Prospectus

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Attention: Theory and Practice

Course
2018-2019

Entry requirements

Cognitive Psychology or a similar course is required.

Description

Attention, one of the most colourful concepts in psychology, refers to a whole range of characteristics of human experience and behaviour: it is selective in expressing our preferences, integrative in binding numerous aspects of stimulus information to coherent events, inhibitory in suppressing unwanted thoughts and actions, limited in restricting our multi-tasking abilities, and executive in controlling our actions. The course covers the history of research on attention, methods to analyse attentional processes, the neural basis of attention and attention disorders, individual differences and applied issues, such as the impact of mental workload on performance or the design of visual displays.

Course objectives

The student will acquire general knowledge of:

  • Theories of human attention;

  • Methods to measure attention or effects of attention on brain and behaviour; and

  • The usefulness of this above knowledge in applied settings.

Timetable

For the timetables of your lectures, workgroups, and exams, select your study programme.
Psychology timetables

Lectures Exams

Registration

Course

Students need to register for lectures, workgroups and exams.
Instructions for registration in courses for the 2nd and 3rd year

Elective

Elective students have to enroll for each course separately. For admission requirements contact your study advisor.

Exchange/Study abroad

For admission requirements, please contact your exchange coordinator

Examination

Students are not automatically enrolled for an examination. They can register via uSis from 100 to 10 calendar days before the date; students who are not registered will not be permitted to take the examination.
Registering for exams

Mode of instruction

8 2-hour lectures.
Weblectures will be made available.

Assessment method

A written exam consisting of 40 multiple-choice questions (70%) and 5 essay questions (30%).

The Institute of Psychology uses fixed rules for grade calculation and compulsory attendance. It also follows the policy of the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences to systematically check student papers for plagiarism with the help of software. Disciplinary measures will be taken when fraud is detected. Students are expected to be familiar with and understand the implications of these three policies.

Reading list

Johnson, A. & Proctor, R.W. (2004). Attention: Theory and practice. Thousands Oaks, California: Sage Publications. (Order in time, or purchase from the Labyrint book service!)

Contact information

Prof. dr. Sander Nieuwenhuis
snieuwenhuis@fsw.leidenuniv.nl