COMP40250 Introduction to Cognitive Psychology

Academic Year 2023/2024

This module provides a thorough introduction to the core ideas in modern Cognitive Psychology. As such, it will cover the main components of the cognitive system (e.g., working memory, long-term memory, thinking processes), sketching the key findings in psychology, computational models and neurological underpinnings throughout. The module will also involve group project work in designing, constructing, and running a cognitive experiment, right through to write-up.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

On completing this module, students will have acquired the following knowledge:1) Understanding of the principal issues in cognitive psychology 2) Understanding of the principal components of the cognitive system and how they operate (e.g., structure and function of memory, perception, problem solving; 3) Understanding of the range of experimental methods used in this area, 4) Understanding of the range of theoretical apporaches taken and computational models used. On completion students should be able to 5) Critically assess experiment, theory and model in the area; 6) Identify important trends in current work within cognitive psychology, 7) Engage robustly with primary literature within cognitive psychology and 8) Design and run a cognitive study.

Indicative Module Content:

Topics covered could include attention, short-term memory, long-term memory, conceptual structure, reasoning, language, decision making etc.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Practical

100
Specified Learning Activities

26
Total

150
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Practical projects involving experimental design in cognitive psychology 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

None.

Learning Recommendations:

Students joining the course who have not studied Cognitive Psychology before will need to apply themselves on a weekly basis to the recommended readings and other lecture materials; as the course covers a lot of ground.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Essay: Essay on selected cognitive psychology topics Coursework (End of Trimester) n/a Graded No

40
Continuous Assessment: Project Design Unspecified n/a Graded No

60

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

feedback on projects will be delivered within 2 weeks of submission.

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
 
Autumn
      
Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Wed 11:00 - 12:50