COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY WITH RESEARCH METHODS - 2020/1

Module Overview

This module will provide an introduction to the major topics and issues within cognitive psychology. This will be done through a series of lectures and research based workshops, which will provide the student with an opportunity to integrate their developing knowledge of cognitive psychology with practical skills relating to cognitive research methods.

Module provider

Psychology

Module Leader

NELSON Jonathan (Psychology)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Lectures

The weekly lectures will cover theories and findings related to the following general topic areas:


Methods in cognitive psychology

Attention and selection

Memory and learning

Creativity

Concepts and categories

Thinking and problem solving

Language


Workshops

• In addition to the programme of weekly lectures students will be required to attend five workshops that will provide them with an opportunity to integrate their knowledge about Cognitive Psychology with practical research skills.


• One of the workshops will be a journal club where a key article relating to a core area of Cognitive Psychology (e.g., attention) will be read, discussed and evaluated in detail as an introduction to the research area.


• Four of the workshops will consist of practical sessions in which students will be required to formulate hypotheses about a key question relating to a core area of Cognitive Psychology (e.g., attention), evaluate an experimental design, test these hypotheses empirically, collect data, enter and analyse the relevant data, discuss the results and the implications of the findings and then receive guidance on how to present the findings in a research report.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Alternative Assessment: Research Report (2500 words; same data)

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate that:

1. 
   They can systematically describe key theoretical accounts of, attention, memory, creativity, problem solving and language.
   


2. 
   They can critically evaluate these theoretical perspectives and the empirical evidence that tests them.
   


3. 
   They are able to critically discuss the implications of key findings relating to attention, memory, creativity, problem solving and language.
   


4. 
   They posess the relevant skills and knowledge to be able to synthesise different perspectives to provide a broader understanding of attention, memory, creativity, problem solving and language.
   


5. 
   They can demonstrate and apply research skills relating to the principles and procedures of cognitive research, including: recruitment; data collection, entry and analysis; and report writing.
   
   Learning Outcomes 1-4 will be assessed in an exam. Learning Outcomes 3, 4 and 5 will be assessed by a research report
   
   The summative assessment for this module consists of:
   


6. 
   One 90 minute unseen essay + MCQ format examination to be sat during the formal semester exam period (50%)
   


7. 
   One 2,200 word research report to be submitted after completion of the workshops (50%)
   
   Formative assessment and feedback
   
   Students will participate in regular interactive discussions within lecture sessions that involve group-level or individual formative feedback (e.g., on their understanding of a topic or their ability to critically evaluate a theory).
   

Module aims

• The aim of the module is to introduce the student to the most important topics and issues within cognitive psychology.  The module will require the student to integrate this knowledge with a practical understanding of research methods and techniques used within cognitive psychology.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching methods include:

• 
  Lectures (2 hour lecture per week x 11 weeks)
  


• 
  Lectures will include class discussion and electronic voting
  


• 
  Workshops (2 hour workshops per week x 5 weeks)
  


• 
  Workshops will include, practicals and class discussion
  


• 
  A dedicated SurreyLearn site, where the reading list, handouts from the lectures, relevant links and workshop materials will be available
  


• 
  Readings will be set each week, including relevant chapters in the required text book and further readings such as journals articles. The essential readings will ensure a thorough understanding of the topic, and the recommended readings will provide further detail using specific examples.
  

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: PSYM112

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2020/1 academic year.