Cognition: Basic Processes

Psychology W2210, Spring 2002

Course description

This course introduces the major areas of study in cognition. Cognitive psychology encompasses a range of behavior and functioning, from highly automatic perception to effortful problem solving. We will study general aspects of cognition that are important throughout this range, such as attention, memory, and learning, as well as more specific domains, such as vision, categorization, language, decision making, problem solving, and consciousness. The central theme of the course is how we can study and understand the continuum of functions from perception to high-level cognition. We will discuss how we can generate theories to explain cognition, and how to design experiments to test theories, using a range of methods, from conventional laboratory psychophysics to brain imaging.

Course requirements

Grades will depend on four factors: Exam 1 (20%), Exam 2 (20%), Final Exam (30%), a short (~10 pages) term paper (30%). 

• Exams. Exams will consist of multiple choice and short answer questions. All exams will be cumulative.
• Excused absences from exams. Only medical or family emergencies constitute adequate reasons to miss an exam. If you are ill, you may only reschedule the exam if you provide a note from your doctor documenting that you were too ill to take the exam.
• Term paper. This should be a critical review of a topic covered in the course. Because this is a critical review paper, important criteria for grading will be evidence that you are not simply outlining or summarizing the readings, but are attempting to synthesize them, organize them around a theoretical perspective, point out areas of controversy and most importantly, suggest a novel perspective or avenue for future research. The papers will be graded for structure (30%), logic (30%), integration of primary sources (30%) and quality of writing (10%).  Click here for more guidance on preparing your paper . 
• Topic approval: To prepare, you should choose a topic, and find at least 3 or 4 primary sources on it (articles or book chapters, either from among the recommended or cited readings in the course readings, or sources you find with a library search). You must meet with the instructor or the graduate TA no later than March 14 to discuss your topic, including your sources, and have it approved. To ensure that you are able to meet this deadline, you are strongly encouraged to meet with the professor or TA before March 14. 
• Outline: You must then write an outline planning your paper and turn it in no later than April 18 . This will be returned to you as soon as possible with comments.
• Final draft: The final draft is due on the last day of class, May 2.   
• Extensions and late work. Extensions will be granted only under the most extenuating circumstances. Your maximum final paper grade will be decremented by 5% every day your topic or outline is overdue. Your final maximum paper grade will be decremented by 10% every day your final draft is overdue.
• Attendance and participation. The fact that there is not an official grading criterion based on attendance and participation does not mean we think this aspect of your performance is unimportant; however, attendance is not mandatory, and given the size of the class, it may be difficult for everyone to have substantial opportunities to speak in each seminar. However, poor attendance will be indirectly penalized in the exams, since they will be based on the lectures as well as the readings.
  

A    Excellent performance, greatly exceeding minimum required to fulfill course requirements.  
B    Performance substantially above minimum required to fulfill course requirements.  
C    All course requirements met, including reasonable performance on exams.  
D    Not all requirements met, but performance merits passing grade.  
F    Performance substantially below minimum required to fulfill course requirements.  

Office hours, email, etc.

The professor and teaching assistant are eager to help you master the concepts and material of this course. Each class meeting will begin and sometimes end with a question session. This should be the primary venue for clarification and content questions. The alternative is to visit us during office hours or to make an appointment with the professor. Neither of us will answer such questions by email; it is too inefficient for this purpose; 20 minutes of email writing can often save 2 minutes on the phone. If you have an urgent question that cannot wait until the next class or office hour, either email the professor asking for an appointment, or phone him in his office.

Course schedule: Topics, readings and deadlines

Readings.  For each topic, readings will be comprised of a combination of chapters from the textbook and a small number of primary sources (review or research articles). It appears that all of the readings except the textbook will be available electronically through the CU Library. We will discuss this in the first class meeting. This course requires a substantial amount of reading, usually between about 20 and 40 pages per meeting . A few of the primary sources will be tough going, but serve the goal of introducing you to the actual practice of cognitive psychology. Write down your questions and bring them to class (or to the TA's or professor's office hours). 

Textbook: Reisberg, D.  (2001), Cognition: Exploring the Science of the Mind (2^nd Ed.). New York: Norton. Available at the Columbia Bookstore.

Readings, lectures and "seminars": You should complete the readings listed for each meeting before the meeting, and the lectures will assume that you have done so. While the readings and lectures will cover the same topics, the details will vary. You will be tested on both sources of information. In addition to lectures, a handful of meetings will be conducted as seminar discussions. Come prepared with at least 3 points to discuss based on the readings. Discussion and questions are encouraged in the lecture sessions as well.