American University of Beirut
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Department of Psychology
PSYC 226: Cognitive Psychology
Professor:
Name: Nadiya Slobodenyuk, Ph.D.
Office location: Jesup Hall, Room 106;
extension – 4366
Email: ns74@aub.edu.lb
1. Course Overview & Objectives:
This course provides an exploration of human cognition with the focus on major
theoretical constructs and established empirical findings. Course topics include
perception, attention, memory, comprehension, reasoning, decision-making, problemsolving, and executive functions. Taking into consideration the variety of topics in
cognitive psychology, the main objective is to help you:
 gain the scientific understanding of complex cognitive processes and how they
operate in relation to each other;
 develop critical thinking skills towards theoretical issues in cognitive psychology
as well as everyday cognitive problems;
 understand the empirical methods used within the context of cognitive research;
 understand the role of computational models in cognitive psychology.
2. Student Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the course you will be able to:



Relate the early research in cognitive psychology to current discoveries in the
field;
Explain the complexity of human cognitive processes;
Debate controversial issues in cognitive psychology.
3. Text and Resources:
The core text that will be used in this course is:
Goldstein, E. B. Cognitive Psychology: Connecting Mind, Research, and Everyday
Experience, (3nd Ed). Wadsworth Publishing
Some readings beyond the text are required. They will be assigned to you on a weekly
basis. The information presented on the lectures will overlap with the readings partially
and vice versa.
4. Grading Criteria:
Your final grade in this course will be the result of your grades on the midterm exam,
final exam, term essay, essay presentation, and class participation and attendance.

Quiz 1 will count for 20% of your final grade. It will consist of multiple choice
questions and open-ended questions.

Quiz 2 will count for 20% of your final grade. It will consist of multiple choice
questions and open-ended questions.

Final exam will count for 20% of your final grade. It will consist of multiple
choice questions and open-ended questions.

Term essay (APA style) will count for 20% of your final grade. It should be a
2000-3000 word essay on any cognitive psychology topic of your choice. You
will be expected to conduct a 10-15 minute presentation of your essay that will
count for 5% of your final grade.

Class attendance and participation will count for the remaining 15 % of your
final grade. Active course participation includes class discussion participation,
online forum assignment completion, and online course forum discussions
participation.
5. Class structure and policies:
In general, the course will follow lecture format with ample opportunity for class
discussion. You are expected to be an active participant in class discussions and share
your questions and remarks on the assigned readings. Your participation in online course
forums is expected and will influence your final grade.
You are also required to fully respect class ground rules:

Attendance
Class attendance is very important, and it is required. You are allowed to miss no more
than three classes without any explanation, prior notification and documents referring to
the reason of absence.
Be in class on time! Two late attendances will count as one missed class.

Use of mobile phones
Prohibited.

Plagiarism / Cheating
There is zero tolerance to plagiarism and cheating! Any degree of plagiarism or cheating
will result in the loss of assignment grade. You will also have to face the disciplinary
committee.

Communication
In class discussions you are expected to communicate with your classmates in a
respectful manner. In communication with me please refrain from referring to the grade
you “need” to get in my course. If such conversation occurs, please expect point
deduction.

Learning spirit
Come to class with a notepad and a pen. You will need them for class activities and to
take notes.
Deduction of points should be expected for not keeping the ground rules.
Please make sure that you are also familiar with the AUB’s definition of misconduct.
6. Course Outline and Working Schedule:
Week
Topic
W1
Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
Introduction to Cognitive Psychology
W2
Principles of Cognition and the Brain
Principles of Cognition and the Brain
Perception and Perceptual organization
W3
Perception and Perceptual organization
Attention and Performance Limitations
Attention and Performance Limitations
W4
Attention and Performance Limitations
Short-Term and Working Memory
Short-Term and Working Memory
W5
Short-Term and Working Memory
Long-Term Memory
Long-Term Memory
W6
QUIZ 1 (chapters 1, 2, 3, 4)
Long-Term Memory
Everyday Memory and Memory Errors
W7
Everyday Memory and Memory Errors
Everyday Memory and Memory Errors
Knowledge; Categorization
W8
Knowledge; Categorization
Reading
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Chapter 6, 7
Chapter 6, 7
Chapter 6, 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 9
W9
W 10
W 11
W 12
W 13
W 14
W 15
Imagery
Imagery
TERM PAPER topic SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Imagery
Language mechanisms
QUIZ 2 (chapters 5, 6, 7, 8)
Language mechanisms
Language mechanisms
Problem Solving
Problem Solving
Problem Solving
Problem Solving
Reasoning and Decision Making
Reasoning and Decision Making
TERM PAPER SUBMISSION DEADLINE
Executive Functions
Presentations
Presentations
Presentations
Presentations
Presentations
Presentations
Presentations
Final exam (TBA) (chapters 9,10,11,12,13)
Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 13
TBA