PSY4081 · Perception and cognition

Overview

This unit covers a variety of perceptive and cognitive processes. In the first half, you will study auditory and visual perception, as well as language comprehension. Coding mechanisms common to different modalities are emphasised to help you understand general mechanisms of sensory coding and perceptual processing. The second half of the unit encompasses the acquisition, organisation, and retrieval of knowledge and aims to cover cognitive psychology more generally. Topics include memory, attention, awareness, consciousness and knowledge, as well as higher-order thinking such as moral judgement and decision making. You will also be introduced to detailed aspects of current research projects related to visual and auditory perception and cognition through discussions of the theoretical background and experimental methodologies employed in the contemporary exploration of human sensation, perception, and cognition.

Areas of study: Psychology

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Apply the practical and theoretical skills underlying several major methods for conducting cognitive and perceptual psychological research.
2. Describe how theoretical principles of cognitive psychology can be applied to explain empirical findings within perception and cognition.
3. Critically summarise the broad principles of perception which apply to all modalities (i.e., vision, hearing, touch, taste, smell, etc).
4. Evaluate historical and current theory on perceptual and cognitive processes.
5. Work collaboratively with peers to appraise the contribution of cognitive research paradigms and methods to the understanding of broader issues in contemporary society.
6. Communicate current ideas about perception and cognition to diverse audiences.

Workload

You should expect to spend a minimum of 20 hours per week on this unit to achieve the learning outcomes. This time will cover: a) video lecture materials; b) synchronous & asynchronous discussion; c) synchronous web-based 'class-time' for skills-based activities; d) weekly readings; e) weekly skills-based assessment tasks; and f) content-based assessment, including revision and formative assessment. Each week there will be a one hour ‘Live class’, facilitated by your instructor. This will be followed by a live office hour, where you can ask questions and chat with your classmates and instructor about anything to do with the unit or psychology in general. There is also a 1 hour live chat with the Senior Instructor that you can attend each week for additional discussion and guidance.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.