Entry requirements
None
Description
Cognitive psychology studies general human functions such as perception, attention, memory, language, thinking, decision-making and motor skills. Cognitive psychologists try to answer questions such as the following: How do we recognise words? How do we remember events? How do we turn our thoughts into speech? Why do we make mistakes? How do we solve problems and how do we improve our cognitive abilities? The objective of the discipline is to describe and provide an explanation for observable behaviour that can be measured in adequately controlled experiments.
Course objectives
This introductory course offers knowledge and understanding of the following:
The most important theories and models of various functions and functional disorders,
The methods for observing and measuring behavioural symptoms
Application of theoretical insights to practical situations.
The experimental practical has the following objectives:Knowledge of the way in which a scientific report is designed
Application of knowledge and understanding
Practical skills in carrying out cognitive psychological research and analysing and interpreting the results obtained
Timetable
For the timetables of your lectures, workgroups, and exams, select your study programme.
Psychology timetables
Lectures Work group sessions Exams
Registration
Course
First year psychology students are automatically enrolled for courses, but do need to register themselves for the exam.
Other students do not only need to register for exams themselves, but also for lectures and work group sessions. For information on registration periods consult the bachelor course registration
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.
Mode of instruction
8 2-hour lectures and 4 2-hour experimental practicals
The experimental practical consists of four sessions in a computer room in which demonstrations are given and behavioural experiments carried out the results of which can then be analysed and interpreted. Students are also required to write a short research report on one of these experiments in accordance with the APA norms. First-year full-time students are automatically assigned to a practical group; all other students have to register. For more information please consult the Experimental Practical workbook and Blackboard. Although you are allowed to miss one of the four practical sessions, we strongly advise you to attend all four: all the materials covered in the four sessions are included in the examination materials. In case of exceptional circumstances, you can submit a request to be allowed to swap groups for once.
Assessment method
The examination consists of (1) a multiple-choice examination of 40 questions on Groome’s book and on the CogLab Syllabus and (2) a short research report on an experiment. The final grade is a combination of the multiple-choice examination grade (70%) and the report grade (30%). The report grade is only registered once the practical assignments have been successfully completed. The partial grade for each of the two components remains valid, if need be also in the following academic year.
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
Book: Groome, D. (2014) An Introduction to Cognitive Psychology. Third Edition. Second Print.
Cognitive Psychology CogLab Syllabus. The syllabus can be ordered later via Readeronline
Contact information
Dr. Fenna Poletiek
poletiek@fsw.leidenuniv.nlFriso Schous (practicals)
f.j.schous@fsw.leidenuniv.nl