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Memory and Cognition
EXP 4507
Fall 2010
TR 2:30-3:45
Building 41, Room 134
Instructor: Dr. Lisa VanWormer
My Office: Building 41, Room 232
My Office Hours: TR 9:00- 11:00 and by appointment.
Email: Lvanwormer@uwf.edu
Graduate Assistant:
GA Office: Building 41, Room 126
GA Office Hours: TBA
Prerequisites:
PSY 2012, STA 2023, EXP 3082
GOALS FOR THE COURSE
Catalog Description:
Students will survey theory and literature related to the study of human memory and cognition. Topics will include attention,
memory, imagery, language and bilingualism, problem solving, metamemory, expertise, and the development of language and
cognitive processes.
Course Objectives:
This course will acquaint the student with the history, philosophy, and research surrounding selected issues in the psychology
of cognition. We will look at major topics such as learning, perception, attention, and memory and discuss their history, their current
status, and their future directions. A great deal of emphasis will be placed on research and its value and implications in everyday life.
Student Learning Outcomes:
Through the completion of this course, the successful student will be able to:
Critically evaluate and integrate psychological literature
Use clear and professional language in written work
Recognize the value of basic and applied cognitive psychology
Understand how information is acquired, retained, and utilized
Identify the key characteristics of proposed major memory systems
Describe the consequences of specific cognitive disorders
Explain the contributions of top-down and bottom-up processing
Realize that cognitive processes are interrelated and do not occur in isolation
ACHIEVING OUR GOALS
Text (Required): Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research, and Everyday Experience (2nd or 3rd Edition). E. Bruce
Goldstein. Wadsworth Publishing.
The purpose of the textbook is to complement the lectures. Typically the lectures follow the textbook, but occasionally
material from lecture will not be in the textbook, and material in the textbook will not be in the lecture.
2nd Edition. The 2nd edition of the textbook will not come with a CogLab 2.0 access code (if someone is selling an old code,
it will not work). If you choose the 2nd edition, you will have to purchase an access code, which you can do online at
www.cengagebrain.com (search for CogLab 2.0) for $28.49. You do not have to purchase a manual because there is an electronic
version on the CogLab website that can be downloaded for free.
3rd Edition. The 3rd edition of the textbook comes with both a CogLab 2.0 access code and a CogLab manual.
Student Companion Website. Both editions of the book come with a student companion website. You can find this site by
going to www.cengage.com/psychology/goldstein and selecting your book. The site has multiple choice questions, flashcards, study
guides, etc. that will provide additional resources for studying. You will be able to use the multiple choice quizzes for extra credit.
CogLab 2.0. (The Cognitive Psychology Online Laboratory)
A set of Web-based demonstrations of classic experiments and concepts from cognitive psychology. CogLab allows students to
experience a variety of important experimental studies. This experience will help you understand each experiment, the data, and the
significance of the study.
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There are 10 individual experiments assigned throughout the course of the semester. You will need to register at
http://coglab.wadsworth.com. Your access code will come with the 3rd edition of your book, or can be purchased online at
www.cengagebrain.com (search for CogLab 2.0) for $28.49. You will need to sign in on your own account, and COMPLETE the lab
by NOON on the due date to receive credit. No late labs will be accepted. The lab schedule can be found at the end of the syllabus and
each student will be responsible for knowing the due dates- they will not be announced in class. There are no make-ups for missed
labs. You may perform each of the labs at any time prior to the due date.
There are instructions on how to access CogLab on Page 4 of the syllabus.
eLearning/D2L
Outlines of our PowerPoint lectures will be available online. Print them out before class. You will also find class
announcements, occasional worksheets, and your grades on this site as well. Check it often. If you use any other option on D2L, such
as message boards, or class-list emailing, please remember that no communication is entirely secure and may be viewed by more
individuals than your intended audience.
ASSESSING OUR GOALS
4 Total Exams:
Exams: There will be three semester exams and one final exam. The exams will be in-class, both multiple choice and short
answer, and will not be cumulative. The final exam will be all multiple choice and will be cumulative. Each semester exam will be
worth 100 points (each exam is 22% of your grade) and the final exam is 50 points (12% of your grade). For each exam, a study guide
will be made available on D2L. As the final exam is cumulative, it will be very beneficial for you to pick up and keep your semester
exams. I also suggest you pick up your exams from my office in a timely manner. If you have a concern about your exam grade, you
must bring it to my attention before the following exam. Once Exam 2 has been taken, I will not “revisit” Exam 1 to look for
additional points. Your grades will be posted on D2L no later than one week following the exam date.
Make-ups for semester exams will be allowed in the case of 1) a medical problem, 2) participation is a UWF-sanctioned
event, or 3) a death in the family. Some sort of documentation (e.g. doctor’s note, coach’s note), and forewarning (if possible) is
REQUIRED. If you have a different reason for taking the makeup (missed the exam due to work, non-hospitalized illness, 21st
birthday, etc) you may also take the essay make-up. In these cases, however, you will only be eligible to receive 90% of your marked
grade. Make-up exams will be given only until the exams are returned to the class.
Make-ups for final exams will only be allowed if you have 1) more than 2 final exams on one day, or 2) you have a direct
conflict with another final exam. No exceptions.
10 Individual CogLabs:
Each lab is worth 10 points for a total of 100 points (22% of your grade). Each lab is to be COMPLETED by NOON on the
due date to get credit. There is no partial credit for each individual lab and they cannot be made up, or completed after the deadline.
Grade Formula: Grades will not be rounded up. An 89.999 is not an A.
(Exam 1 + Exam 2 + Exam 3 + CogLab Total + Final)/ 450.
Grade Distribution
93-100 = A
90-92 = A86-89 = B+
83-85 = B
80-82
76-79
73-75
70-72
= B= C+
=C
= C-
66-69 = D+
60-65 = D
< 59 = F
BOOSTING YOUR GRADE
Extra Credit Points:
Prior to each exam, you will be able to turn in 10 points worth of extra credit material. There are two types of extra credit
opportunities.
Multiple Choice Quizzes: on the student companion website (www.cengage.com/psychology/goldstein), you will find a
multiple choice quiz for each chapter. You can attempt these quizzes as many times as you would like. Once you get to 100% on the
quiz, email the results to the GA and your participation will be recorded. For example, any time prior to Exam 1, you can turn in the
quizzes from Chapters 1, 2, 3, and 4. Each quiz that you complete will be worth 1 point for a possible total of 4 points per exam.
CogLab Basic Questions: Each CogLab is summarized in the CogLab manual, which is available for electronic download on
coglab.wadsworth.com. Do not download the whole manual. Instead, pick one lab per exam on which you would like to write a brief
paper. Each summary of the lab is followed by a section of “Basic Questions.” Use these three questions to write a 1-2 page summary
on the CogLab for a total of 6 points. You may only do one summary per exam.
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If you complete all of the extra credit opportunities, you could add 10 points to each exam score, which is 30 points to your
total grade. 30 points is 6% of the total points available, which could raise your grade two half grades. For example, if you averaged a
78% (C+) on your exams, and did all of the extra credit opportunities, you overall grade would be an 84% (B). Because this is a
substantial opportunity to increase your grade, there is a strict “no rounding” principle when it comes to your overall grade.
IMPORTANT POLICIES
University Policy on Academic Misconduct:
As members of the University of West Florida, we commit ourselves to honesty. As we strive for excellence in performance,
integrity- personal and institutional- is our most precious asset. Honesty in our academic work is vital, and we will not knowingly act
in ways that erode that integrity. Accordingly, we pledge not to cheat, nor to tolerate cheating, and not to plagiarize the work of others.
We pledge to share community resources in ways that are responsible and that comply with established policies of fairness.
Cooperation and competition are means to high achievement and are encouraged. Indeed, cooperation is expected unless our directive
is to individual performance. We will compete constructively and professionally for the purpose of stimulating high performance
standards. Finally, we accept adherence to this set of expectations for academic conduct as a condition of membership in the UWF
academic community, as defined in the UWF Student Handbook: http://uwf.edu/studentaffairs/documents/handbook.pdf.
Additional Assistance:
Students with special needs, which require specific examination-related or other course-related accommodations should
contact Barbara Fitzpatrick, Director of Disabled Student Services (DSS), dss@uwf.edu (850.474.2387). DSS will provide the student
with a letter for the instructor that will specify any recommended accommodations.
Contingency Plans:
In the event of an emergency, UWF has designated an official informational website at www.uwfemergency.org. In the event
that your professor cannot attend class, and class must be cancelled, you will be notified by email as soon as possible prior to the class
meeting. If the university is closed, and only one class session must be cancelled, our schedule will remain as close as possible to the
original (same exam dates, similar material covered, same CogLab due dates). If more than one class session should have to be
cancelled, the course schedule will likely change (exam date moved back or chapter of material deleted). Depending on the event, you
will be notified by email of the new course schedule.
* WUWF-FM (88.1 MHz) is the official information source for the university. Any pertinent information regarding closings,
cancellations, and the re-opening of campus will be broadcast.
* In the event that hurricane preparation procedures are initiated, the UWF Home Web Page and Argus will both provide current
information regarding hurricane preparations procedures, the status of classes, and the closing of the university.
Academic Difficulty:
If you are having difficulty in class, October 29 th is the last day to drop an individual course with a “W”. By October 29th,
you will have two exam grades returned to you, as well as credit for 9 of the 10 CogLabs, for a total of 65% of your grade. At this time
(or any time during the course), if you would like help in evaluating your current or future success in the course, please see me or the
GA. UWF also maintains a website of student resources such as computer labs, tutoring services, and etc. Please visit
www.uwf.edu/cas/resources.
Office Hours and Professor Availability:
During my office hours, all students are welcome to pick up exams, discuss past exams, and discuss future exams (via a
completed study guide). You can also feel free to make an appointment to come see me if you are unable to make my regularly
scheduled office hours, but I typically have an open-door policy, which means if my door is open and I am in my office, you are more
than welcome to stop in.
I generally try to respond to emails within 48 hours. If you do not hear back from me in less than 48 hours, it is likely that I
did not see your email. Please send a second email and be sure to include “Cognitive Psychology” in the subject line. Please note that
this does not hold true for weekends, university holidays, or for the days immediately prior to an exam date (when we typically get the
highest number of student emails).
Class Conduct:
I expect respect and consideration for both me and your classmates. No distractions: cell phones, music, newspapers, etc. I
will not hesitate to stop class to address/remove the distraction. If you are not here to listen to lecture, do not be here at all. I have an
intense dislike of lateness. Coming in after class begins results in a huge distraction to your classmates. Please do not do it. Repeat
offenses will result in dismissal from class.
You may use a computer to take notes during class, however, I will then choose where you sit (usually in front of me or the
GA!). If you are found checking email, or doing something else non-class related, you will not be allowed to use a computer in class
again.
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Attendance Policy:
I do not take attendance, but it has clearly been established that attendance is positively correlated with class performance.
During class, you will be able to complete the blanks in the D2L lecture slides, as well as see material that is not included in the D2L
slides. Neither I, nor my GA will go over any material from classes that you missed without documentation for an excused absence.
Instructions for getting started with CogLab
These instructions describe how students in the class EXP 4507 Memory and Cognition for instructor Lisa VanWormer at University
of West Florida create their individual accounts. Students in other classes will follow similar directions, but the log-in IDs and
passwords will be different.
Open your Web browser and go to http://coglab.wadsworth.com/Information/studentscreate.shtml
Go to the bottom of the Web page. There should be three text fields and one button. If these are not visible, your Web browser does
not have Java enabled or has an out of date version of Java. Go to the CogLab Browser Check page for details.
A common problem on the UWF campus is not being able to access CogLab through ArgoAir because of the firewall. If you are
getting the message “Problem Connecting. Try Again Later,” connect through an Ethernet cord and continue as directed.
In the top text field, enter the group ID: UWF. This has to be in all capital letters. In the second text field, enter the access
password: student. This is in all lowercase letters. In the third text field, enter your registration code. The registration code
could be in one of several formats. It may be on a sticker on the inside front cover of your CogLab Student Manual. It may
have been bundled with your textbook on a postcard. Or, you may have purchased a registration code electronically
(sometimes this is also called an e-Pin). Do not purchase used CogLab registration codes! If the registration code has
already been used, it will not work for you. Each valid registration code can be used only once. After filling in all the text
fields, click on the Submit information button.
Your Web browser will connect with the CogLab server to verify your information. If the information is correct, a new window
will appear. Make sure that the school name and instructor name correct. If they are not, you may have accidentally accessed
a different group than your instructor intended. The field marked as 'Your log-in ID:' lists your assigned log-in ID, which you
will use to access your CogLab account and complete experiments. You cannot change this log-in ID. Enter your first name, last (family) name, a password, and a security question and answer. For the security question and answer, try
to pick a topic that will be easy for you to know the answer but would be difficult for anyone else (e.g., the name of your first
pet). Please know your instructor can see all of your information including your password.
Click on the Apply button. Your Web browser will again connect with the CogLab server to save your data and register your
account. If all of your information is valid, your account is ready to go! When your information is saved, your registration
code will be marked as being used.
When your data is saved, your Web browser will load a new window that lists all the properties of your CogLab account. Especially
important is the log-in ID and password. Print or save this Web page for your records. (Note: some pop-up blockers will
prevent this window from appearing. If you data does not appear, click the link below the text fields to view this page. Go to
the CogLab Browser Check page for details.)
To start doing experiments, point your Web browser to http://coglab.wadsworth.com. Select the experiment that you want to
perform by clicking on the link. Read the information and instructions carefully. At the bottom of the page are two text fields
and two buttons. Enter your log-in ID and password and then click on the Submit information button. After your log-in
information is verified, the Start experiment button can be selected. Click on the Start experiment button to open a new
window where the experiment will take place. You need to read the instructions before you can complete the experiment!
At the end of the experiment, the browser window will load a summary of your data for the experiment. When you see this window,
you are finished with the experiment.
You can access details about your account, and view averages from your group and around the world by directing your Web
browser to http://coglab.wadsworth.com/Information/studentsaccess.shtml. If you have any problems, contact technical support at http://coglab.wadsworth.com/support/techsupport.html