HCCK03001U COG Introduction to Cognitive Science and Experimental Methods

Volume 2020/2021
Education

The Master’s Programme in Cognition and Communication, 2019-curriculum: 

Introduction to Cognitive Science and Experimental Methods: HCCK03001E

The master’s elective study in Cognition and Communication, 2019-curriculum:

Introduction to Cognitive Science and Experimental Methods:HCCK13001E

Content

The course aims to provide students with knowledge and understanding of contemporary cognitive models of the mind. The course trains students’ ability to describe and explain the various research designs used by cognitive scientists and the relationship between experimental designs and cognitive models. The aim is for students to acquire competencies in demonstrating an adequate understanding of experimental designs, understanding and critically assessing contemporary research in a given domain of cognitive science, and independently presenting and arguing in favour of relevant positions in writing.

Learning Outcome

The academic targets for the course are:

 

Knowledge of:

  • contemporary cognitive models of cognitive abilities such as perception, thinking, emotion, consciousness, action, mind-reading, and communication
  • ways in which cognitive processes and human behaviour can be described and explained at various levels of explanation (ranging from descriptions of cognitive tasks to neurobiological implementation)
  • the interdisciplinary nature of cognitive science and its different frameworks - from the classical computational models to connectionism
  • key notions in contemporary philosophy of psychology and philosophy of mind.

 

Skills in:

  • describing and explaining how applications of cognitive science may have relevance for communication
  • describing and explaining the various research designs used by cognitive scientists
  • describing and explaining the relationship between experimental design, experimental manipulations, and cognitive models.

 

Competencies in:

  • demonstrating an adequate understanding of experimental designs
  • understanding and critically assessing contemporary research in a given domain of cognitive science
  • independently presenting and arguing in favour of relevant positions in writing.

The course literature consists of introductory textbooks in cognitive science and classic and new research papers.

No background in psychology or cognitive science is assumed.
The course involves both weekly lectures, seminars and scheduled group work. The method of instruction is a mixture between lectures, class discussion, group work, group presentations, and writing exercises.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 56
  • Preparation
  • 353,5
  • Total
  • 409,5
Written
Oral
Individual
Peer feedback (Students give each other feedback)
Credit
15 ECTS
Type of assessment
Written assignment
Exam registration requirements

The active class participation consists of:

  • Minimum 75 % class attendance.
  • Approval of 3 written exercises of each 2-4 standard pages.
  • Student peer feedback on 2 of the written exercises.