PSYCH 4510: Cognitive Psychology Laboratory
This is a hands-on, research-focused, workshop-style course. The format of this course will be a mixture of lectures, activities, discussions, and writing, and will be taught like an introductory-level graduate course. Students will be expected to perform as if they are part of a graduate research team. This course is intended to develop skills specific to a research career. We will embark on the standard phases of a typical cognitive psychology research project from start to finish. The course will include training in specific experimental and quantitative methods in cognitive psychology. Students will conduct laboratory or field experiments that may include topics such as memory, perception, and attention, among others. While there are no pre-assigned reading materials, students will be reading a great deal of published research literature and writing reviews of that literature. Students will complete individual assignments as well as collaborative group work in a format that closely resembles what is required of graduate students in a cognitive psychology research laboratory.
Prereq: A grade of C- or above in 2220 and 2300; and a grade of C- or above in 3302, 3310, or 3312; and enrollment in Psych major. Not open to students with credit for 4520.
Prereq: A grade of C- or above in 2220 and 2300; and a grade of C- or above in 3302, 3310, or 3312; and enrollment in Psych major. Not open to students with credit for 4520.
Credit Hours
3
Sample Topics:
- Research Ethics
- Intro to Psytoolkit
- Experimental Methods & Design
- Stats & Data Analysis Review
- Structure of Research Papers: Why & How to Read Research
- Group Project Development
- Project Development
- Lit Reviews & Scientific Writing
- Data Collection
- Methods & Lab Reports; Data Pre-Processing
- Data Analysis: Data Processing & Group work
- Writing Results
- Writing Discussions; Development & Presenting Research Posters
- Graduate School & Careers in Psychological Research
Meets the following Psychology Major Goals:
Knowledge Base in Psychology
- Describe key concepts, principles, & overarching themes in psychology
- Develop working knowledge of psychology's content domains
- Describe applications of psychology
Scientific Inquiry & Critical Thinking
- Use scientific reasoning to interpret psychological phenomena
- Demonstrate psychology information literacy
- Engage in innovative & integrative thinking & problem solving
- Interpret, design, & conduct basic psychological research
Ethical & Social Responsibility in a Diverse World
- Apply ethical standards to evaluate psychological science & practice
Communication
- Demonstrate effective writing for different purposes
- Exhibit effective presentation skills for different purposes
- Interact effectively with others
Professional Development
- Apply psychological content & skills to career goals