BSc Psychology / Course details

This course unit builds upon the topics introduced in Year 1; students will be expected to be familiar with basic ideas and concepts as covered in PSYC10421 Introduction to Cognition. It also provides good preparation for the PSYC21022 Cognitive Neuroscience unit, covered in Year 2 Semester 2. 

Cognitive psychology is the study of mental processes using interdisciplinary experimental methods.  You will learn about advanced topics in memory, thinking, reasoning, and decision making and their multidisciplinary investigation through use of behavioural and neuroimaging tools. Lecture will outline research in this field and consider how the findings apply to our everyday lives, while lab classes will provide students with hands-on experience of research. 

This is a compulsory Year 2 unit for the BSc Psychology programme, falling within the Mind & Brain theme. It provides a foundation for further study and independent project work in the Mind & Brain theme at level 6.   

General Aim:  

How do we learn, remember and forget? How do we think, problem-solve and make decisions? As part of these topics we will explore implications for research and everyday life.  

Specific Aims:  

• Introduce you to advanced concepts in cognitive psychology  
• Equip you with knowledge of the main theories and empirical studies within cognitive psychology relating to memory, thinking, reasoning and decision making
• Develop your practical research skills  
• Enhance your critical reasoning and evaluation   

Course unit content will be delivered in 10 lectures and 1 revision lecture. These will consist of presentation of concepts, theories and studies, while interactive content (e.g., online material) will enhance knowledge of concepts and test learning. 

Lab classes will also take place for 5 weeks during the semester. In these sessions students will develop, design and conduct a piece of research focused on cognition.

Lecture content, lab materials, supplementary reading and resources and monitored discussion boards will be available via the unit’s Blackboard site. Drop-in sessions will also take place to support group work and discuss questions. 

• Demonstrate an understanding of topics and debates in cognitive psychology
• Appreciate the methods used in cognitive psychology research 

• Interpret and critically evaluate empirical studies and scholarly reviews in cognitive psychology
• Analyse and make critical judgements about theories and findings in cognitive psychology (especially related to theories and recent empirical findings about reasoning, decision making and memory) 

• With guidance, conduct research on a topic in cognitive psychology
• Use a range of sources (library, internet, electronic databases) to gather information
• Plan and construct a written argument based around appropriate theoretical and empirical evidence
• Structure research results in a clear and coherent report format
• Communicate research findings in accordance with APA guidelines. 

• Independently gather and select the most relevant information from a body of literature through online and library sources
• Present concise and persuasive arguments
• Produce a written summary of research for an academic audience
• Generate and develop ideas through small group discussions
• Develop skills in critical thinking

Lab Report - 60%

Exam: MCQs - 40%

Core:  

• Baddeley, A., Eysenck, M., & Anderson, M. (2020). Memory (3rd ed.). London : Psychology Press, Taylor & Francis Group. 
• Eysenck, M. W. & Keane, M. T. (2015). Cognitive Psychology: A student’s handbook (7th ed.). East Sussex: Taylor & Francis.  

Textbooks will be available as e-books on Reading Lists Online (accessed via Blackboard)  

Additional readings (e.g., journal research articles; review papers; chapters from more specialised textbooks) will be given in each lecture to consolidate, complement and expand knowledge.