Technology Used and Required

For this unit you will need to have access to a computer that can reliably connect to the internet. This will be essential for accessing the unit's web-page, which can be found at:

https://ilearn.mq.edu.au

In particular, the assessed Research Design Proposal must be submitted online via the Turnitin link on the iLearn page.

Required Texts

For this course, the primary readings will come from original research papers or review articles, rather than from a textbook. References for these papers will be given for each lecture by the member of staff responsible for delivering the material. They are available for download via the university's library web-site (Multisearch).

Useful Back-up Texts

The two textbooks that were reccommended for PSY247 will also be useful as a back-up and for revision of concepts learnt on lower level courses. Details are given below.

Snowden, R., Thompson, P., & Troscianko, T. Basic vision: an introduction to visual perception 2^nd Edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012.

This is a very accessible text that is always popular with students. It introduces technical concepts in an easy-to-grasp fashion, and is an excellent introduction to the discipline of visual perception.

Mather, G. Foundations of Sensation & Perception, 3^rd Edition. Taylor & Francis Group, 2016.

This text offers broader coverage of perception in general, with more technical detail than Snowden et al. in certain areas.

Access to Assigned Reading Material

Both of the aforementioned texts are available for purchase at the University Bookshop, in addition to the copies available at the library, in the main collection and on e-reserve. Where availability is limited, students should consider using the first edition of the Mather book (entitled “Foundations of Perception”), of which the library has additional copies.

PSY342 Unit Overview

Lectures will be given on various research topics by staff who are active in those fields. 

Practicals will supplement and build upon the lecture material, allowing a hands-on approach to perceptual phenomena and their explanation. Another aim of the unit is to teach general skills. In practical classes, students will learn psychophysical methodology and techniques for data analysis. Web/IT skills will be used in practicals, as well as in accessing the parts of the course housed on the unit’s iLearn web page, including online assessments.

It is University policy that the University issued email account will be used for official University communication. All students are required to access their University account frequently.

The course will comprise lectures and practicals supported by assigned reading. Although some of the material from these separate components may be related to each other, some different concepts and topics may be contained in each.

The timetable for classes can be found on the University web site at: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/ 

Lectures:

Weekly lectures will be held on Wednesdays from 10am-12noon in 12 Second Walk Room 226

Topics and Lecturers:

Practicals

The practical program will run on university session weeks 3, 5, 7 & 9 with all sessions held in room 317 12SW (formerly C5A). They will be conducted by experienced tutors who will be your first contact if you have problems with this unit. Their full contact details can be found in the "Teaching Staff" section. You will be required to attend four 2-hour practicals throughout the semester. Students will be divided into groups. The schedule and topics to be covered are displayed below. The content of the practical classes is identical for all classes. You should be aware that as practicals will include assessed activities, your attendance is essential.

Practical class times are as follows:

Due to restrictions on the availability of resources in the laboratory and to health and safety regulations it is highly recommended that you attend the practical to which you have been assigned. Although students may be permitted to attend a tutorial that they were not assigned to if there happens to be ample room in the class, most classes are likely to be full. In cases of overcrowding, those not attending their assigned group will be asked to leave. Under these circumstances, no special provisions will be made for attendance at an alternative practical class.

Managing Classes: Changes to all units can be made on-line via eStudent. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT TUTORS AND LECTURERS ARE UNABLE TO HELP WITH THIS. After the designated last day to add units, no further changes will be allowed unless supporting documentation about the reason for changing is provided and there is space in the tutorial you wish to change into.

Tentative Practical Topic Schedule (subject to change)

This unit is taught through lectures and practicals with support from web-based resources such as iLearn, including the online discussion board. While lectures are useful principally for introducing new concepts and knowledge, practicals allow more direct interactions between instructor and students. They are your opportunity to enhance your understanding further by participating in activities and asking questions. The iLearn discussion board also allows students to discuss topics in greater depth, and may also feature contributions by staff members when there appears to be confusion amongst the student body. The lecture schedule is a guide only, and is intended to be flexible.

iLearn

Students should check the iLearn web site at regular intervals for announcements, voluntary online quizzes, lecture notes, examples of illusions and perceptual phenomena in picture, video and sound files and other supplementary learning materials. It will feature a discussion board on which students may converse about course material, or any other legitimate business related to PSY342. Links to lecture recordings, which will be available in audio and video format, will be included. It is also the method of managing submission of the Research Proposal assignment. It is recommended that students visit this site regularly and make full use of the facilities.

What does it take to do well in PSY342?

Students are expected to pay close attention to all lectures and to take notes to aid their retention of the material covered. Although recorded lectures will be invaluable when attendance is physically impossible, it is recommended that students attend lectures, as there are some aspects of the course that cannot be replicated through such media. Reading assigned during each lecture should be completed close to the date of the relevant lecture. Review of the material (individually, or in group sessions) in the student’s own time will be essential to consolidate knowledge and enhance understanding. Attendance of, and active participation in practicals is also mandatory. Worksheets distributed during practicals are assessed and need to be completed and handed in during the same practical. The Research Proposal assignment constitutes a major aspect of the examination for this course, and students are advised to begin work on this early in the semester, and to continue as the submission date approaches, rather than trying to complete the entire assignment within 1 week of the deadline. The stereophotography assignment gives students the opportunity to pick up some marks in a low-pressure assessment following a fun activity. These crucial marks should not be squandered.

It should be noted that according to Senate Guidelines, workloads should involve 3 hours per credit point per week. This results in 9 hours per week (including lectures and practicals) for a 3 credit point unit such as PSY342.

Note: Assessment will be based on the successful understanding of material from lectures, practicals and from the assigned reading. Please note that rote learning alone will not be a successful strategy, as the assessments will test for deeper appreciation of the course material in a variety of formats. Simply remembering the “facts” will not suffice. Students need to demonstrate their understanding of the principles, and demonstrate the ability to apply such understanding in new contexts.

What material is examinable?

Obviously, the exact details of the questions to be asked in the examinations will not be released in advance. However, questions will come from topics covered during lectures and practicals. Where additional information on these topics is supplied in the assigned reading, this should also be considered examinable. The examinations will not feature questions on topics not mentioned during lectures even if they are included in the assigned reading.

Statement on Academic Courtesy

It is the right of each student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please make an effort to arrive to class on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please enter the lecture theatre as quietly as possible to minimise disruption, using the back entrance if possible. Although some lecturers may allow questions during lectures, talking between students is often disruptive and is strongly discouraged. Phones, pagers, and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class. Likewise, all lecturers and students are expected to display appropriate academic behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone.

Statement on Social Inclusion and Diversity

Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education, the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community, you must not discriminate against or harass others on the basis of their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual orientation, age, political conviction or religious belief. All lecturers, tutors and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone. The Unit Convenor is a member of the Ally Network and is happy to provide support to members of the GLBTIQ community.