COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY WITH RESEARCH METHODS - 2023/4
Module code: PSYM112
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 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
JAYES Lewis (Psychology)
Number of Credits: 15
ECTS Credits: 7.5
Framework: FHEQ Level 7
Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A
Overall student workload
Workshop Hours: 6
Independent Learning Hours: 102
Lecture Hours: 22
Guided Learning: 10
Captured Content: 10
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:
Conceptual and historical issues in cognitive psychology
Methods in cognitive psychology
Attention and selection
Memory and learning
Creativity
Concepts and categories
Thinking and problem solving
Language
Assessment pattern
| Assessment type | Unit of assessment | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | RESEARCH REPORT | 60 |
| Examination Online | 4 HR ONLINE (OPEN BOOK) ESSAY EXAM | 40 |
Alternative Assessment
N/A
Assessment Strategy
The summative assessment for this module consists of:
• One 2,200 word research report (60%)
• One essay exam (40%)
Learning Outcomes 1-4 will be assessed in an exam. Learning Outcomes 3, 4 and 5 will be assessed by a
research report
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).
Workshops will be conducted in small groups, allowing students to receive more personalised feedback on their understanding.
Module aims
- This module aims to
¿ introduce student to the most important topics and issues within cognitive psychology
¿ integrate this knowledge with a practical understanding of research methods and techniques used within cognitive psychology
Learning outcomes
| Attributes Developed | ||
| 001 | Systematically describe key theoretical accounts of cognition. | K |
| 002 | Critically evaluate these theoretical perspectives and the empirical evidence that tests them. | C |
| 003 | Critically discuss the implications of key findings relating to cognition. | C |
| 004 | Synthesise different perspectives to provide a broader understanding of cognition. | C |
| 005 | Demonstrate and apply research skills relating to the principles and procedures of cognitive research, including: recruitment; data collection, entry and analysis; and report writing. | PT |
Attributes Developed
C - Cognitive/analytical
K - Subject knowledge
T - Transferable skills
P - Professional/Practical skills
Methods of Teaching / Learning
The learning and teaching methods include:
• Weekly lectures on core topics (2 hour lecture per week x 11 weeks)
• Workshops to provide an opportunity to integrate their knowledge about Cognitive Psychology with practical research skills. These workshops will include practical sessions in which students will be required to formulate hypotheses about a key question relating to a core area of Cognitive Psychology, 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.
• A dedicated SurreyLearn site, where the reading list, handouts from the lectures, relevant links and workshop materials are 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
Other information
The School of Psychology is committed to developing graduates with strengths in Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. This module is designed to allow students to develop knowledge, skills and capabilities in the following areas:
Resourcefulness and Resilience: This module includes a research report that requires a high level of independence and problem solving as students are given a realistic research experience of collecting, analysing, and writing up an experiment and tackling the challenges that this involves. Students are supported in doing this this by developing the necessary skills during the workshops.
Digital Capabilities: Students are required to process and analyse data from their experiment using current software packages (e.g. Jamovi and Gorilla). This involves managing and cleaning raw data prior to analysis. Together, this provides a valuable experience of using software for realistic data analysis.
Employability: This module develops skills in managing complex data collection and interpreting the data meaningfully.
Programmes this module appears in
| Programme | Semester | Classification | Qualifying conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology (Conversion) MSc(CORE) | 2 | Core | Each unit of assessment must be passed at 50% to pass the module |
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 2023/4 academic year.