Instructor, Jennifer Wiley
jwiley@uic.edu
1054D BSB
(312) 355-2501
Teaching Assistant, Trina Kershaw
tkersh1@uic.edu
1021 BSB
Course Web Page:
http://www.uic.edu/classes/psych/psych352jw/cogs2001.html
Instructor Office hours, Tues 3-4 or by appointment
TA Office hours: By appointment
General Description Why can we remember the names of people in our first grade class but not know where we parked our car? Why do people think that an 80% chance of living sounds better than a 20% chance of dying? How do children learn to speak fluently in two years? Why do our eyes sometimes see things that aren't there?
These are a few of the questions that cognitive psychologists study. The purpose of this course is to stimulate curiosity about both the content and the process of cognitive psychology. Cognitive Psychology is an experimental field. In this course there will be a focus on the experiments that have led to theories about how we think.
The text Ashcraft, Fundamentals of Cognition
Grading Grades will be based on pop quizzes and in-class
demonstrations, three midterms, and a final. Out of a total of 200 possible
points, pop quizzes/in-class demonstrations/homework assignments will count
for 40 points of your grade (20%), each midterm will count for 20% of your
grade (40 pts each), and the final exam will be cumulative and will count
for 20% of your grade (40 pts). All exams will be multiple choice with
a few short answer questions. If you show consistent improvement on your
exams I will take that into account. Final grades will use the following
breakdown: 100-90 A, 89-80 B, etc.
Make-up Policy I will not give makeup exams or quizzes. In case
of emergency please contact me as soon as possible afterwards, and at my
discretion we may be able to arrange alternatives.
Course Notes The notes and other information for this course are on the web page for this course. Outlines will be available before each class.
Reading assignments You are expected to read each chapter before arriving at class on the day we begin to discuss the chapter on the course outline below. If we fall behind I will keep you updated on changes to this outline. To make sure everyone is doing their part and coming to class prepared, there will be unannounced quizzes on the reading at the beginning of several classes throughout the semester.
College Drop Policy Students may drop courses without penalty during the first ten days of the semester (through Friday of week 2) using UIC Express. Between week 3 and Friday of week 9, undergraduates are entitled to a total of two optional date drops for the duration of their enrollment in LAS. Optional late drops require an appointment with an LAS advisor (996-3366). LAS advisors (third floor UH) are also available on walk-in days (8:30-3:30 on Tuesdays and on Friday of week 9).
Reasonable Accommodations Reasonable accommodations are available for students who have a documented disability. Please notify the instructor during the first week of class of any accommodations needed for the course. Late notification may cause the requested accommodations to be unavailable. Students with disabilities who require accommodations for access and participation in this course must be registered with the Office of Disability Services (ODS). Please contact ODS at 312/413-2103 (voice) or 312/413-0123 (TTY)
Check here for announcements throughout the semester
Course Outline
Jan 9 Introductions,
Review of Syllabus
Jan 11 Chapter 1 Introduction
to Cognitive Psych/Research Methods
Jan 16 Chapter 2 Visual
Perception I
Jan 18 Visual
Perception II
Jan 23 Top-Down
and Auditory Processing
Jan 25 Chapter 3 Attention
&
Automaticity
Jan 30 Catch up and Review
Feb 01 Test 1
Feb 06 Chapter 4 Short
Term Memory
Feb 08 Working
Memory
Feb 13 Chapter 5 Episodic
Memory
Feb 15 Mnemonics
Feb 20 Forgetting
and Studying
Feb 22 Chapter 6 Semantic
Memory
Feb 27 Priming
and Schemas
Mar 01 Chapter 7 False
memories and Flashbulb Memories
Mar 06 Catch up and Review
Mar 08 Test 2
Mar 20 Chapter 8 Language
Processing
Mar 22 Language
Acquisition
Mar 27 Chapter 9 Reading
Comprehension
Mar 29 Discourse
and Conversation
Apr 03 Chapter 10 Cognitive
Neuroscience
Apr 05 Patient Populations and Disorders
Apr 10 Test 3
Apr 12 Group Decision Making and Problem Solving
Apr 17 Chapter 11 Reasoning
Apr 19 Decision
Making
Apr 24 Chapter 12 Problem
Solving
Apr 26 Creativity
and Insight
FINAL
REVIEW SHEET
May 01 Final 3:30-5:30 (location TBA)