PSY2040 Human Information Processing

PSY	2040	78294	2, 2008	EXT	Human Information Processing	1.00	Toowoomba
Subject	Cat-nbr	Class	Term	Mode	Description	Units	Campus

Academic group:	FOSCI
Academic org:	FOS005
Student contribution band:	1
ASCED code:	090701

Staffing
Requisites
Rationale
Synopsis
Objectives
Topics
Texts
Reference materials
Student workload
Assessment details
Important assessment information
Assessment notes
Production date
PDF version

STAFFING

Examiner: Liam Hendry
Moderator: Andrea Lamont-Mills

REQUISITES

Pre-requisite: PSY1020 and (PSY2100 or STA2300) or Students must be enrolled in the following Program: GDPS

RATIONALE

Perceptual, attentional and memory processes play a vital role in our daily life and a well functioning and well integrated perceptual and cognitive system is something that most of us take for granted. Most of us only notice these systems when they begin to fail. However, the true importance of these systems becomes very apparent when a massive breakdown is observed. For example, life is relatively difficult for people who suffer partial or total blindness or deafness. Children with attentional deficits experience daily problems. Elderly people with Alzheimer's Disease show the devastating effect of breakdown in the memory system. In short, deficits in our perceptual, attentional and memory systems have severe impacts upon a normal lifestyle. This course is designed to provide a good understanding of normal perceptual and cognitive processes.

SYNOPSIS

The course starts with a revision of visual and auditory sensation that was covered in Foundation Psychology B. The course builds upon this material by examining visual and auditory perceptual processes and associated brain structures. Following sensation and perception (examined in mid-semester test), the course deals with attention and behavioural approaches to learning, memory over short retention intervals, working memory and factors involved in producing long-term memories (examined in end of semester exam). In addition, the course allows students to build skills in the analysis of simple datasets, graphing of results and the writing of APA-style Results sections (examined in Assignments 1 and 2).

OBJECTIVES

On completion of this course students will be able to:

demonstrate a rudimentary knowledge of structures in the areas of sensation, perception, learning and memory (Examination);
demonstrate skills in conducting and reporting experimental research in these areas (Assignments 1 & 2).

TOPICS

	Description	Weighting (%)
1.	Sensation: The Visual System Structure of the Eye and Retina and the Visual Pathways	8.30
2.	Perception: Visual Functions - Edges, Changes and Acuity	8.30
3.	Visual Pattern Perception - Shapes, Spatial Frequency & Gestalt Laws	8.40
4.	Distance and Size Perception - 3D from 2D and Illusions.	8.40
5.	Motion - Real and Illusory Movement	8.30
6.	Perception: Sound - Auditory Perception - Music and Speech	8.30
7.	Attention	8.30
8.	Learning: Classical Conditioning	8.30
9.	Learning: Operant Conditioning	8.30
10.	Short-term Retention: Short-term memory	8.30
11.	Short-term Retention: Working memory	8.40
12.	Long-term Memory: Encoding and imagery, retrieval, organisation and practice	8.40

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

CD-ROM highly recommended but not compulsory

Ashcraft, MH 2002, PSY2040 Human Information Processing,
(Part 2: Attention and Memory, Pearson Education Australia, Sydney. (Sourced from Ashcraft, M.H., 2002, Cognition 3E, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River))

Matlin, MW & Foley, HJ 2002, PSY2040 Human Information Processing,
(Part 1: Sensation and Perception, Pearson Education Australia, Sydney. (Sourced from Matlin, M.W. & Foley, H.J., 1997, Sensation and Perception, 4th edn, Allyn & Bacon, Boston.)

Ryan, C 1997, Exploring Perception, Brooks/Cole, Pacific Grove, CA.
(Note selected exercises in study book with CDROM)

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Ackerman, Dianne 1995, Mystery of the Senses Series - Hearing, Green Umbrella Ltd, Washington.

Ackerman, Dianne 1995, Mystery of the Senses Series - Vision, Green Umbrella Ltd, Washington.

Gazzaniga, MS, Irvy, RB & Mangun, GR 2002, Cognitive Neuroscience: The biology of the mind, 2nd edn, Norton, New York.

Goldstein, EB 2002, Sensation and Perception, 6th edn, Brooks/Cole, Pacific Grove, CA.

Pinel, JPJ 2007, Biopsychology, 6th edn, Pearson, Allyn & Bacon, Boston, MA.

Reed, SK 2004, Cognition: Theory and Applications, 6th edn, Wadsworth/Thomson, Belmont, CA.

Schiffman, HR 2001, Sensation and Perception: An Intergrated Approach, 6th edn, Hoboken, NJ.

Suzuki, David 1997, The Brain: Our Universe Within, Discovery Channel, Bethseda.
(Video: two tapes, four programs)

Teyler, TJ 1996, The Graphic Brain: Neurophysiology, Didactic Systems, Pacific Grove, CA.
(ISBN: 0-534-34036-9)

Zimbardo, Philip G 1989, Discovering Psychology: Program 7 - Sensation and Perception, WGBH Boston in association with the American Psych, USQ Library, Toowoomba.
(AV152.1 Dis)

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ACTIVITY	HOURS
Assessment	22.00
Examinations	2.00
Private Study	141.00

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

Description	Marks out of	Wtg(%)	Due date	Notes
ASSIGNMENT 1	70.00	15.00	25 Aug 2008
CMA TEST (MOD 1-6)	50.00	25.00	01 Sep 2008
ASSIGNMENT 2	70.00	30.00	06 Oct 2008
2HR RESTRICT (M/C) EXAMINATION	50.00	30.00	END S2	(see note 1)

NOTES

1.: Examination dates will be available during the Semester. Please refer to the examination timetable when published.

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

Attendance requirements:
It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, laboratories and practical work) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
To complete each of the assignments satisfactorily, students must obtain at least 50% of the marks available for each assessment.
Penalties for late submission of required work:
If students submit assignments after the due date without prior approval then a penalty of 5% of the total marks available for the assignment will apply for each working day late.
Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks (or grades) obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
Examination information:
Candidates are allowed access only to specific materials during a Restricted Examination. The only materials that candidates may use in the restricted examination for this course are: writing materials (non-electronic and free from material which could give the student an unfair advantage in the examination). Students whose first language is not English, may, take an appropriate unmarked non-electronic translation dictionary (but not technical dictionary) into the examination. Dictionaries with any handwritten notes will not be permitted.
Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
No supplementary examinations will be given. Deferred examinations will be held during the examination period at the end of the semester of the next offering of this course.
University Regulations:
Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

9.	The due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch the assignment to the USQ. The onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the Examiner.
10.	Students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. This must be produced within five days if required by the Examiner.
11.	Access to email, discussion groups and the internet is a departmental requirement. I expect you to open your university provided email account and check it regularly for personal communication. Information sent this way will be regarded as being receivable. [Note, other accounts often have more limited sized mail boxes, are not accessible when the USQ external connection is down and may not always remain open throughout your candidature].

This version produced 19 Aug 2008.