2023 to 22 October 2023 Last self-enrol date 4 August 2023 Census date 31 August 2023 Last date to withdraw without fail 22 September 2023 Assessment period ends 17 November 2023 Semester 2 contact information
What do these dates mean
Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:
- Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
- And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
- Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Psychology Major Psychology Informal specialisation Science Discipline subjects - new generation B-SCI - 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.
Last updated: 31 January 2024