Marymount University Cognitive Psychology Syllabus (PSY 260)

Overview

This online introductory cognitive psychology course was designed in a modular format that students work through from beginning to end. Each topic has corresponding OER material for students to review (most often readings and/or videos), a video lecture (not included), a brief quiz to check understanding of content (not included) , and various virtual cognitive psychology experiments, discussions and brief writing assignments. Currently there is no cumulative exam for the course, In lieu of an exam, students write a reflection journal, with entries due at the end of each module (five in total). These entries consist of a response to a prompt that encourages students to link theories and findings learned in the module to their daily lives.

Learning & Cognition Course Information

Major Assignments:

“Check Your Understanding” Quizzes (24 in total)
Virtual Activities (various)
Reflection Journal Entries (5 in total)

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course students will be expected to:

describe the major milestones and contributors to our understanding of human cognition;
describe the major features of cognitive processes including perception, attention, memory, learning, reasoning, decision-making and problem solving;
compare and contrast different theories of cognitive function;
participate in classic studies related to cognition; and
apply information acquired in the class to improve our own cognitive processes.

Module 1: Perception & Attention

Overview:

This module introduces the discipline of cognitive psychology and the fundamentals of visual and auditory perception and attention. For each topic, students review OER, watch a 10-15 minute recorded lecture (not included), take a low-stakes quiz to check understanding (not included) and complete 1-3 virtual experiments, discussions, or assignments (not included).

Topic	Module Learning Outcomes	Readings & Other Media
Approaches to Studying Learning & Cognition / Introduction to the Brain	Identify and describe the major approaches to studying the mind and brain. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. Identify major brain regions and structures and their functions. Identify how the discipline of cognitive psychology has evolved within the broader context of psychology. Participate in classic studies related to cognition.	Films Media Group. (2011). Cognitive psychology. Films On Demand. https://wrlc-mar.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01WRLC_MAR/16rmtng/alma99186035949404106 McLeod, S.Perspectives: Cognitive Psychology. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/cognitive.html Stango, C., & Walinga, J. (2014). 4.2 Our Brains Control Our Thoughts, Feelings, and Behaviour. Introduction to Psychology - 1st Canadian Edition (). BCcampus. https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontopsychology/chapter/3-2-our-brains-control-our-thoughts-feelings-and-behavior/
Basics of Visual Perception	Describe the relationship between top-down and bottom-up processing. Describe how the visual system works. Describe how we perceive color and depth. Participate in classic studies related to cognition.	Kerstin Beckert (Producer/DIrector). Visual Perception – How It Works. [Video] simpleshow foundation. https://youtu.be/DU3IiqUWGcU Stangor, C., & Walinga, J. (2014). 5.2 Seeing. Introduction to Psychology - 1st Canadian Edition. BCcampus. https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontopsychology/chapter/4-2-seeing/ Dumper, K.5.6 The Gestalt Principles of Perception. Introductory Psychology. Pressbooks. https://opentext.wsu.edu/psych105/
Object Recognition	Describe the complexity of the recognition process. Evaluate the Gestalt laws of perception. Compare and contrast different theories of object recognition. Participate in classic studies related to cognition.	Levitin, D. (2002). Perception. Foundations of cognitive psychology core readings . MIT Press. https://wrlc-mar.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01WRLC_MAR/ab3e0t/alma9w9185862681604106 Instructor note: read p. 178-183 only Spielman, R. et al. 5.6 Gestalt Principles of Perception. Psychology 2e . OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/5-6-gestalt-principles-of-perception Associative Visual Agnosia. Wikiwand. h ttps://www.wikiwand.com/en/Associative_visual_agnosia
Face Recognition & Imagery	Discuss why and how face recognition differs from object recognition. Describe prosopagnosia and the brain area(s) involved. Compare and contrast different theories of face recognition. Compare and contrast different theories of visual imagery. Participate in classic studies related to cognition.	Films Media Group. (2013). Face recognition. Films On Demand. https://wrlc-mar.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01WRLC_MAR/ab3e0t/alma99186033456204106 Imagery. Cognitive Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience . Wikibooks. https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cognitive_Psychology_and_Cognitive_Neuroscience/Imagery Harris, A. M., & Aguirre, G. K. (2007). Prosopagnosia. Current Biology, 17(1), R7-R8. 10.1016/j.cub.2006.11.043 https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(06)02524-3
Auditory/Speech Perception	Describe the process of categorical perception. Describe how segmentation, co-articulation and context effects affect speech perception. Compare and contrast different theories of speech perception. Participate in classic studies related to cognition.	VanderHeyden, A. Perception of Continuous Speech . Psycholinguistics. Wikiversity. https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Psycholinguistics/Perception_of_Continuous_Speech BBC (Producer). (2010, -11-10). McGurk Effect: Try this bizarre audio illusion! [Video] h ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-lN8vWm3m0&feature=youtu.be SciShow Psych (Producer). (2018, -08-06). How Auditory Illusions Trick Your Brain into Hearing Things. [Video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP9HFcK6YOM&feature=youtu.be From Ear to Phoneme: the Phonological Problem. From Sound to Meaning: Hearing, Speech and Language. OER Commons. http://www.oercommons.org/courses/from-sound-to-meaning-hearing-speech-and-language/view#
Selective Attention	Identify the major contributors to the study of selective attention. Describe methodology and conclusions of studies on auditory selective attention. Describe methodology and conclusions of studies on visual selective attention. Compare and contrast different theories of selective attention. Participate in classic studies related to cognition. Apply information used to improve your own attentional skills.	Friedrich, F. Attention. Introduction to Psychology: The Full Noba Collection . NOBA. https://nobaproject.com/textbooks/introduction-to-psychology-the-full-noba-collection/modules/attention Levitin, D., & Levitin, D. (2002). Attention and Performance Limitations. Foundations of cognitive psychology core readings . MIT Press. https://wrlc-mar.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01WRLC_MAR/ab3e0t/alma99185862681604106 Instructor note: read p. 378-388
Change & Inattention Blindness	Describe the phenomena of change and inattention blindness and the cognitive operations involved. Describe and evaluate the methodology of an empirical study on change or inattention blindness.	Simons, Daniel. Failures of Awareness: The Case of Inattentional Blindness. NOBA https://nobaproject.com/modules/failures-of-awareness-the-case-of-inattentional-blindness#authors Carpenter, S. (2001). Sights unseen. https://www.apa.org. https://www.apa.org/monitor/apr01/blindness

Module 2: Memory

Overview:

In this module, students review models of memory, theories of learning and forgetting, and seminal studies of memory phenomena (e.g., childhood amnesia, the misinformation effect).

Topic

Module Learning Outcomes

Readings & Other Media

Concepts & Models

Compare and contrast the multi-store and working memory models of memory.
Describe the stages of the working memory model.
Participate in classic studies related to cognition.

Memories as Types and Stages. (2015). Introduction to Psychology. University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing edition, 2015. This edition adapted from a work originally produced in 2010 by a publisher who has requested that it not receive attribution.

https://open.lib.umn.edu/intropsyc/chapter/8-1-memories-as-types-and-stages/

McDermott, K. Memory (Encoding, Storage, Retrieval). NOBA.

https://nobaproject.com/modules/memory-encoding-storage-retrieval

Learning & Forgetting

Compare and contrast the features of various models of learning, including levels of processing, learning through testing, encoding specificity, and state dependent learning.
Compare and contrast the features of various models of forgetting, including proactive and retroactive interference.
Participate in classic studies related to cognition.
Describe how these different types of memory are used in everyday life.

How We Remember: Cues to Improving Memory. (2015). Introduction to Psychology . University of Minnesota Libraries Publishing edition, 2015. This edition adapted from a work originally produced in 2010 by a publisher who has requested that it not receive attribution.

https://open.lib.umn.edu/intropsyc/chapter/8-2-how-we-remember-cues-to-improving-memory/

McLeod, S. Levels of Processing. Simply Psychology.

https://www.simplypsychology.org/levelsofprocessing.html

Module 3: Language

Overview:

The language module addresses the cognitive processes involved in reading, producing speech and comprehending both written and spoken language. (Speech perception was reviewed in Module 1, but could be included here also).

Topic	Module Learning Outcomes	Readings & Other Media
Reading	Describe the cognitive processes involved in reading. Compare and contrast different theories of reading, including the dual-route cascaded model, the interactive activation model, and the connectionist triangle model. Participate in classic studies related to cognition.	Beck, C. (1986). Cognitive Approaches to Understanding Reading: Implications for Instructional Practice. The American Psychologist, 41(10), 1098–1105. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.41.10.1098 https://wrlc-mar.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01WRLC_MAR/ohokda/cdi_proquest_journals_614302919 Reading. Psycholinguistics. Wikiversity. https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Psycholinguistics/Reading
Language Comprehension	Describe the cognitive processes involved in understanding speech. Compare and contrast different theories of speech perception, including the TRACE and Cohort models. Compare and contrast different theories of parsing speech, including the Garden Path, Constraint-based and Unrestricted Race models. Describe how schemas help understand discourse.	Parsing. Psycholinguistics. Wikiversity. https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Psycholinguistics/Parsing Gureckis, T., & Goldstone, RL. (2010). Schema. In The Cambridge encyclopedia of language science http://pubs.cogs.indiana.edu/pubspdf///23352/23352_schemaforlanguage.pdf
Speech Production	Describe the cognitive processes involved in producing speech. Differentiate Skinner and Chomsky’s theories of language development. Describe speech errors and how they contribute to our understanding of speech production. Compare and contrast different theories of speech production, including the WEAVER++ model and Spreading Activation theory.	Speech Comprehension and Speech Production. Neurocognition of Language. Wikibooks. https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Neurocognition_of_Language/Speech_Comprehension_and_Speech_Production#Speech_Production Instructor note: read only Section 3: Speech Production Models of Speech Production. Psycholinguistics. Wikiversity. https://en.wikiversity.org/wiki/Psycholinguistics/Models_of_Speech_Production

Module 4: Thinking & Reasoning

Overview:

Here, students learn about the cognitive processes underlying various higher level thinking skills, such as problem-solving, judgement and decision-making.

Topic	Module Learning Outcomes	Readings & Other Media
Problem solving	Describe the difference between well-defined and ill-defined problems. Evaluate the role that insight and experience play in solving problems. Describe blocks to problem solving, including functional fixedness and mental set. Compare and contrast different strategies to solve problems, including means-ends analysis, hill climbing and progress monitoring.	Andrade, M. Problem Solving. Cognitive Psychology. College of the Canyons. https://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=1379689 Berti, A. Agnosia. Encyclopedia of human behavior. (2012). ProQuest Ebook Central. http://proxymu.wrlc.org/login?url=https://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/marymountu/reader.action?docID=863370&ppg=105
Expertise	Define what it means to be an expert. Compare and contrast the differences between experts and novices in problem solving. Describe how practice and expertise relate to brain plasticity. Evaluate the Deliberate Practice theory of developing expertise.	Hanson, G. (2016). A Brief History of Expertise. In Master Therapists. Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/med:psych/9780190496586.003.000 https://wrlc-mar.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01WRLC_MAR/ohokda/cdi_oup_ocp_10_1093_med_psych_9780190496586_003_0001
Judgement	Define what heuristics are and describe how we use them when making likelihood judgments. Compare and contrast different judgment theories, including support theory and dual-process theory. Participate in classic studies related to cognition.	Levitin, D. (2002). Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases. Foundations of cognitive psychology core readings . MIT Press. https://wrlc-mar.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/01WRLC_MAR/ab3e0t/alma99185862681604106 Instructor note: read Chapter 25 (under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases, in Part XII - Decision Making) Decision Making. Boundless Psychology: Cognition. Lumen Learning. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-psychology/chapter/decision-making/
Decision Making	Describe phenomena associated with decision-making, including the framing effect and the sunk-cost effect. Compare and contrast different decision-making theories, including utility theory, prospect theory, and bounded rationality.	Andrade, M. Decision Making. Cognitive Psychology. College of the Canyons. https://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=1379689 Bazerman, M.Judgment and Decision Making. NOBA. https://nobaproject.com/modules/judgment-and-decision-making
Reasoning	Compare and contrast inductive versus deductive reasoning. Describe biases in our reasoning processes, including belief bias and myside bias. Compare and contrast theories of deductive reasoning, including mental models and heuristic-analytic theory.	Andrade, M. Reasoning. Cognitive Psychology. College of the Canyons. https://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=1379689 Biases and Reasoning Heuristics. Cognitive Science: an Introduction. Wikibooks. https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Cognitive_Science:_An_Introduction/Biases_and_Reasoning_Heuristics

Module 5: Broadening Horizons

Overview:

The final module brings together topics more recently examined in cognitive psychology, including emotion, individual differences and the effects of culture on cognition.

Topic	Module Learning Outcomes	Readings & Other Media
Emotion & Cognition	Evaluate the bi-directional relationship between emotion and cognition. Describe appraisal theories of emotion. Evaluate the components of emotion regulation. Describe how emotions like anxiety and depressed mood can influence thinking. Participate in classic studies related to cognition.	Theories of Emotion. Boundless Psychology: Cognition. Lumen Learning. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-psychology/chapter/theories-of-emotion/ SciShow Psych (Producer). (2018). How to Get Over That Broken Heart—But Also Learn From It. [Video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVc6jgQJefo&feature=youtu.be Pessoa, L. (2009). Cognition and emotion. Scholarpedia. http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Cognition_and_emotion
Consciousness	Describe the functions of consciousness. Evaluate the global workspace theory of consciousness. Participate in classic studies related to cognition.	Pettinello, M. Consciousness. The Psychology Of Emotions, Feelings and Thoughts. OpenStax. https://cnx.org/contents/zBRSs9vY@29.1:98teHxmm@13/Consciousness CrashCourse (Producer). (2014). Consciousness: Crash Course Psychology. [Video] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jReX7qKU2yc&feature=youtu.be
Individual Differences	Describe Gardner’s multiple intelligences and cognitive style theory. Evaluate differences in cognition as a function of gender, expertise and age. Participate in classic studies related to cognition.	Stangor, C., & Walinga, J. (2014). Defining and Measuring Intelligence. Introduction to Psychology - 1st Canadian Edition. BCcampus. https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontopsychology/chapter/9-1-defining-and-measuring-intelligence/ Bjork, R. A. (2000). Different Views of Individual Differences. APS Observer, 13(9) https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/different-views-of-individual-differences
Cross-cultural Perspectives	Describe the effect of culture on various cognitive processes, including perception, memory and reasoning. Evaluate the effect of formal schooling on cognition.	Winerman, L.The culture-cognition connection. APA Monitor, https://www.apa.org/monitor/feb06/connection Ambady, N. (2011). The Mind in the World: Culture and the Brain. APS Observer. https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/the-mind-in-the-world-culture-and-the-brain

Course Alignments

Marymount University

Marymount University Cognitive Psychology Syllabus (PSY 260)

Overview

Learning & Cognition Course Information

Learning Outcomes

Module 1: Perception & Attention

Module 2: Memory

Module 3: Language

Module 4: Thinking & Reasoning

Module 5: Broadening Horizons