Cognitive Psychology Page
Professor Will Langston
 
[Syllabus]  [Notes]  [CogLab]  [Exam Essay Questions]  [Links]  [WRRs]
 
Messages 5/4/12
  • Final grades posted
Syllabus [Top]
Course Notes Course notes, powerpoints, and demonstrations: (NOTE:  You are encouraged to print the notes before class. To keep it fresh, and not spoil the demonstrations, maybe wait to print the powerpoints until after class.)
[Top]
CogLab We will do at least one CogLab exercise most weeks.  You will need CogLab with online access code. You can buy the online only version here (recommended): http://www.cengagebrain.com/shop/isbn/978-0-495-50296-8
  • To set up, go to the instructions page for our class:  StudentInstructions.html
  • You should print the instructions and follow the steps to set up your account.
  • Once you have an account, you can participate in experiments.
  • To participate, go to http://coglab.wadsworth.com/
  • Choose the experiment and follow the instructions.
CogLab experiments need to be completed before class each week.  I will use your data as part of the lecture for the week. 

[Top]
Exam Essays Everyone should submit an essay question for each exam.  Here are the properties of a good question:
  • Integrate material from more than one section of the class.
  • Have a clear answer (it should take some thinking to get the answer, but at least one obviously correct answer should exist).
  • It should take around one page of typed, double-spaced essay to answer well (it can take less as long as it meets the other criteria; it should not take more).  You're not actually giving me the answer, just the question.
  • Copying notes or book material should not be a sufficient answer, it should engage you in thinking about the material.
  • Here is a sample take-home question to give you a guide.
Procedure:
  • Submit a question by the beginning of the class before the exam (put "cognitive psychology exam essay question" in the subject line of your email).
  • I will pick 7 (I reserve the right to edit) and post those below.
  • If none of the questions address the final unit before each exam, I will pad with questions addressing that unit; that will reduce the number of student essays picked.
  • If I pick your question, you get 5 bonus points.
  • This part is intended to be take home.  You complete all 7 before the exam, 3 are on the exam.  Those 3 will be turned in.  You should bring completed essays with you.
  • The final will have all of the essays in the set of potential questions, and I will pick 4.  At least 2 of those will be from the last unit.  In other words, if you do all 7 each time, 2 of the left-overs can be used on the final.
  • The best answers (determined at my sole discretion) will get 5 bonus points.  You may get bonus points for answering your own question.
These are unclickable until it's exam time.
  • Exam 1 Essays:  Word or pdf
    • Exam 1 study guide
  • Exam 2 Essays:  Word or pdf
    • Exam 2 study guide
  • Final:  Word or pdf
    • Final study guide
[Top]
Links Some visual/perceptual illusions can be found at: http://www.michaelbach.de/ot/ and http://www.planetperplex.com/en/index.html
3-D child illusion: http://www.preventable.ca/2010/09/shifting-attitudes-with-illusions/
Addtional illusions are here: http://www.smart-glasses.org/glasses-fun-tricks-illusion/ (suggested by students at the Amorita Charter School and their teacher Carly Walters)

Human factors and design.  Here's a nice sentence diagramming problem for those who enjoy these sorts of things. 
 
Fans of spelling, etc. will enjoy this straight dope column on letter frequencies (with a "swiss cheese holes are bacteria farts" bonus). 
 
For the "Can you raed this?" text, here is a pretty good discussion of problems with the hypothesis.
Suggest a link:  Email me. 
 
[Top]
Reaction Papers I will only accept papers sent via email. Name your paper Your last name WRR #. For example, my third paper would be LangstonWRR3. (It will end in .doc or .docx)
 
Remember, reactions are the amount of material that will fit on a one page, double-spaced, typed document.  They must be emailed as an attachment.  Part of the exercise is for you to get right to your point and justify it briefly.  Sources are open, but I'd prefer some element of empirical research.  So, if you see something in the newspaper and want to react to it, try to track down the original research.  Or, find some research that supports or refutes the information in the newspaper and discuss that.  Show me that you're thinking, include some cognitive stuff, and read some of the primary literature and I will be pleased.  You may also use CogLab as a source for ideas.
 
What will get me excited about a reaction paper: 
  • React based on something else you've learned in the class ("when we discussed categorization, you said...but this article said..." or "here's another example of...")
  • React based on something you've learned in another class ("in my abnormal class we discussed schizophrenia, and this topic reminds me of that because...")
  • Relate the research to your own experience ("Sometimes when I'm studying...")
  • React to the methodology (this is tricky; "even though the authors found a significant difference, I don't think this phenomenon will matter much in the real world because..." or "this technique conflicts with what so-and-so says because...")
What won't get me excited about a reaction paper: 
  • "This article was really easy/hard to read/understand."
  • "There were only five participants in the study which seems like too few" (if there's no reason given for why it's too few), etc.
  • Two pages of summary followed by "I really liked this article."
Remember:  If you choose an article that I decide to incorporate in the class notes in the future, I will give you extra points (at least two, maybe more if it's really good).

Here's a model reaction paper.

[Top]
Cognitive Psychology Page
Will Langston

Back to Langston's Home Page