This course provides an in-depth survey of cognitive psychology: the scientific study of how we think. Topics covered include: methodological approaches to cognitive psychology, attention and consciousness, emotion, learning, memory, and decision-making. This course will also cover the application of psychological principles to advancing the understanding of abnormal cognitive processes.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Describe the fundamental concepts and major themes in cognitive psychology, and the theories and methods that have been used to address these.
2. Compare and contrast particular approaches to studying cognition (including behavioural, neuropsychological, and neuroimaging) in light of their use to answer a particular research question.
3. Apply critical analysis skills to evaluate cognitive research studies and conclusions.
4. Develop a reasoned argument by critically analysing cognitive research.

Recommended Resources

Recommended student system requirements 

ANU courses commonly use a number of online resources and activities including:

• video material, similar to YouTube, for lectures and other instruction
• two-way video conferencing for interactive learning
• email and other messaging tools for communication
• interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities
• print and photo/scan for handwritten work
• home-based assessment.

To fully participate in ANU learning, students need:

• A computer or laptop. Mobile devices may work well but in some situations a computer/laptop may be more appropriate.
• Webcam
• Speakers and a microphone (e.g. headset)
• Reliable, stable internet connection. Broadband recommended. If using a mobile network or wi-fi then check performance is adequate.
• Suitable location with minimal interruptions and adequate privacy for classes and assessments.
• Printing, and photo/scanning equipment

For more information please see https://www.anu.edu.au/students/systems/recommended-student-system-requirements

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

The University is returning to on campus teaching delivery for all in person courses, for all students, in the second half 2023. Remote adjustments will not be offered from the 1st of July, 2023 and international students will be required to be on campus studying in-person.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Lecture (Introduction to Cognition & Methodological approaches)
2	Lecture (Attention) and Lab	Formative Assessment Quiz in Lab
3	Lecture (Visual search and Attentional Bottlenecks)
4	Lecture (Awareness & Visual Imagery) and Lab (including Assignment Information)
5	Lecture (Face & Object Perception)	Essay Assignment Due (indicative due date)
6	Lecture (Reading contemporary papers on topics from Weeks 1-5), Lab, and Drop-in session
7	Lecture (Associative Learning & Visual Statistical Learning)
8	Lecture (Visual Memory & Working Memory) and Lab	Oral Presentation (indicative due date)
9	Lecture (Memory and Autobiographical Memory)
10	Lecture (Flashbulb Memory, Photographic Memory, and Judgement and Decision-Making) and Lab
11	Lecture (Motivation, Self Cognition, Social Cognition, and Language)
12	Lecture (Reading contemporary papers on topics from Weeks 7-11), Lab, and Drop-in session	Final exam (in final exam period after Week 12, see official timetable)

Tutorial Registration

Registration to be completed via MyTimetable

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Learning Outcomes
Quizzes	30 %	1,2,3
Assignment	25 %	3,4
Final Exam	40 %	1,2,3
Research participation & reflective learning exercise	5 %	1,2

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

Core course material will be conveyed in recordings provided on WATTLE and readings, which students are expected to listen to / read in preparation for attending an interactive lecture class designed to consolidate, clarify, and extend students' understanding of the course material. Additional drop-in sessions are offered as another forum for students to ask questions and discuss course material in Week 6 and Week 12. Students will need to sign up for attend a particular lab class time. Labs are held in Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 of semester.

Examination(s)

Please note, that where a date range is used in the Assessment Summary in relation to exams, the due date and return date indicate the approximate timeframe in which the exam will be held and results returned to the student (official end of Semester results released on ISIS). Students should consult the course wattle site and the ANU final examination timetable to confirm the date, time and venue of the exam.

Assessment Task 1

Quizzes

Students may receive quizzes and other assessment tasks in lab classes, more information about assessment in Lecture 1.

Assessment Task 2

Assignment

This written assignment requires students to critically evaluate available scientific evidence in favour of a specific argument. Further details can be found on the Course Wattle site.

Assessment Task 3

Final Exam

Exam questions on Course Content, which includes material covered in recordings, lectures, lab classes, and readings.

Students are required to pass an invigilated component worth at least 40% of the course. In this course, students will be required to pass the final exam to pass the course. More information will be provided in lectures.

Exam date/time TBA (timetabled centrally in final examination session).

Assessment Task 4

Research participation & reflective learning exercise

This activity is designed to give students first-hand experience of experimental research in Psychology and the opportunity to reflect on their experience. Students are required to either earn five hours of research participation credit (i.e., 5 credits) via SONA (https://anupsych.sona-systems.com/Default.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f), and write a reflective piece on what they learnt from the experience. More information about this assignment is available via course Wattle page.

As outlined in the Assignment Information Sheet, students have from Week 1 until after Week 12 to complete Part 1 of the assignment, and it is not possible to grant extensions on Part 1. Students are expected to manage their participation time across the semester.

Alternatively, if students do not wish to participate in actual research, they may complete an alternative commensurate learning activity that includes experiencing psychological methods without data being recorded (details of which can be received by contacting A/Prof Stephanie Goodhew). If students wish to undertake the alternative activity, they need to notify Stephanie before the end of Week 6.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of written assignments without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission of exams without extension results in a grade of 0 for that assessment.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Assignments will be returned to students through Wattle and/or in class.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

No resubmission permitted.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students