Overview
This unit focuses on cognitive psychology, which is the study of how the mind works. At the end of the unit, you will have a broad understanding of how people attend to and perceive items in our world, how we remember short term and long term information, how we use language and how we make decisions. You will be able to communicate your perspective on the key debates and controversies in cognitive psychology based on your examination of historical and cutting-edge research. You will explore some of the key research findings in the area through planning, executing and writing up a research study.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
96 credit points in CC43, CF59, CL51, CL55, CC13 or CG93.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2023
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student feedback
Some students found the main assessment challenging if they did not have prior statistical experience.
Inform students how to access additional statistical resources relevant to the unit and encourage students to make use of them.
Feedback from Student feedback
Some students indicated a desire for more tutorials.
Review the number of tutorial sessions in the unit.
Feedback from Student feedback
Students liked the real-world research focus of the assessments.
Retain the focus on real-world research in the assessments.
- Express a broad understanding of the fundamental concepts in cognitive psychology
- Communicate a clear, coherent and independent exposition of key research findings and theories in cognitive psychology
- Apply research methods used to study cognitive psychology.
This unit addresses Foundational Competencies as specified by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) and specifically aligns to:
1.1 Comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach, including the following topics: (v) learning and memory; (vi) cognition, language and perception; (vii) motivation and emotion; (viii) neuroscience and the biological bases of behaviour; and (xii) research methods and statistics.
1.3 Analyse and critique theory and research in the discipline of psychology and communicate these in written and oral formats.
1.4 Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate values and ethics in psychology.
1.6 Demonstrate self-directed pursuit of scholarly inquiry in psychology.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Report - 50% | |||
| 2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 10% | |||
| 3 - Take Home Exam - 40% | |||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||
| 5 - Team Work | |||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | |||
Textbooks
Cognitive Psychology
Edition: 8th (2020)
Authors: Eysenck, M.W. & Keane, M.T.
Psychology Press
London London , United Kingdom
Binding: Paperback
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
Edition: 7th (2019)
American Psychological Association
Binding: Paperback
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
c.bearman@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Foundational Concepts & Methods
Chapter
1
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Visual Perception
Chapter
2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Object Recognition
Chapter
3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Attention
Chapter
5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Short-Term Memory
Chapter
6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Learning & Long-Tern Memory
Chapter
7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
No topic this week. A chance for you to work on your research report
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Everyday Memory
Chapter
8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Reading
Chapter
9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Language Comprehension
Chapter
10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Problem Solving
Chapter
12 & Research Papers
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Take Home Test Week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Take Home Test Due: Review/Exam Week Monday (9 Oct 2023) 9:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Report
The primary aim of this assessment item is to enable you to design, conduct and communicate a research project in psychology. You will be provided with a research activity that describes a basic experiment in cognitive psychology. Your task is to extend this basic study (by including an additional independent variable), collect data from at least 16 friends and family (who are over 18), appropriately analyze the data and write up your findings as an academic journal style report. Please note, if you have previously attempted a research activity you must do a different one this time around.
Week 7 Friday (1 Sept 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Reports submitted by the original deadline will be returned by 18th September. Reports submitted up to 1 week late will be returned by 25th September. Reports submitted up to 2 weeks late will be returned by the 2nd October..
You will write a journal style report, between 2000 (minimum) and 2500 (maximum) words, excluding references and appendices, but including in-text citations and figure labels etc. In other words, everything from the beginning of the title to the end of the discussion is included in the word count. Your assignment should be double spaced and should be in the form of an academic journal article. Your report should have the following sections: title page, abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion, and references. Your report should follow all aspects of the APA publication style.
The following illustrates the marking criteria that will be used to assess this assignment…
Title Page: 2 marks
- The title accurately describes what the study is about
- The title is concise yet meaningful
- Author and institution (i.e. Central Queensland University) information is included
- Three relevant keywords are provided
Abstract: 8 marks
- Around 200 words.
- Clearly and concisely written with flowing text
- Provides a brief background to the study
- Succinctly states the problem being investigated
- Accurately describes the participants
- Outlines the study method
- Accurately reports the main findings
- Reports reasonable implications of the findings
Introduction: 20 marks
- Not more than 1/3 of the word count
- States the importance of the problem
- Clear, flowing and concise writing, building up from general ideas towards specific hypotheses.
- States what we currently know about the topic and what the study will contribute
- Information is clearly relevant to the research study
- Integration of ideas from different studies, not a series of linked ‘abstracts’.
- References always used to support statements or descriptions of previous studies
Hypotheses and rationale: 5 marks
- A short and concise sentence or couple of sentences embedded in the final paragraph of the introduction (not a separate section)
- All relevant hypotheses are included
- Hypotheses emerge logically from the preceding sections of the introduction
- Hypotheses are clearly, accurately and simply stated
Method: 15 marks
- A well conceived method that can accurately examine the hypotheses
- Divided into sub-sections. Subsections should include: Participants, Design, Materials, and Procedure.
- Provides a detailed method that someone else could easily replicate
- Describes the design of the study and accurately identifies the independent and dependent variables
- Includes 2 independent variables (with at least 1 independent variable that was not included in the original research activity)
- Reports all relevant participant characteristics
Results: 15 marks
- Presents an analysis that appropriately tests the hypotheses
- Descriptive and inferential statistical tests used are appropriate, correctly carried out and thoroughly described
- Data is presented as evidence for all findings
Discussion: 30 marks
- Begins with recap of key results (no numbers necessary).
- Reports how results relate to hypotheses (supportive or not)
- Provides an accurate interpretation of the results
- Considers findings in relation to previous literature on the topic
- Reports any unexpected findings and suggests explanations
- Discusses limitations of the study, including any possible confounds and how these might be overcome
- Makes clear recommendations about further research on the topic
- Includes appropriate references
Referencing: 5 marks
- All in-text references are in APA format
- Includes a reference list in APA format for all references included in the report
General
Throughout all these sections, the following criteria will be assessed:
- Grammar, spelling & punctuation
- Coherence and justification of arguments
- Use of literature
- Critical analysis
- Use of clear, flowing, and concise writing
- Structure and length of the report
- Innovation and creativity
Note:
- An assignment which fails to adhere to the word count (i.e. exceeds 2500 or is less than 2000), will be subject to a word count penalty of 10% of the total possible grade (i.e. 10 marks)
- An assignment that is submitted late will attract a 5% penalty per day
- Communicate a clear, coherent and independent exposition of key research findings and theories in cognitive psychology
- Apply research methods used to study cognitive psychology.
2 Online Quiz(zes)
There will be an online quiz in the Exam Week that covers information learnt throughout the unit. The quiz will be multiple choice and consist of 15 question. The quiz will open at 9:00 am AEST on Monday, 9th October, and close on at 11.59 pm AEST on Friday 13th October.
1
Other
Review/Exam Week Friday (13 Oct 2023) 11:59 pm AEST
Scores will be available at the completion of the quiz
Questions will be marked as either right or wrong. 1 mark will be allocated to each question.
- Express a broad understanding of the fundamental concepts in cognitive psychology
- Apply research methods used to study cognitive psychology.
3 Take Home Exam
You will be required to write a 1000 word review essay of an article provided via Moodle at the beginning of the Take Home Test. The take home test will open at 9:00 am AEST on Monday, 2nd October (Week 12) and close at 9:00 am AEST on Monday 9th October (Exam Week).
Review/Exam Week Monday (9 Oct 2023) 9:00 am AEST
Feedback and Grades will be available after Certification of Grades
You are required to write a 1000 word review essay of an article provided via Moodle at the beginning of the Take Home Test (excluding references, 10% margin). Your review essay should include an introduction, main body, and conclusion in one piece of writing without headings or sub-titles in the text.
The following illustrates the marking criteria that will be used to assess this assignment:
Introduction: 15 marks
- Provides a brief summary of the article
- Outlines the key arguments in the article
- Outlines the key points in the main text of the review essay
Main Text: 60 marks
- Demonstrates a good understanding of the key debate/s addressed by the article
- Provides a clear, logical and coherent critical analysis of the information, arguments and research evidence presented in the article
- Identifies any missing or incorrect information in the article
- Each paragraph of the review essay focuses on one theme
- Points made in the review essay are justified with reference to the research evidence
- Information in the review essay is always relevant to the topic
- References are always used to support points made in the review essay
Conclusion: 20 marks
-
Effectively summaries the main points made in the main text of the review essay
- Does not include any new information
- Includes a 'take home' message for the reader
References: 5 marks
- Includes full references in APA format for all references included in the paper
General:
- Uses clear, flowing, and concise writing
- Uses appropriate grammar, spelling, punctuation and APA style
Note:
- An assignment which fails to adhere to the word count (10% margin) will be subject to a word count penalty of 10% of the total possible grade, i.e. 10 marks.
- An assignment that is submitted late will attract a 5% penalty per day
- Express a broad understanding of the fundamental concepts in cognitive psychology
- Communicate a clear, coherent and independent exposition of key research findings and theories in cognitive psychology
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
