SYLLABUS * COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY * PSYCH 234

 

                                                                  SECTION 1 * SPRING 2009

 

Professor:                   Dr. James P. Buchanan

Office Hours               Mon  9:00-9:50      Wed  9:00-9:50      Fri  9:00-9:50         (or by appointment)

Office:                         AMH 221

Office Phone:             941‑4267

Home Phone:              347‑3856

EMail:                                    buchananj1@scranton.edu

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TEXT:       Galotti, Kathleen (2008). Cognitive Psychology In and Out of the Laboratory. (4th ed). Pacific Grove, CA:  Brooks Cole.

 

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Description:

 

            This course will consider a number of approaches to the study of human cognitive processes with an emphasis on the information processing model.  Topics covered will include:  pattern recognition, attention, memory, imagery, concepts and categorization, and problem solving.

 

Objectives:  Students will:

 

            (1)        Gain factual knowledge of the terminology, methods, and research findings in the field of cognitive psychology.

            (2)        Learn the fundamental theories and principles of cognitive psychology including being able to critique them.

            (3)        Learn how professionals in the field of cognitive psychology go about the process of gaining new knowledge.

 

Exams and Quizzes:

 

            Examinations will be multiple choice questions.  There will be three exams (2 midterms and a final).  Grades determined on a total points basis.  Each of the three exams will be worth 45 points and account for 66% of your total grade.

 

            Quizzes will consist of 5 multiple choice questions.  A total of 8 quizzes will be given covering chapters 3 through 9 & 11.  The lowest two quiz grades will be dropped.  The 30 points of total quiz grades will account for 14.5% of your course grade.  Quizzes will be announced one meeting before the quiz.  Quizzes will test the reading assignment for that class meeting.  The quizzes will be graded on the following points basis:  A to A-, 30-27; B+ to B-, 26-24; C+ to C-, 23-21; D+ to D, 20-18; F 17-0.

 

Makeup Policy:

 

            1.         Makeup exams must be cleared with the instructor prior to exam.  Missed exams not cleared with instructor will be counted as an F and counted as 0 points.

 

            2.         Makeup must be taken as soon as possible after the missed exam.  Failure to take makeup at scheduled time will result in an F and counted as 0 points.

(continued)

            3.         There will be no makeups for missed quizzes.  The first two missed quizzes will be counted as dropped quizzes.  Additional quizzes will be given a prorated score based on the exam score in which the chapter is covered or a score of 0 if the maximum of 6 cuts has been exceeded when the quiz is missed.  Please note that quizzes will be given at the beginning of class.  Arriving late after the quizzes have been passed out means you missed the quiz.  Be on time to class.

 

Laboratory Exercises:

            Also, you will be assigned a series of 15 experimental laboratory exercises to be run outside of class.  These lab assignments will be worth 30 points toward your grade or 14.5% of your total grade.  Failure to complete a laboratory exercise will result in a loss of two points/assignment from your grade total.  Failure to complete an assignment by the assigned date will result in a loss of the point/assignment from your grade total.  These 15 labs will be graded on the following point basis:  A 30-29, A- 28, B+ 27, B 26, B- 25, C+ 24, C 23, C- 22, D+ 21, D 20, F 0-19.

 

Class Participation:

            You will be awarded up to 10 points for class participation.  Class participation points will be based on clicker participation.  Answering 100% of the clicker questions will get you the maximum of 10 points.  Answering 95% to 99% will get you 9 points, 90% to 94% will get you 8 points, etc.  Also, being correct on at least 90% of the questions will get you an additional 4 bonus class participation points, being correct on at least 80% of the questions will get you an additional 3 bonus points, being correct on at least 70% of the of the questions will get you an additional 2 bonus points, and being correct on at least 60% of the questions will get you an additional 1 bonus point.

 

Extra Credit Points:

            During the semester you will be given an opportunity to add a maximum of six extra credits points to your total points score.  You will be provided with a three-point memory protocol assignment and a three-point problem solving assignment.  Also, you can take a four-point extra credit quiz on Chapter 10, Language, on May 4, and another four-point extra-credit quiz on Chapter 15 on May 13. No late assignment will be accepted after due date.  NOTE:  Violation of the cut policy will eliminate your opportunity to obtain extra credit points.

 

Grade Determination:

            Grades will be determined on a total points basis based on 205 points (135 points for exams, 30 points for quizzes, 30 points for lab assignments, and 10 points for class participation).

            Rounding policy is .5 or greater round up, less than .5 round down.  You must be in the point total range indicated above to receive a given grade.  One point below the cut-off is the lower grade!

 

Cut Policy:

            A roll sheet will be passed out at the beginning of each class.  If your name is not on the roll sheet, you have missed class!  You will be allowed six absences (excused or unexcused) without penalty.  On the 7th absence (excused or unexcused) your final grade will be dropped to the next lowest grade (e.g. a final grade of B would drop to a B-).  For each additional set of 3 absences (excused or unexcused) past the 7th absence, your final grade will be dropped an additional grade (e.g. for 10 cuts a final grade of B would drop to a C+).  Students are responsible for making sure they sign the daily roll sheet.  Extraordinary circumstances will be taken into account in terms of this policy.

            NOTE:  Violation of the cut policy will eliminate your opportunity to obtain extra credit points.

 

Students are responsible for all announcements made in class. (e.g., change of test dates, etc.)

 

Date                                        Topic                                                   Reading Assignments

 

Feb.      2                     Overview of Course

             4                    Introduction to Cognitive Psychology                Chap. 1

             6                     continued

 

             9                     continued

           11                     The Brain                                                                     Chap. 2

           13                     Perception & Pattern Recognition                                 Chap. 3

 

           16                     continued

           18                     continued

           20                     continued

 

           23                     Attention and Automaticity                                            Chap. 4

           25                     continued

           27                     continued

 

Mar.      2                     continued

             4                     MIDTERM 1                                                             Chaps. 1-4

             6                     Forming and Using New Memory Traces                      Chap. 5

 

             9                     continued

           11                     continued

           13                     continued

 

           16                     SPRING BREAK

           18                     SPRING BREAK

           20                     SPRING BREAK

 

           23                     continued (Forming and Using New Memory Traces)

           25                     continued

           27                     Retrieving Memories from LTM                                    Chap. 6

 

           30                     continued

April      1                     continued

             3                     continued

 

             6                     continued

             8                     Memory for General Knowledge                                   Chap. 7

           10                     EASTER BREAK

 

           13                     EASTER BREAK

           15                     continued (Memory for General Knowledge)

           17                     continued

 

           20                     MIDTERM 2                                                             Chaps. 5-7

           22                     Concepts and Categorization                                        Chap. 8

           24                     continued

 

 

Date                                        Topic                                                   Reading Assignments

 

April    27                     continued

                                    (War of the Ghost Extra Credit Due)

           29                     continued

May      1                     Visual Images                                                               Chap. 9

 

             4                     continued/EXTRA CREDIT QUIZ CHAP. 10

             6                     continued

             8                     continued

 

           11                     Thinking and Problem Solving                           Chap. 11

           13                     continued/EXTRA CREDIT QUIZ CHAP. 15

           15                     continued

                                    (Problem Solving Extra Credit Due)

 

        TBA                     FINAL                                                                        Chaps. 8, 9, & 11