PYSC 260 - Experimental Psychology and Laboratory
(January – April 2013)
Instructor:
Office:
Tel:
Email:
TAs:
Ron Rensink
Kenny 3106
822-2579
rensink@psych.ubc.ca
Matt Dixon (mattdixon99@gmail.com)
Kieran Fox (kfox@psych.ubc.ca)
Mara Lucia Puertolas (malu7190@gmail.com)
Web site:
http://www.psych.ubc.ca/xx
Text:
 Phantoms in the Brain (Ramachandran & Blakeslee)
 Biological Psychology (Kalat)
Lectures:
Tues & Thurs, 9:30-11:00am
Swing Space 305
Labs:
L01: Tuesday, 2:30-4:30pm
Buchanan B307
L02: Tuesday, 4:30-6:30pm
Buchanan B219
Goal of the course:
To explore how the “picture” of the world that we experience
(including our image of ourselves) is created.
The heart of the course has two elements:
 the labs, to provide a "hands on" introduction to research on
human perception and performance.
 extensive group discussions, to develop skills in critical
thinking, analysis, and assessment of experiment design.
SCHEDULE:
January 3
- Class 0
Introduction to the Course
SECTION 1 – Visual Perception
January 8
January 10
- Class 1
- Class 2
Lab 1 - Brainstorming 1
January 15
January 17
- Analysis 1
- Class 3
Lab 2 - Brainstorming 2 / Piloting
January 22
January 24
- Analysis 2
-.Class 4
Lab 3 - Collect data
January 29
January 31
- Presentations A; Review
- Presentations B; Test 1
SECTION 2 – Attention
February 5
February 7
- Class 1
- Class 2
Lab 1 - Brainstorming 1
February 12
February 14
- Analysis 1
- Class 3
Lab 2 - Brainstorming 2 / Piloting
February 26
February 28
- Analysis 2
-.Class 4
Lab 3 - Collect data
March 5
March 7
- Presentations A; Review
- Presentations B; Test 2
Midterm break
SECTION 3 – Subjective Experience
March 12
March 14
- Class 1
- Class 2
Lab 1 - Brainstorming 1
March 19
March 21
- Analysis 1
- Class 3
Lab 2 - Brainstorming 2 / Piloting
March 26
- Analysis 2
Lab 3 - Collect data
March 28
-.Class 4
April 2
April 4
- Presentations A; Review
- Presentations B; Big picture
EVALUATION
12%
8%
0%
30%
- Proposals (2 + 2 = 4% each section x 3 sections)
- Reports (4 + 4%; 0 if presentation isn’t made)
- Presentation (0 on reports if not presented)
- Analyses (3 + 3 + 4 = 10% each section x 3 sections)
(mark for third analysis = max of first test, second test, and final
exam)
20%
30%
- Tests (8 + 12%)
- Exam
Reports and Abstracts:
Each student will write 2 reports and participate in 9 analyses during the term.
These must follow the required format. These are due at the beginning of each
analysis session.
Presentations:
Each student will give 1 presentation during the course of the term. These must
follow the required format. There is no mark for the presentation, but if the student
does not present one, the mark for the reports will be zero.