Students

PSYX2246 – Cognitive Processes I

2021 – Session 1, Fully online/virtual

Notice

As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.

To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor
Sachiko Kinoshita
Lecturer
Kim Curby
Lecturer
Bill Thompson
Lecturer
Ann Carrigan
Lecturer
Greg Savage
Tutor
Bill Thompson
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
((PSYC104 or PSYU1104 or PSYX104 or PSYX1104) and (PSYC105 or PSYU1105 or PSYX105 or PSYX1105 or PSYU1102 or PSYX1102)) or ((PSYU1101 or PSYX1101) and (PSYU1102 or PSYX1102) and (STAT1103 or STAX1103)) or ((Cogs100 or COGS1000) and (COGS101 or COGS1010))
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit introduces major topics of cognition including mechanisms of visual and auditory attention, varieties of short and long term memory, language processes such as reading and written word recognition, and storage and retrieval of knowledge of concepts and reasoning. We cannot attend to everything that impinges on the senses so we select and attend only to part of the available input. Selected information must be encoded, used, stored and retrieved. Although the main focus of the unit is on normal adult cognition, we will also examine disorders of cognition including acquired dyslexias and various forms of memory impairments. You will learn to approach research findings critically, and in the practical classes you will gain hands-on experience of classic cognitive phenomena.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Demonstrate knowledge of research findings and theories about foundational aspects of cognitive processes.
  • ULO2: Acquire skills in critical evaluation of research on cognition.
  • ULO3: Acquire an understanding of limits of human cognition.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Assignment 15% No 1/4/2021
Research Participation 5% No throughout semester (last date to participate 3/6/2021)
Mid-session examination 20% No 29/3/2021 (online)
Final Examination 60% No university examination period

Assignment

Assessment Type 1: Qualitative analysis task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: 1/4/2021
Weighting: 15%

 

Four short-answer questions of between 50 and 300 words each, based on a set journal article.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of research findings and theories about foundational aspects of cognitive processes.
  • Acquire skills in critical evaluation of research on cognition.

Research Participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 3 hours
Due: throughout semester (last date to participate 3/6/2021)
Weighting: 5%

 

Students are required to participate in two and half hours of cognition research available online. This is accessed via the Research participation pool system.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Acquire an understanding of limits of human cognition.

Mid-session examination

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: 29/3/2021 (online)
Weighting: 20%

 

Mid-session online multiple choice exam assessing unit content.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of research findings and theories about foundational aspects of cognitive processes.
  • Acquire skills in critical evaluation of research on cognition.
  • Acquire an understanding of limits of human cognition.

Final Examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: university examination period
Weighting: 60%

 

Final examination held within the University’s formal exam period, in accordance with relevant requirements.

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of research findings and theories about foundational aspects of cognitive processes.
  • Acquire skills in critical evaluation of research on cognition.
  • Acquire an understanding of limits of human cognition.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

MQ OUA student guide is available at this webpage https://www.mq.edu.au/study/other-study-options/open-universities-australia

Lectures are held weekly starting on Session Week 1. All lectures are prerecorded and will be accessed via Echo360 via the iLearn unit homepage.

Practicals (= tutorials) are fortnightly, starting on Session Week 2, and accessed via the iLearn unit homepage.

You will need access to the internet for accessing the iLearn unit homepage for the following, and you should familiarize yourself with iLearn:

  • Up-to-date information about the unit
  • lecture recordings (Echo360)
  • online practical (= tutorial) activity
  • online submission of the assignment
  • midsemester test (online)

Textbook: (Either edition is acceptable. E-book versions are also available)

Eysenck, M.W., & Keane, M.T. (2020). Cognitive psychology: A student's handbook. 8th Edition, Hove, UK: Psychology Press.

Eysenck, M.W., & Keane, M.T. (2015). Cognitive psychology: A student's handbook. 7th Edition, Hove, UK: Psychology Press.

Unit Schedule

For up-to-date scheduling, refer to the iLearn unit homepage

Week

Week

beginning

Lecture Mon 2-4

Practical

2021 prac schedule

1

22-Feb

Intro & Research methods

////////

//////////////////

2

1-Mar

Working memory

Practical 1

Phonological Similarity

(Working memory)

3

8-Mar

Attention

Practical 1 Repeat

Phonological Similarity

4

15-Mar

Visual attention and object recognition (KC)

Practical 2

Stroop

(Attention)

5

22 Mar

Episodic memory

Practical 2 Repeat

Stroop

6

29 Mar

Online MID SEMESTER TEST

Assignment due 1/4/2021

Practical 3

Levels of Processing

(Episodic memory)

 

5-16 April

Midsemester break

 

 

7

19-Apr

Semantic memory

Practical 3 Repeat

Levels of Processing

8

26-Apr

Language Production (WT)

Practical 4

Change Detection

 (Visual attention)

9

3-May

Word recognition & reading

Practical 4 Repeat

Change Detection

10

10-May

Decision making and judgment (Ann Carrigan)

Practical 5

Exam essay writing

11

17-May

Concepts and categories

Practical 5 Repeat

Exam essay writing

12

24-May

Cognitive Neuropsychology (GS)

Practical 6

Lexical Decision

(Semantic memory/Word Recognition) 

13

31-May

Revision

Practical 6

repeat

Lexical Decision

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.


Unit information based on version 2021.03 of the Handbook