PYB204 Perception and Cognition

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2025, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

Cognitive psychology is a major empirical and theoretical area of psychology which explores the processes and structures involved at each stage of information processing within the brain. The structures and processes involved in perception provide the brain with basic information about both the external world and many of the current states of the individual. Higher level cognitive processes and structures provide the foundation upon which more complex aspects of behaviour are based. This unit is to build on the concepts and issues in perception and cognitive psychology, and to develop an appreciation of the major contemporary theories of how we process and perceive information. The unit is placed in second semester of second year so that students following the normal course structure have an adequate background in research design and data analysis. With this background, students will carry out experiments in tutorial classes and analyse real data.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Describe the fundamental mechanisms of perceptual and cognitive information processing
2. Critically analyse the experimental evidence for perceptual and cognitive theories
3. Evaluate empirical data to test scientific hypotheses about human perception and cognition
4. Summarise findings from perceptual and cognitive research in a respectful, ethical, and professional written format

Content

Learning Approaches

The unit includes weekly  lectures and several laboratory (tutorial) classes that are offered throughout the semester. The laboratory program is designed to expose you to best practice in conducting psychological research in general, and cognitive and perceptual research in particular. During laboratory classes you will undertake experiments or exercises under the guidance of a tutor by using industry-standard specialty software. This will not only enhance your understanding of experimental design, but also teach you important techniques and findings in cognitive or perceptual psychology. An important component of a university education is learning how to extend your own knowledge; you will be encouraged to adopt a philosophy of 'extending the learning experience beyond the classroom', particularly when completing the written assignment.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

While working on the laboratory report, you will be given guidance (through tutorial) for how to structure it in accordance with the industry-standard (i.e., APA-style) format as well as what information should be included when describing experimental methods and results. Your report will then receive individual comments (in addition to marks), which will help you further your understanding of relevant unit topics. The final exam will provide comprehensive assessment of knowledge you gain through the unit. 

Assessment

Overview

There are two assessment items of equal importance (i.e., 50% each)—laboratory report and final examination. The laboratory report will assess your skills in understanding and evaluating scientific data that inform about specific perceptual and cognitive processes. The final examination will assess your knowledge about human perceptual and cognitive mechanisms and empirical evidence from which these mechanisms are inferred.

Except the final examination, assessment in this unit will be submitted electronically. You will be required to submit your assessment via content-matching software. Assessment will be marked online and your feedback will be supplied via Canvas.

This is an internally offered unit; students are required to attend examinations in person, on QUT Brisbane campuses.

How your grade will be determined:

You will receive a numerical mark for each individual assessment item. Feedback will be provided on the assignment according to the criteria and standards provided in the rubric.

Note that raw numerical marks for the assessment items may not add up to 100. In calculating your overall unit grade, each raw mark will be converted to a percentage (out of 100%), and the overall unit grade will be derived as a weighted sum of all assessment items. The weight of each assessment item is shown below.

Note that prior to release of marks, the unit coordinator undertakes a moderation process to ensure that criteria and standards have been applied consistently and fairly. Actively reading the feedback provided will enhance your learning success. Final grades are not confirmed until reviewed by the relevant Faculty Assessment Committee and approved by the Executive Dean at the completion of each teaching period.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Laboratory Report

A laboratory report in which you will describe an experiment that is conducted in a tutorial class. The report will include an abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion, and references. You will use industry-standard databases such as PsycINFO to search and review relevant literature. Your report will follow the standard format for scientific writing adopted by psychological professionals (developed by the American Psychological Association).

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Final Examination

A 130-minute exam (no perusal time) that consists of multiple-choice and case-based questions will be given. Emphasis will be on materials from lectures and tutorials presented throughout the entire semester.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Anderson, J. R. (2020). Cognitive psychology and its implications (9th ed.). Worth Publishers.

Risk Assessment Statement

Some lab classes may require the use of headphones. For occupational health and safety reasons you should bring your own set of headphones to these laboratory classes.

Course Learning Outcomes

PY45 Bachelor of Behavioural Science (Psychology)

1. Describe and evaluate the core scientific perspectives of psychology with reference to theories, methods and research, from diverse perspectives, including first-nations perspectives.
   Relates to: Laboratory Report, Final Examination
2. Critically examine the scientific discipline of psychological research and theories using oral, written and digital communication to address psychological issues in a respectful, ethical and professional manner.
   Relates to: Laboratory Report, Final Examination
3. Implement a range of digital capabilities to access, examine and utilise evidence-based information in the context of effectively responding to, and communicating, real world problems.
   Relates to: Laboratory Report