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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 (login required)(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Principal Coordinator:
A/Prof Daniel Little
daniel.little@unimelb.edu.au
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; categorization, similarity and the mental representation of knowledge; the structure, function and organisation of the human memory system; human learning 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;
- 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: 1 March 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Corequisites
Non-allowed subjects
Recommended background knowledge
Prior coursework in PSYC10003/PSYC10006/PSYC90097 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: 1 March 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Examination, MCQ format
| During the examination period | 50% |
An assignment
| From Week 5 to Week 9 | 40% |
Participation in a group oral presentation/debate (3-5 students)
| From Week 10 to Week 12 | 10% |
An online assessment hurdle module
| Late in the teaching period | 0% |
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: 1 March 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Principal coordinator Daniel Little Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours One x 2-hour lecture per week plus one x 2-hour tutorial per fortnight Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 22 July 2024 to 20 October 2024 Last self-enrol date 2 August 2024 Census date 2 September 2024 Last date to withdraw without fail 20 September 2024 Assessment period ends 15 November 2024 Semester 2 contact information
Principal Coordinator:
A/Prof Daniel Little
daniel.little@unimelb.edu.au
Time commitment details
170 hours
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: 1 March 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Goldstein, E.B. (2014). Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research and Everyday Experience, 5th Edition. Cengage Learning.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
Type Name Course Graduate Diploma in Psychology Major Psychology Major Psychology Informal specialisation Science Discipline subjects - new generation B-SCI - 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 (Production)
- 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: 1 March 2024