Singapore University of Social Sciences

Cognitive Psychology: Exploring the Mind

Cognitive Psychology: Exploring the Mind (PSY305)

Applications Open: 01 October 2023

Applications Close: 15 November 2023

Next Available Intake: January 2024

Course Types: Modular Undergraduate Course

Language: English

Duration: 6 months

Fees: $1391.78 View More Details on Fees

Area of Interest: Humanities and Social Sciences

Schemes: Alumni Continuing Education (ACE)

Funding: To be confirmed

School/Department: School of Humanities & Behavioural Sciences


Synopsis

Cognitive psychology is the study of mental processes. It is about how we pay attention to information around us and perceive the world, how we mentally represent concepts, how we remember and forget things, and how we understand and use language to communicate our thoughts. Mental processes are, however, intangible and difficult to measure directly so cognitive psychologists have developed experimental methods to study these mental processes indirectly by measuring response latency and response accuracy. This course provides a basic introduction to several important areas in cognitive psychology. There is a strong emphasis on linking cognitive theories and findings to everyday life. For example, consider how you have no trouble singing a song you learned when you were a child yet you can’t remember the name of the person you were introduced to 5 minutes ago? What about the fact that yuo dno’t hvae ayn porbelm raedign tihs evne thghou teh wrods aer qiuet jmulbed up? There will be opportunities to gain first-hand experience in experimental psychology using cognitive test kits and web-based demonstrations of classic experiments using Coglab (online cognition lab https://coglab.cengage.com/). The course also provides opportunities to collect data through experiments, interpret the statistical test results, and write up formal experimental reports. These different methods of empirical scientific research help us to better understand important concepts in cognitive psychology and uncover the myths of the human mind.

Level: 3
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: Every January

Topics

  • Introduction to Cognitive Psychology / Experimental Psychology
  • Perception
  • Perceptual Organisation
  • Perceptual Errors
  • Selective Attention
  • Divided Attention
  • Inattention
  • Memory Structure and Processes
  • Everyday Memory and Memory Errors
  • Knowledge Representation
  • Language Understanding
  • Experiments and Report Writing

Learning Outcome

  • Examine major theories, principles, and concepts in cognitive psychology.
  • Discuss relevant theories and research findings to explain real-life behaviour and cognitions.
  • Appraise cognitive theories and how hypotheses are verified through empirical testing.
  • Illustrate how cognitive psychology provides evidence of the link between cognitive functions of the mind and behaviour.
  • Apply cognitive theories and findings to everyday mental-life and behaviour.
  • Prepare an experimental report based on a pre-programmed experiment and the interpretation of experimental results.
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