Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the psychology of cognition and is concerned with the methods and theories relevant to thinking and related processes. Concept formation, problem solving, reasoning, decision making, and the relation of language to thought will be covered. The influence of individual differences, social factors, artificial intelligence, and biology will be included as well as the practical applications of research in cognition.
Course Content
- Historical Context
- The rationalistic tradition.
- Scientific decision making.
- The behaviourist tradition.
- The cognitive revolution.
- Biological Processes
- Neural networks
- Rhythms and cycles
- Perceptual Processes
- Sensory memories.
- Pattern recognition in humans and machines.
- Attention.
- Memory Processes
- Models of memory.
- Short term memory.
- Arousal and memory.
- Practical implications
- Imagery
- Characteristics of images.
- Imagery and memory.
- Cognitive maps.
- Graphical computer interfaces.
- Language
- Understanding language.
- Computers and language representation.
- Producing language.
- Remembering language.
- Reading.
- Language translation.
- Concepts and Categories
- Methods of researching.
- Factors affecting concept formation.
- Testing hypotheses.
- Natural categories.
- Statistical methods of categorization.
- Problem Solving
- Problem representation.
- Strategies and heuristic.
- Ill-defined problems.
- Creativity.
- Computational explorations of creative processors.
- Reasoning
- Linear series problems.
- Propositional reasoning.
- Syllogisms.
- Analogies.
- First order predicate logic.
- Decision Making
- Representativeness.
- Availability.
- Social judgement and bias.
- Mathematical modeling judges policy.
- Individual Differences
- In memory processes.
- In language usage.
- In concept formation and problem solving.
- In cognitive styles.
- Thinking as measurable ability.
- Artificial Intelligence
- Expert systems.
- Decision support systems.
- Social Cognition
- Group problem solving.
- Consensual social reality.
- Game playing and simulation.
Learning Activities
The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following:
- lectures
- audio-visual materials
- small group discussion
- research projects
- computer based cognitive simulation exercises
- mediated electronic forums/discussion groups
- internet-based individual and small group assignments
Means of Assessment
The course evaluation will be in accordance with Douglas College and Psychology Department policies. Evaluations will be based on the course objectives. The specific evaluation criteria will be provided by the instructor at the beginning of the semester.
An example of a possible evaluation scheme would be:
| 10 quizzes |
25% |
| 5 homework assignments |
10% |
| Small group assignments |
10% |
| Class discussion quality |
10% |
| Term project paper |
20% |
| Midterm exam |
10% |
| Final exam |
15% |
| Total |
100% |
Learning Outcomes
At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to:
- List the major historical figures in the history of cognitive psychology and describe their contribution.
- Define cognition and describe the various types of cognition included in the definition.
- Describe the major contemporary theoretical approaches in cognitive psychology.
- Describe concept formation and attainment and the role of perceptual and memory processes.
- Explain the similarities and differences between individual and group problem solving.
- Describe the similarities and differences between human reasoning and artificial intelligence reasoning.
- Describe the dynamics of decision making processes and boundaries of "rational decision making".
- Describe the role of language and imagery in cognition.
- Describe the role of individual differences in cognitive style and cognitive ability.
- Run simple simulations of cognitive processes on a microcomputer using packaged software.
- Locate and use internet resources in cognitive psychology.
Textbook Materials
Textbooks and Materials to be Purchased by Students:
Textbook(s) such as the following, the list to be updated periodically:
- Goldstein, E. B. (2019) Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research, and Everyday Experience (5th ed.). Stamford, CT : Cengage Learning