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PSY-40053 - Module Specification
School of Psychology
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2023/24 Last Updated: 13 February 2024

PSY-40053 - Advanced Cognitive Neuroscience Research Methods
Coordinator: Joseph Brooks Room: N/A Tel: +44 1782 7 32963
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733736

Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2023/24

This module will develop your knowledge and practical skills with contemporary methods in cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience such as neuroimaging, eyetracking, and other contemporary methods. It prepares you to design, conduct, and critically appraise research using these methods. The module covers the theoretical background of the methods and, for several methods, you will gain hands-on experience with data collection, data analysis, and use of specialist software and equipment. The module will emphasise a framework which will allow you to understand existing methods and follow the development of new methods going forward.

Aims
This module aims to introduce students to advanced critical understanding of and practical skills for using contemporary research methods in cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/psy-40053/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

discuss a range of contemporary methods in cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience: 2
critically evaluate psychology studies using a range of contemporary methods in cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience: 2
design and conduct studies using a range of contemporary methods in cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience: 2
develop a research proposal using appropriate methods to address a research question within cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience: 2
critically discuss advantages and limitations of a range of contemporary methods in cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience: 1,2
explain how results from different cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience methods relate to and complement each other (including temporal sensitivity and spatial resolution): 2
use software tools for experiment control and data analysis within cognitive psychology and cognitive neuroscience: 1

Study hours

ACTIVE LEARNING HOURS: 30 hours to include:
- Scheduled Teaching Sessions: 24 Hours of interactive teaching, discussion, laboratory demonstrations, and practicals
- 6 hours of asynchronous content (approximately 30 minutes per week) to include introductory background lecture recordings, supplemental detail videos, background readings/exercises, discussion forum activity.
INDEPENDENT STUDY: 120 hours to include:
- 50 hours of wider background reading and engagement with module materials
- 30 hours of practical skills assessment preparation
- 40 hours of research proposal writing

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Computer Task weighted 40%
Practical Skills Assessment
Students will be given a description of an experimental protocol and/or cognitive neuroscience data (e..g., EEG data) and they will need to use specialist equipment or software tools to produce either an experimental programme to run the experiment and/or produce an analysis of data. The student will submit (via KLE) a 1000 word report which includes details of the the experimental programme and/or data analysis and any relevant plots of results as requested in the assessment brief. The completed assignment will be submitted via the KLE. Marking will assess the degree to which students accurately complete the experimental or analysis components and clearly summarise this in their report.

2: Research Proposal weighted 60%
2500 Word Research Proposal
Students will independently prepare a 2500 word research proposal that uses at least one cognitive neuroscience research method to address a research question of interest to the student. The proposal will require them to consider practical considerations of the method(s) appropriateness of methods, previous research using the method, and how to evaluate data from the method(s). This will be written concisely to prepare students to communicate effectively within word limits that are often imposed on proposals in academia and industry.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 13 February 2024