Students

PSYU2246 – Cognitive Processes I

2022 – Session 1, In person/Online-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff unit convenor
Sachiko Kinoshita
sachiko.kinoshita@mq.edu.au
Contact via email
Rm 3.803, AHH (16 University Ave)
Lecturer
Kim Curby
kim.curby@mq.edu.au
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Lecturer
Lyndsey Nickels
lyndsey.nickels@mq.edu.au
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Lecturer
Ann Carrigan
ann.carrigan@mq.edu.au
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Lecturer
Greg Savage
greg.savage@mq.edu.au
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Tutor
Daniel Guilbert
d.guilbert@mq.edu.au
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Tutor
Katherine Ko
katherine.ko@mq.edu.au
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Tutor
Alexandra Kerjan
alexandra.kerjan@mq.edu.au
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Tutor
Kurt Lancaster
kurt.lancaster@mq.edu.au
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Tutor
Matthew McAlister
matthew.mcalister@mq.edu.au
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Tutor
Hasibe Kahraman
hasibe.kahraman@mq.edu.au
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Tutor
Paul Aldrich
paul.aldrich@mq.edu.au
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Tutor
Hamish Phillips
hamish.phillips@mq.edu.au
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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: Explain and apply the major concepts, theoretical perspectives and empirical findings in cognitive psychology.
  • ULO2: Critically evaluate theories and empirical research in studies of various cognitive processes (e.g., attention, memory, language, decision making).
  • ULO3: Identify what factors impact on human performance in cognitive tasks (e.g., physiological, neural, linguistic, cultural).

General Assessment Information

Some assessments for this unit are conducted online. Therefore, access to a reliable computer and internet connection is essential. 

LATE SUBMISSION.  Late submissions will receive a 5% per day penalty including weekends and public holidays, unless an extension has been granted through special consideration. No late submissions will be accepted more than 5 days after the submission deadline, unless special consideration has been granted. No further submissions will be accepted after the marked assignments are returned and feedback is released to students. All extensions need to be formally requested in line with the special consideration policy. 

FINAL EXAM.  The final exam for this unit is held during the Final Examination period and is currently scheduled to occur on Macquarie University campus.  Students are expected to make themselves available for the final exam, at the date and time set by the University, in line with the Assessment Policy and Procedure.  Sitting the final exam is compulsory in order to be eligible to pass the unit. Any student who does not attempt the final exam will be granted a Fail Absent grade.  

 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Assignment 20% No End of Week 5 (25 March 2022)
Mid-session examination 20% No Week 6 (March 31 8-10 am)
Research Participation 5% No Throughout semester (end 3 June 2022)
Final Examination 55% No Examination period

Assignment

Assessment Type 1: Qualitative analysis task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: End of Week 5 (25 March 2022)
Weighting: 20%

 

Students will answer a series of short-answer questions based on a set journal article.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain and apply the major concepts, theoretical perspectives and empirical findings in cognitive psychology.
  • Critically evaluate theories and empirical research in studies of various cognitive processes (e.g., attention, memory, language, decision making).

Mid-session examination

Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 6 (March 31 8-10 am)
Weighting: 20%

 

Online mid-session exam assessing unit content.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain and apply the major concepts, theoretical perspectives and empirical findings in cognitive psychology.
  • Critically evaluate theories and empirical research in studies of various cognitive processes (e.g., attention, memory, language, decision making).
  • Identify what factors impact on human performance in cognitive tasks (e.g., physiological, neural, linguistic, cultural).

Research Participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 3 hours
Due: Throughout semester (end 3 June 2022)
Weighting: 5%

 

Students are required to participate in two and half hours of cognition research which is accessed via the Research participation pool system (or an alternate research activity).

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Identify what factors impact on human performance in cognitive tasks (e.g., physiological, neural, linguistic, cultural).

Final Examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 50 hours
Due: Examination period
Weighting: 55%

 

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

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Explain and apply the major concepts, theoretical perspectives and empirical findings in cognitive psychology.
  • Critically evaluate theories and empirical research in studies of various cognitive processes (e.g., attention, memory, language, decision making).
  • Identify what factors impact on human performance in cognitive tasks (e.g., physiological, neural, linguistic, cultural).

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

You will need access to the internet for accessing the iLearn unit homepage for the following:

  • Up-to-date information about the unit
  • lecture recordings (Echo360)
  • online submission of the assignment
  • midsemester test (online)
  • Discussion forum

Lectures: One 2-hour lecture weekly starting on Session week 1 (yearly week 9).  Delivered F2F (Thursdays 8-10 am, Lotus) and recordings are made available via iLearn homepage (Echo360).

Tutorials (practicals): One 1-hour class (F2F or online/Zoom) per fortnight starting on Session Week 2 (yearly week 10) or Week 3 (yearly week 11). Class availability can be seen via eStudent class enrolment: the location of the class indicates if it is an online class or an on-campus class.  Zoom login details will be provided on the iLearn unit homepage. 

Recommended text:  (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. 

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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

GRADING Macquarie University follow standards-based assessment of student performance. All individual assessment tasks are subject to moderation, consistent with the Assessment Policy and Procedure. A student’s final mark for this unit, and associated grade, must reflect their attainment of the unit learning outcomes, and isn’t necessarily a simple summation of their individual assessment items.   

Student Support

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

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

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

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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 2022.03 of the Handbook