PSY s355 (#87260)
COGNITION
SUMMER 2010
Lecture Times: Monday-Friday, 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM
Location: NOA 1.124
Instructor:
Patrick J. Carroll, Ph.D.
Office: SEA 5.204
Contact: (512) 475-7007
carroll@psy.utexas.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, & Thursday 1:00 – 2:00 PM
and by appointment
T.A.:
Yasisca P. Khouri
Office: SEA 3.318B
Contact: (512)232-4805
yasisca.pujols@mail.utexas.edu
Office Hours: Monday & Friday 10:30 - 11:30 AM
Required text: Cognition, 4th Edition by Daniel Reisberg. Norton. Copyright 2010
Also Required: The Cognition Workbook by the same author, edition, & year
Access to ZAPS: The Norton Psychology Labs
This course will introduce students to the theories and research on basic cognitive processes,
including perception, attention, and memory. We will also explore complex phenomena, such as
language and decision-making. We will focus on both theoretical ideas and their empirical
foundation. The course will emphasize the science of cognitive psychology, and it is assumed
that students enrolled in this class wish to learn about cognition as a scientific topic and they have
the academic preparation to do so effectively. This is not a neurobiology course, but brain-based
evidence is central to modern cognitive theories and neuroscience techniques are a critical part of
cognitive methodology. Students should be prepared to understand and learn relatively
elementary neuroscience concepts as part of the class.
Requirements:
Tests
ZAPS & Workbook
Attendance
90% of grade (3 tests; 30% each test)
10% of grade (completion by deadline)
Minimum attendance requirement
Grading Scale:
A
92-100
A-
90-91
B+
88-89
B
82-87
B-
80-81
C+
78-79
C
72-77
C-
70-71
D+
68-69
D
62-67
DF
60-61
Below 60
Lectures: Class time will be devoted largely to lectures, but we will also take time for
discussions, demonstrations, and other activities. It is expected that you will respectfully
attend to lectures and actively participate in activities. Any formal lecture slides will be
posted on Blackboard after the lecture.
Attendance Policy: Attendance will be recorded regularly. A minimum of 80% attendance
(excluding test days) of the entire class session will be considered acceptable
attendance. There is no reward for attending classes beyond whatever knowledge you
might acquire. Attendance below 80% will be considered unacceptable participation in
the class and it will result in a lowering of your grade one or more full letter grades. Class
starts at 11:00 and ends at 12:15. I will attempt to respect both of those time limits.
Please treat me with courtesy and I will reciprocate with respectful flexibility. If you intend
to leave prior to the end of class, you should inform me before class. Failure to indicate
early departure will be considered a misrepresentation of your attendance and, as such,
academic dishonesty. If you leave early, you are not guaranteed credit for attending,
though I am likely to give you that credit if you have let me know of your plans
beforehand.
Tests: There will be three tests. Each test will combine multiple choice items and questions
requiring written responses: definitions, brief explanations, short answers. None of the
tests is comprehensive, including the third test (which is just a test, not a final exam),
which will be administered during the designated final exam time.
Test Dates:
Friday, July 23
Wednesday, August 4
Saturday, August 14 (during the scheduled final exam period)
Each of the tests will contribute equally to the final grade (30%).
No early tests are possible.
Test questions will be based on both reading assignments and lecture information. You
are expected to acquire detailed knowledge of the concepts, arguments, and research.
Makeup Tests: Makeup tests, if any are needed, will be given only for formally excused
absences. Excused absences will be granted only by Dr. Carroll and only for thoroughly
documented emergencies. It is your responsibility to supply documentation without being
asked.
The form of a makeup test (multiple choice, essay, definitions, etc.) will not
necessarily match that of the original test. The time of the makeup will be at the mutual
convenience of the instructor and student, and it will be giving as soon as possible after
the general test. Test questions will be based on all information sources: reading
assignments, lectures, Workbook readings, and ZAPS
Textbook Reading Assignments: The schedule on the next page shows the times we will be
working on each chapter/topic. It is expected that you will keep approximately current in
your reading. The date shown in the schedule is the day we will begin discussing a
particular topic. I will assume that you are doing a close, detailed, and integrative reading
of the textbook and that you are sophisticated in your use of web-based resources to
clarify and extend your knowledge.
Workbook Assignments: A workbook, The Cognition Workbook (4th edition), accompanies our
textbook. It has readings that are related to each of the textbook chapters. These
readings include (1) Demonstrations of relevant phenomena, (b) Research Methods
discussions, (c) application of the ideas from the chapter to Education, and (d) application
of the ideas from the chapter to the Law. For each chapter, you will have one or more
demonstration to read about (and, I hope, try on yourself). There will not be any required
Research Methods readings, but I encourage you to read them to improve your
methodological understanding. You will also read the Education and Law applications.
Then on the textbook website (called Study Space) you will answer several questions
about the Education and Law readings and submit them for evaluation. Here is the
address of the front page of the Study Space website.
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/psych/cognition4/
“Workbook Assignment” continued from previous page
Go to a specific chapter by choosing the appropriate chapter number on the green band
near the top of the page. Go to the appropriate reading by choosing hot text under
“Connect.” You will see a copy of the reading and, at the bottom of the reading,
questions and text boxes.
After you have answered all the
questions for a particular reading, fill in
the submission boxes just below the last
question. BE SURE to include your
instructor’s email address
(carroll@psy.utexas.edu). This is the
information that Study Space uses to
categorize you as a student in our class.
ZAPS: Cognitive psychologists use a variety of tasks in doing their research. Many of these
tasks are easier to understand if you experience them yourself. ZAPS are demonstration
experiments that allow you to learn about the tasks. Your data will be collected and
combined with the data from other students in the class, so we can compare actual
performance to the results typically found in using a particular technique.
One or more ZAPS will be assigned with most chapters. You should participate in the
study and then go to the Study Space website. Go to the appropriate chapter and look at
the “IN THIS CHAPTER” bar on the right. Under “Connect,” choose “ZAPS.” This will take
you to a set of questions (similar to the ones for the Workbook readings). Answer the
questions and submit the answers just as you did for the workbook. Be sure you include
the instructor’s email address (carroll@psy.utexas.edu) or you will not receive credit for
your work.
Grading for Workbook & ZAPS: Workbook and ZAPS assignments and their due dates are
listed later in this syllabus. Assignments are due by 5:00 PM on the date listed. Your
written responses will be graded on a pass-fail basis. Your responses should be
thoughtful, accurate, and properly written, demonstrating your understanding of the target
information. Our grading of your responses will be relatively shallow, so answers in the
form of extensive, in-depth analyses will not be properly rewarded.
The 10% of the grade for the Workbook and ZAPS assignments will be calculated
based on the proportion of assignments completed on time. Partially completed
assignments (e.g., all questions not answered) will not receive credit.
Course Prerequisites:
 PSY 301, passed with a C or better.
 Psy 418 or an equivalent, passed with a C or better.
o The Psychology undergraduate office determines “equivalence”.
 Upper-division standing: 60 hours completed.
Students with Disabilities Policy—University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic
accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the
Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, TTY: 471-4641.
Academic Dishonesty: Students are expected to turn in their own work. This includes work on
tests as well as Workbook and ZAPS responses. As upper division students, it is
expected that you are aware of the nature of cheating and plagiarism and that you will
avoid even the hint of academic dishonesty. Academic dishonesty will result in
disciplinary penalties, including a possible failing grade in the course and/or dismissal
from the University (Section 3.22, Chapter IV, Rules and Regulations of the Board of
Regents of the University of Texas System; www.utesystem.edu/bor/tocrrr.htm)
Media Issues:
 Please turn off all cell phones and other messaging devices during class.
 If you bring a computer to class, multitask modestly and discreetly. Excessive use of a
computer for purposes unrelated to the class is distracting to other students and rude to
the instructor.
 Turn off and securely put away any and all electronic devices during tests. Avoid even
the appearance of impropriety.
 Please favor email messages over telephone calls when possible. In general, email
messages will lead to quicker and more reliable communication.
 When sending emails, please assume a casually formal relationship. Identify yourself and
indicate that you are in this class (Psy355). Similar standards hold for phone messages.
 We will try to respond to emails or telephone calls promptly, but we do not monitor these
media compulsively. If you do not receive a response prior to the next class, please
speak with us there or resend the message.
 Occasionally messages can be inadvertently overlooked. We apologize in advance if this
should happen to you, and we hope you will simply send a follow-up message without
feeling slighted. We will attempt to be attentive and responsive.
 We generally do not check in to our offices for messages over the weekend. Messages
(phone or email) sent late on Friday are likely to remain unseen or unheard until Monday
morning.
Reading and Topic schedule (tentative):
Please note: The schedule provides for a buffer day prior to each test. The lecture and
chapter covered on the day immediately before each test is not included in
the next day’s test. It is part of the next test.
DAY
DATE
CHAPTER
TOPIC
Monday
12-Jul
Introduction
Tuesday
13-Jul
Chapter 1
(see note below)
Foundations
Wednesday
14-Jul
Chapter 2
Brain & Nervous System
Thursday
15-Jul
Friday
16-Jul
Chapter 3
Object Recognition
Saturday
17-Jul
Sunday
18-Jul
Monday
19-Jul
Chapter 5
Working Memory
Tuesday
20-Jul
Wednesday
21-Jul
Chapter 4
Attention
Thursday
22-Jul
Chapter 6
Encoding-Retrieval
Friday
23-Jul
Saturday
24-Jul
Sunday
25-Jul
Monday
26-Jul
Tuesday
27-Jul
Wednesday
28-Jul
Thursday
29-Jul
Friday
30-Jul
Saturday
31-Jul
Sunday
1-Aug
Monday
2-Aug
Tuesday
3-Aug
Wednesday
4-Aug
Thursday
5-Aug
Friday
6-Aug
Saturday
7-Aug
Sunday
8-Aug
TEST 1
TEST 1
Chapter 7
Memory
Chapter 9
Concepts
Chapter 11
Visual Knowledge
Chapter 10
Language
TEST 2
TEST 2
Chapter 12
Judgment
Monday
9-Aug
Tuesday
10-Aug
Chapter 13
Reasoning
Wednesday
11-Aug
Chapter 14
Problem Solving
Thursday
12-Aug
Last Lecture
Last Lecture
Friday
Saturday
13-Aug
14-Aug 2-5 PM
TEST 3
TEST 3
Note on Chapter 1: You are responsible for Chapter 1 through the first half of page 13
(up to “Research in Cognitive Psychology: An Example”).
TEST 1: Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5
TEST 2: Chapters 6, 7, 9, & 11
TEST 3: Chapters 10, 12, 13, &14
WORKBOOK & ZAPS Assignments:
Please note: Assignments are due by 5:00 PM on date listed.
DATE DUE
CHAPTER
July 14
1
WORKBOOK READING + ANSWERS
ZAPS + ANSWERS
Enhancing Classroom Learning
Improving the Criminal Justice System
July 16
2
A Brightness Illusion (read only)
Lateral Inhibition
Education: Using Biology to Improve Memory
Law: Detecting Lies
July 19
3
Features and Feature Combinations (read only)
Visual Search
Education: Speed-Reading
Law: Cross-Race Identification
July 23
4
Shadowing (read only)
Spatial Cueing
Education: ADHD
Law: What Do Eyewitnesses Pay Attention To?
July 21
5
Depth of Processing (read only)
Memory Span
Education: How Should I Study?
Operation Span
Law: The Videorecorder View
July 26
6
Priming Effects (read only)
Encoding Specificity
Education: Familiarity is Potentially Treacherous
Law: Unconscious Transference
July 28
7
Memory Accuracy and Confidence (read only)
Brown-Peterson Task
Education: Remembering for the Long Term
Law: Jurors' Memory
July 30
9
Assessing Typicality
Concept Formation
Education: Learning New Concepts
Law: Defining Legal Concepts
August 5
10
August 2
11
Education: Writing
Word Frequency
Law: Judicial Instructions
Auditory Imagery
Mental Scanning
Education: Using Imagery
Mental Rotation 2-D
Law: Lineups
August 9
12
Sample Size
2-4-6 Task
Education: Making People Smarter
Law: Juries' Judgment
August 11
13
Framing Questions
Decision Making
Education: Choosing Your Courses
Law: Judgment Biases in the Courtroom
August 13
14
Verbalization and Problem Solving
Education: Making Better Problem Solvers
Law: Problem-Solving in the Courts
Missionaries and
Cannibals