Syllabus
Course Description
In our lab we will be doing a number of exercises and studies that will give you hands-on experience with the research methods and important findings in Cognitive Psychology. You will have the opportunity of experiencing some phenomena firsthand, as well as the opportunity to generate and test some hypotheses of your own. You’ll also be able to improve some basic skills in using software, analyzing data, and communicating scientific findings.
This laboratory class is meant to serve as a companion to the lecture class PSYCH-305. The conceptual and theoretical basis for the exercises and demonstrations are developed in lecture. For this reason, concurrent or past registration in PSYCH-305 is required.
Learning Goals
- Develop scientific thinking skills, including how to form and test hypotheses and how to draw sound conclusions from results
- Demonstrate some well-known cognitive and perceptual phenomena by running lab exercises
- Learn-by-doing the main research methods of the field
- Learn how to analyze data and evaluate hypotheses
- Learn research communication skills
- Improve computer literacy (with the aid of the Datacamp platform)
Grading
Your final grade will be based on three things:
| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| Attendance | 10% |
| Weekly lab assignments | 40% |
| Final project (APA-style lab report) | 50% |
In order to pass this class, you must complete the weekly assignments and the final project. If you do not complete both of these aspects of the course, you will automatically fail.
Weekly Assignment Grading Scale
| Grade | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 3 | Excellent work, no rewrite needed |
| 2 | Adequate work, but there are mistakes and you would benefit from a rewrite |
| 1 | Definite problems or needs improvement; you are likely to do poorly without a rewrite |
| 0 | Fail, requires redo |
If you hand assignments in on time, you may have the option to rewrite the assignment depending on your grade. The revised version is due within one week of receiving the graded assignment. Revising an assignment does not guarantee a higher grade.
Late Assignments
If you do not turn in an assignment on time, you will lose the option to revise it. You can still receive partial credit if you submit it by the end of the revision period, but the maximum grade you can receive will be a 2. During the semester, you are allowed to miss one assignment only without penalty.
Final Project
The final project is the writing of a full laboratory report in APA style based on an original experiment carried out in class during the final weeks of the semester.
Data Collection
In this course we are doing lab exercises, not original research. All data for weekly exercises as well as the final project will be collected with either you or your classmates serving as the participants. Collecting data from anyone else (roommates, friends, family members, etc.) is not permitted.
Computers
Lab exercises require computers that run either Windows or Macintosh operating systems. Lab software is not compatible with operating systems used on notebooks, tablets, or iPads. If you choose to run the exercises in a computer lab, be sure to bring a thumb-drive so that you can keep copies of your work. Some exercises may require use of headphones.
Attendance Policy
If you are going to miss a meeting for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, religious holiday) please let me know in advance and send an official excuse note (e.g., doctor’s note). If you are more than 20 minutes late you will be marked down as having an unexcused absence. If you need an extension, you need to let me know in advance. There is one hard deadline in this course: the in-class data collection.
Academic Integrity
In science, there is absolutely no room for fraud or untruth. In the work you submit, falsifying, plagiarism, or copying without attribution will not be tolerated. Additionally, re-use of assignments from other classes will not be permitted. Intentional ethical violations will be handled in accordance with the university’s academic integrity policy. The final assignment will be submitted to the Turn-it-in system, where its originality will be verified.