Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25
None
Available as a Free Standing Elective
No
Aims
This module aims to develop your ability to evaluate and test cognitive psychological models. You will be provided with a solid understanding of cognitive models across a variety of subdisciplines within cognitive psychology, and be able to evaluate the capacity of models to explain human thinking and behaviour.
Intended Learning Outcomes
Evaluate the relative strengths and weaknesses of cognitive explanations of human thought and behaviour;: 1Produce falsifiable predictions based on an evaluation of extant literature in the field of cognitive psychology;: 2Design a quantitative experimental procedure for testing cognitive psychological model predictions.: 2
- 16 hours of scheduled synchronous teaching (interactive, discussion-based, etc.)- 24 hours of guided asynchronous learning- 30 hours of Assessment 1 independent work- 30 hours of Assessment 2 independent work- 50 hours of independent study (e.g., reading, revision, organising information)
Description of Module Assessment
1: Essay weighted 35%Theory evaluationThis assessment (1,000 words) is designed to assess the depth of knowledge of module material from the student and to assess the student's capacity to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of cognitive models. Students will be provided with two competing theories that explain the same human thinking process or behaviour and be required to assess the relative strengths and weaknesses of the theories.
2: Laboratory Report weighted 65%Research proposalThis assessment (2,000 words) is designed to assess the capacity to produce falsifiable predictions based on an evaluation of the extant literature in the field of cognitive psychology. Students will be provided with a theory and be tasked with developing a prediction from that theory. They will also need to provide a quantitative experimental study design that would allow them to test the prediction of the theory.