AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Provide a conceptual framework of the human mind architecture and examine, through the presentation of experimental paradigms, how its structural and functional characteristics influence "higher" cognitive processes (memory, attention, thinking). 

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the course students should

· have a basic knowledge about the study of cognitive processes;

· be able to define the different cognitive processes, placing their lines of research in the context of different theoretical perspectives (including historical roots and methodological perspectives);

· know and be able to make a critical discussion of the models and empirical approaches used in the literature for each of them.

PREREQUISITES

Knowledge of General Psychology is required.

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures in attendance or, if requested by healthcare requirements, video lessons.

Seminars about experimental research. Study groups for the presentation and discussion of scientific and experimental research articles. Practical activities in the laboratory where some paradigms and experimental techniques will be deepened. There is the possibility of an internship in the laboratory for the acquisition of one credit. Forum on Aulaweb on which students can discuss with each other the topics of the course and ask questions to the lecturer.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Program for students who follow the course for 8-9 credits

Module 1 (lessons 1-36). Theoretical and methodological foundations of cognitive psychology. Study methods. Psychology of attention. Pattern recognition and perception. Categories and concepts. Temporary memory. Memory and knowledge representation. Intelligence as problem solving. Language and communication. 

Module 2 (lessons 37-56). In-depth study of topics about attention, perception, categorization, intelligence. Judgment. Decision. Seminars will be held on experimental research carried out in the laboratory.

Program for students who follow the course for 6 credits

Module 1 only (lessons 1-36) See Module 1 in the program for 8-9 credits.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Bibliography for students who follow the course for 8-9 credits

Attending students

• Slides of lessons (available on Aulaweb at the end of each block of lessons) or viewing video lessons.
• Materials (articles and texts) in English which will be agreed with the teacher.
• A study unit on experimental research.

Not attending students

• REVLIN R. Cognition: Theory and practice. Worth Publishers, 2012 (full book)
• Materials (articles and texts) in English which will be agreed with the teacher.
• A study unit on experimental research

The study unit is an article or group of articles on experimental research, to be chosen on Aulaweb.

Bibliography for students who follow the course for 6 credits               

 Attending students

• Slides of lessons (available on Aulaweb at the end of each block of lessons) or viewing video lessons.
• Materials (articles and texts) in English which will be agreed with the teacher.
• A study unit on experimental research.

Not attending students

• Materials (articles and texts) in English will be agreed with the teacher.
• A study unit on experimental research

The study unit is an article or group of articles on experimental research, to be chosen on Aulaweb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

DAVID GIOFRE' (President)

SANDRA MORETTI (Substitute)

LUCA ONNIS (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

 Start of class: September 22, 2020

Class schedule

PSYCHOLOGY OF COGNITIVE PROCESSES

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Attending students: if possible in class, written examination on the topics covered in class and oral discussion on one study unit. Otherwise, online quiz.

Non-attending students: oral exam on reference books and oral discussion on one study unit.

A “study unit” is an article or group of articles on experimental research, to be chosen on Aulaweb.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The written or oral test, or intermediate quiz online, are aimed at evaluating:

· knowledge and understanding of the basics (definitions, main theories) concerning the study of cognitive processes;

· the ability to apply the acquired knowledge in order to be able to place the research lines studied in the context of the different theoretical perspectives (including historical roots and methodological guidelines) and practices;

· the ability to judge and be able to make a critical discussion of the models and empirical approaches used in literature;

· the ability to correctly express and communicate the contents studied;

· the ability to use correctly the study material provided (slides, handouts, texts) for the purpose of a successful learning.

Given the possibility of prolonging the health emergency, two possible methods of assessment are envisaged, depending on whether it is possible or not to be present in the classroom.

If face to face lessons are held

a) Written test at the end of each lesson block. This test is a questionnaire that requires open but synthetic answers. Knowledge of basic topics covered in the lessons is assessed, through the content analysis of the answers.

Attending students wishing to remedy a non-taken written test, or resulting in an unsatisfactory grade, may take an oral exam on the topics of the related module, being questioned on the notes and the lecture slides. The grade taken at this test will be averaged with the one taken at the already taken test.

An unsatisfactory rating may be improved through additional activities (participation in workshops, seminars).

b) Oral discussion on a study unit.

The study unit discussion is not awarded a grade but will be passed or not passed. If it is not passed it must be repeated.

The final grade will be composed of the weighted average of the votes taken at both midterm tests and of the evaluation of any additional activities.

If teaching will be delivered through video lessons
Students who have followed the video lessons and believe they are prepared to respond on the related topics will be able to take the on-going verifications carried out electronically.

Part (a) of the exam: intermediate test at the end of each block of lessons. This verification will consist of a test to be carried out via an online platform and will require immediate response to questions that require a concise answer. The technical details will be provided on Aulaweb. Since the answers must be provided within a very limited time, this method can only be chosen by students who are able to access adequate IT resources in terms of connection quality. In the absence of these requirements or in the event of malfunctions during the connection, students will be able to make use of the method of repairing the intermediate checks, indicated below.
Part (b) of the exam: oral discussion on a study unit, via the electronic platform.

In all cases
Repair of intermediate checks. Students who wish to remedy a written test or a not taken telematic verification, or partially taken for technical reasons, or taken with an unsatisfactory grade, can take an oral test on the topics of the relevant module, being questioned on the notes and on the slides of the lessons . The mark taken for this test will make the weighted average with that taken for the part already taken. It is not possible to take an oral test in the form of attending students on one module and non-attending students on the other.
It is possible to improve an unsatisfactory grade taken at a written test or an electronic check also through additional activities (participation in study groups or seminars).
An essential condition to be admitted to the on-going tests is to register for them through the online registration system for exams.
The oral discussion on the study unit is aimed at evaluating the student's ability to identify the methodological characteristics of experimental research in cognitive psychology. No mark is attributed to this test but it can be passed or not passed. If it is not passed, it must be repeated. The discussion on the study unit can be replaced by participation as subject to an experimental research.
The final mark will be composed of the weighted average of the marks taken at the intermediate and / or oral tests, and the evaluation of any additional activities. The final mark can be known on Aulaweb through the online consultation service of the student's situation.

Non-attending students

For students who have not been able to attend or have not wanted to take advantage of the video lessons, if these are available, the exam will cover the topics covered in the textbooks.

a) Oral examination at the exam sessions to verify knowledge of the topics covered in the reference bibliography;

b) Oral discussion on a study unit.

The study unit discussion is not awarded a grade but will be passed or not passed. If it is not passed it must be repeated.The final grade will also take account of any additional activities.

All students who take the oral examination must absolutely take with them the texts they studied.

Additional activities: seminars and study groups

In the second module will be given, to a limited number of students, the opportunity to enroll in study groups for the classroom presentation of focus articles or for seminar discussion. Participation in these activities will be evaluated during the oral for the improvement of the final grade. 

Research in the laboratory

Given the importance of empirical research in the study of cognitive processes, participation in a laboratory research is considered essential training provided for all students of the course. Participation in the research may be used to replace the study unit on experimental research.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Although the lectures will be delivered in Italian, on request the Lecturer will provide a comprehensive collection of teaching materials in English for the final exam (on "Aulaweb"), and this exam can be taken in English. On request of students, part of lectures can be delivered in English.

The more detailed program, the schedule of classes, study material and other detailed information about the exam procedure will be available on “Aulaweb”.

Students can attend the Laboratory of Psychology and Cognitive Science to participate in the preparation, administration and analysis of cognitive psychology experiments (see http://cognilab.disfor.unige.it). Attending students can gain up to 1 additional credit.