Psychology 322: Cognitive Psychology
Dr. Zehr
Spring, 2004
Phone: Ext. 2404
e-mail: zehr@mail.plymouth.edu
Office Hours: MWF 9:00-10:00; TR 1:00-2:00; or by appointment

Text: Cognition: Theory and Applications (6thedition) by Stephen Reed (you should also have a lab manual that accompanies the text)

Aims of the Course:  This course provides an overview of issues, research methodologies, and theories in contemporary cognitive psychology. There will be a strong emphasis on laboratory findings, their interpretation, and their relevance to advancing our understanding of cognitive phenomena. Given the often controversial nature of the discipline we will at times focus in-depth on particular problems and issues. Since we all take for granted the basic yet complex cognitive skills that get us through each day, e.g., memory, attention, perception, reasoning, etc., I hope that you leave this course with an appreciation for the difficulties cognitive psychologists face in their attempts to better understand those things that make us uniquely (?) human. I also hope you leave with the sense that in spite of such difficulties, the problems of cognition are not intractable.

Class Attendance: Attendance is not mandatory, but you are forewarned that some of the material covered in this course is not contained in the text. Also, information in the text will often be covered in richer detail in class. And, to put it bluntly, a great deal of the course material is difficult; it would be eminently challenging to try and learn it on your own. Remember, as Woody Allen once said, 98% of success is just showing up. My point is, there is no substitute for being here. If you feel that attendance is for some reason beyond your limits, please keep in mind that you are responsible for all material and all announcements made in class whether you are there or not.

The Laboratory: Cognitive Psychology is a 4-credit laboratory course.  You must be enrolled in a regularly scheduled lab hour (PS112). The lab component is computer oriented. You will be working with local software and/or a WEB site that will allow you to act as a subject in various experiments. The site allows you to replicate classic findings in the cognitive literature. This component is central to your understanding of course material. Attendance at lab meetings is therefore required. If you do not complete all assigned lab work, you will automatically flunk the course, regardless of your other grades.

Paper: Your writing assignment for the semester is a summary and reflection on two journal articles. Specifically, I'd like you to select, read, and write about two research articles from the professional literature in human learning/cognition. The easiest way to find an appropriate article is through use of the EBSCOhost system found on the Lamson Libray homepage. This system allows you access to two important databases--PsycINFO and PsycARTICLES. In PsycARTICLES you'll find the full text of 38 APA journals. PsycINFO covers 1500 journals, but not all are full text. Your specific task is as follows:
 

As you write the summaries, please be careful. Plagiarism, whether intentional or unintentional, is a violation of Plymouth State University's Academic Integrity Policy.

I will evaluate your paper in terms of both content and writing style. Don't be afraid to write more than a single draft--revision is a key to good and effective writing. I also strongly suggest that you get feedback on your drafts from either myself, your peers, or the staff at the University Writing Center (located in the basement of Mary Lyon Hall).

The final draft of your paper is due on Thursday, May 6th at 11:00 pm. No late papers will be accepted unless there are compelling extenuating circumstances (e.g., medical/family emergency, jury duty, military service).

Grades:  Final grades will be determined using the following criteria:

1.  Performance on four essay exams

2.  Completion of and performance on laboratory assignments

3.  Completion of and performance on the paper assignment

Each exam, lab assignment, and the research paper will carry a set number of points. Final grades will be based upon the total number of points earned.

Missed exams may be made up only with permission of the instructor. The reason for missing an exam is the primary factor that will determine whether or not a make-up is available. Legitimate reasons for missing an exam include but are not limited to: documented medical circumstances, care of family during an emergency, military duty, jury duty. All make-up exams will be administered on Friday, May 21st at 2:30 pm, which is the university’s official make-up time as printed in the time and room schedule. Non-legitimate reasons for missing an exam carry an automatic zero.

All lab assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due dates as specified on the lab assignment sheets. Late assignments will lose 5 points per day for each calendar day they are late.

Academic Integrity: All students are expected to adhere to the principles of academic integrity as articulated in the Plymouth State University Catalog. If you are not familiar with the policy, please read the catalog carefully. Common examples of violations of academic integrity are cheating on an exam or passing off someone else's work as your own (plagiarism). If I suspect you have violated the academic integrity policy, I will pursue the case as outlined in the policy. If you are found guilty of violating the academic integrity policy you may fail the class, or in certain circumstances, be suspended or expelled from the College.

                       TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE

February 3rd: Introduction/History of Cognitive Psychology (Chapter1)

February 5th:  History continued; Research Methods

February 4th:  Methods continued; Neurocognition (Chapter 1)

February 10th:  Neurocognition continued

February 12th: Neurocognition continued

February 17th: Evolution of cognition

February 19th: Evolution continued

February 24th: Exam I

February 26th: Pattern Recognition (Chapter 2)

March 2nd: Pattern Recognition continued

March 4th: Attention (Chapter 3)

March 9th: Attention continued

March 11th: Short-term working memory (Chapter 4)

March 16th: Working memory continued

March 18th: Exam II

March 23rd: NO CLASS-SPRING BREAK

March 25th: NO CLASS-SPRING BREAK

March 30th: Long-term memory (Chapter 5)

April 1st: Long-term memory continued

April 6th: Memory codes (Chapter 6)

April 8th: Memory codes continued

April 13th: Visual images (Chapter 7)

April 15th: Visual images continued

April 20th: Exam III

April 22nd: Categorization (Chapter 8)

April 27th: Semantic organization (Chapter 9)

April 29th: Semantic organization continued

May 4th: Problem solving (Chapter 12)

May 6th: Reasoning and Decision Making (Chapter 14)

May 11th: Reasoning continued

May 13th: wrap-up

May 18th: Final Exam 11:00-1:30