PSY270H1S LEC0101– Introduction to Cognitive Psychology

Wednesdays 10 am - 1 pm
SS2102
Course Delivery
This is an in-person course. Students are expected to attend lectures in-person whenever possible. Lectures will be
recorded for later viewing, but you must attend in person to get the participation credits (see course schedule on the
last page for participation dates). Please note that you MUST attend the lecture section that you are registered in on
ACORN. Your participation scores will only be recorded if you attend the lecture section you are enrolled in. You must
also write the tests for L0101 if you are registered in this section.

If external circumstances change (e.g. public health guidelines, instructor illness/quarantine, etc.), the course may need
to move online for one or more lectures.

Contact Information
Course Instructor: Teaching Assistants:
Dr. Christine Burton Aisling Sampson: [email protected]
email: [email protected] Yongzhen Xie: [email protected]
Jessica Zaffino: TBA
Office hours via Zoom
Sign-up for office hours required at The TAs will be available to meet virtually with students after
https://calendly.com/christine-burton/office-hour-1 the distribution of graded tests and assignments.

All office hours will be individual 15-minute The TAs will also hold dedicated office hours to answer
appointments during the following times : questions you have about the written assignments before they
are due.
Mondays 2 - 3 pm online or in person (SS4001)
Tuesdays 3 - 4 pm online only
Thursdays 10 - 11 am online only

Course Description
Cognitive psychology is the study of the building blocks of how we think and reason. We need to be able to pay
attention, create mental representations, remember information, manipulate knowledge and express thoughts. Thus, in
this course we will discuss the fundamentals of attention, memory, problem solving, decision making and language.

Course Objective
My goal for this course is to familiarize you with the leading theories in cognitive psychology so that you are able to
discuss the fundamental topics in the field, create hypotheses using this knowledge and apply this to everyday
situations. Assigned textbook readings explain important concepts and will help lay a foundation on which you can build
your knowledge. In lectures we will elaborate on the material in the text and highlight connections between the various
topics, experiments that have been conducted in the area, and real-life situations.

Experimentation is an important part of cognitive psychology so I have included assignments specifically designed to let
you participate in cognitive psychology research and use your new knowledge.

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

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 • Describe the major terms, concepts and theories in cognitive psychology
• Understand how unconscious cognitive processes influence our everyday behaviour
• Understand how the historical development of cognitive psychology has shaped the questions researchers in
cognitive psychology ask today
• Explain how empirical findings can support or refute psychological theories
• Identify key variables in empirical research and infer evidence-based conclusions
• Analyse and critique published research in cognitive psychology
• Communicate scientific data in the form of written reports

Reading Material
Barenholtz, et al. (2022). Cognitive Psychology, 2nd ed. Tophatmonocle Corp. This textbook is only available through
the Top Hat platform. This allows significant savings for students compared to some of the other frequently used
Cognition textbooks, and integration of all course materials into one platform.

In addition to the Top Hat textbook, we will be using Top Hat Classroom for participation this term and to facilitate in-
class lab activities.

The materials can be purchased as a bundle either through the U of T online bookstore or directly from Top Hat using
the instructions in the email you will receive to your mail.utoronto.ca account. You will need our course Join Code
(152667) to purchase the materials form Top Hat and to join the course.

Course Evaluation
Midterm test February 14 25% Top Hat homework February 14 and April 3%
3
120 minutes
Final Exam TBD: April 10 – 30 34% Top Hat lab Ongoing 3%
participation
120 minutes

Lab report 11:59 pm EST February 5% Bonus experiment Ongoing 1%

planning 21 participation
assignment

Lab reports 11:59 pm EST March 2 @ 15% each =

13 and April 3 30%

Tests
There will be a midterm test and a final exam in this course. Both the test and the final exam will be held in-person. If
public health and/or university guidelines change, the test and/or exam may need to shift online. The test and exam will
consist of multiple choice and short answer questions. The final exam will be cumulative and will cover all material from
the course.

Bonus Experiment Participation

You have the opportunity to receive 1% bonus credit by participating in a psychology experiment in the Cognitive
Neuroscience Lab. Participating in an experiment is an excellent way to experience how research is conducted in
psychology and it is vital to the ongoing research in the field. To sign up for an experiment go to https://utsg-
ferberlab.sona-systems.com/ and register as a new user with your UTOR email. Detailed instructions are available on
Quercus. If you do not want to participate in an experiment there is still an opportunity for you to receive a bonus point.
Please email your instructor for instructions about an alternate assignment.

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Top Hat Participation
There are 2 types of Top Hat participation in this course.

The first is related to the experiment participation described below that will contribute to the lab report assignments.
There are 6 experiments to participate in throughout the term with each experiment participation worth 0.5%. In order
to receive the full 3% participation, you will need to participate in at 5 of 6 experiments (2.5% rounded up).

The second Top Hat component requires you to answer “homework” questions posted on Top Hat after each lecture.
Research has demonstrated that a good way to learn material is to be tested on it. With that goal in mind, these
homework questions are based on lecture and textbook material and will help as practice questions for the test and
exam. Your score will be calculated as the total number of correct answers out of all questions multiplied by 3% (for
example, if you get 80 questions correct out of 100 questions asked throughout the term, your score will be 2.4 points
added to your final grade). The homework questions are due before the midterm test and the final exam.

Assignments
I intend the assignments to give you an opportunity to participate in both classic and recent cognitive psychology
experiments and encourage you to use the information in the course to think beyond the course material. During class
you will participate in replications of classic cognitive psychology experiments using Top Hat. The point of the
assignments is to give you hands on experience both participating in experiments and acting as an experimenter. Top
Hat allows you to participate in psychology replications in class and send real-time data to me using your laptop or cell
phone. I will perform simple statistical analyses based on the class data and present it the following class. You will then
be expected to write lab reports based on the class data from 2 of the experiments we will complete throughout the
term. Detailed instructions about the lab reports are available on Quercus.

All written assignments will be submitted via Quercus. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have submitted the
correct file and that it can be opened. After submitting your paper, please double check that is has not been corrupted,
that it in written in English characters, and that you didn’t submit a paper from a different course. You will be
responsible for any late penalties that accrue if you need to submit the correct paper after the due date.

Plagiarism Detection Tool

Normally, students will be required to submit their course essays to the University’s plagiarism detection tool for a
review of textual similarity and detection of possible plagiarism. In doing so, students will allow their essays to be
included as source documents in the tool’s reference database, where they will be used solely for the purpose of
detecting plagiarism. The terms that apply to the University’s use of this tool are described on the Centre for Teaching
Support & Innovation web site (https://uoft.me/pdt-faq).

Students who wish to opt-out of using the University’s plagiarism detection tool for the case study assignment must
notify the instructor (via Quercus inbox message/email) no later than 5PM on January 20. Upon receipt of notification,
the instructor will request that the student provide all rough work (including, but not limited to, call numbers and/or
URLs for all cited sources) when submitting their case study assignment.

Course Webpage
This Course uses the University's learning management system, Quercus, to post information about the course. This
includes posting readings and other materials required to complete class activities and course assignments, as well as
sharing important announcements and updates. New information and resources will be posted regularly as we move
through the term. To access the course website, go to the U of T Quercus log-in page at https://q.utoronto.ca. SPECIAL
NOTE ABOUT GRADES POSTED ONLINE: Please also note that any grades posted are for your information only, so you
can view and track your progress through the course. No grades are considered official, including any posted in Quercus
at any point in the term, until they have been formally approved and posted on ACORN at the end of the course. Please
contact me as soon as possible if you think there is an error in any grade posted on Quercus.

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IMPORTANT COURSE POLICIES **PLEASE READ**
Email
The main source of communication in the course will be email. Please include the course number and lecture section
(PSY270 LEC0101) in the subject line in all your emails about the course. Avoid sending me messages directly from
Quercus/Canvas. These messages always end up in my “other” folder so I may not get to them quickly.

For all issues that apply to course material/other students in the class, please refer to the FAQ on Quercus. If you don’t
see it on the FAQ, please email me and I will add it!

Requests for Re-grading

Any requests to re-grade tests or experiment reports should be made in a timely fashion. All requests to re-grade term
tests or lab reports must be made within 2 weeks of the return of the graded report. Please direct all requests for re-
grading directly to the TA who marked your work. If you are dissatisfied after meeting with the TA you may submit your
work to the instructor. Keep in mind that if you submit your work to be re-graded, your grade could go up or down. This
policy applies to work submitted to the instructor or the TAs.

Missed Test Special Consideration Request Process

If the midterm test for reasons beyond your control (illness or accident), please contact me with documentation in
support of your specific circumstances within one week of the missed test. This documentation can be an Absence
Declaration (via ACORN) or the University's Verification of Student Illness or Injury (VOI) form. The VOI indicates the
impact and severity of the illness, while protecting your privacy about the details of the nature of the illness. If you
cannot submit a VOI due to limits on terms of use, you can submit a different form (like a letter from a doctor), as long
as it is an original document, and it contains the same information as the VOI (including dates, academic impact,
practitioner's signature, phone and registration number). For more information on the VOI, please see
http://www.illnessverification.utoronto.ca. For information on Absence Declaration Tool for A&S students, please see
https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/absence. If you get a concussion, break your hand, or suffer some other acute injury,
you should register with Accessibility Services as soon as possible.

If your request if approved, you will have one opportunity to write a make-up test. If you miss the make-up test and
can provide documentation to support your request, the weight of the missed test will be redistributed to the final
exam.

Students who miss final examinations should file a petition for a deferred exam with their College Registrar’s Office.

Accommodations for Personal Reasons

There may be times when you are unable to complete course work on time due to non-medical reasons. If you have
concerns, speak to me. Extensions for term work can be arranged on a case-by-case basis. It is also a very good idea to
speak with an advisor in your College Registrar’s office; they can support you in requesting extensions or
accommodations, and importantly, connect you with other resources on campus for help with your situation.

As a student, you may experience challenges that can interfere with learning, such as strained relationships, increased
anxiety, substance use, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation, financial concerns, family
worries and so forth. These factors may affect your academic performance and/or reduce your ability to participate fully
in daily activities. Everyone feels stressed now and then – it is a normal part of university life. Some days are better than
others, and there is no wrong time to reach out. There are resources for every situation and every level of stress.
There are many helpful resources available through your College Registrar or through Student Life
(http://studentlife.utoronto.ca and http://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/feeling-distressed). An important part of the

Winter 2024 - Department of Psychology Page 4

University experience is learning how and when to ask for help. Please take the time to inform yourself of available
resources.

Penalties for Lateness

The penalty for lateness is 5% of the total per calendar day.

Students who seek to be granted more time to complete their term work beyond the due date without penalty, owing
to circumstances beyond their control (e.g., illness, or an accident), must do so by submitting a request directly to the
Instructor for the period up to and including the last day of the final assessment period.

Any term work that will be handed in after the final assessment period is subject to a petition for extension of term work.
This petition should be filed with the student’s College Registrar’s Office.

Academic Resources
Accessibility Needs
Students with diverse learning styles and needs are welcome in this course. If you have an ongoing disability issue or
accommodation need, you should register with Accessibility Services (AS) (accessibility.utoronto.ca) at the beginning of
the academic year. Without registration, you will not be able to verify your situation with your instructors, and
instructors will not be advised about your accommodation needs. AS will then assess your medical situation, develop an
accommodation plan with you, and support you in requesting accommodation for your course work. Remember that the
process of accommodation is private: AS will not share details of your condition with any instructor, and your instructors
will not reveal that you are registered with AS.

Writing
As a student here at the University of Toronto, you are expected to write well. The university provides its students with
a number of resources to help them achieve this. For more information on campus writing centres and writing courses,
please visit http://www.writing.utoronto.ca/.

Privacy and Copyright Disclaimer

Notice of video recording and sharing (Download permissible; re-use prohibited)
This course, including your participation, will be recorded on video and will be available to students in the course for
viewing remotely and after each session.

For questions about recording and use of videos in which you appear please contact your instructor.

Course videos and materials belong to your instructor, the University, and/or other source depending on the specific
facts of each situation, and are protected by copyright. In this course, you are permitted to download session videos and
materials for your own academic use, but you should not copy, share, or use them for any other purpose without the
explicit permission of the instructor.

Lectures and course materials prepared by the instructor are considered by the University to be an instructor’s
intellectual property covered by the Copyright Act, RSC 1985, c C-42. Course materials such as PowerPoint slides and
lecture recordings are made available to you for your own study purposes. These materials cannot be shared outside of
the class or “published” in any way. Posting recordings or slides to other websites without the express permission of the
instructor will constitute copyright infringement.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

All suspected cases of academic dishonesty will be investigated following procedures outlined in the Code of Behaviour
on Academic Matters (https://governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/secretariat/policies/code-behaviour-academic-matters-july-
1-2019). If you have questions or concerns about what constitutes appropriate academic behaviour or appropriate
research and citation methods, please reach out to me. Note that you are expected to seek out additional information
Winter 2024 - Department of Psychology Page 5
on academic integrity from me or from other institutional resources. For example, to learn more about how to cite and
use source material appropriately and for other writing support, see the U of T writing support website at
http://www.writing.utoronto.ca. Consult the Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters for a complete outline of the
University's policy and expectations. For more information, please see A&S Student Academic Integrity
(https://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/current/academic-advising-and-support/student-academic-integrity) and the University
of Toronto Website on Academic Integrity (https://www.academicintegrity.utoronto.ca).
Academic integrity is essential to the pursuit of learning and scholarship in a university, and to ensuring that a degree
from the University of Toronto is a strong signal of each student’s individual academic achievement. As a result, the
University treats cases of cheating and plagiarism very seriously. The University of Toronto’s Code of Behaviour on
Academic Matters (www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies/behaveac.htm) outlines the behaviours that constitute
academic dishonesty and the processes for addressing academic offences.

Please note that the use of generative artificial intelligence tools and apps is strictly prohibited in all course
assignments unless explicitly stated otherwise by the instructor in this course. This includes ChatGPT and other AI
writing and coding assistants. Use of generative AI in this course may be considered use of an unauthorized aid, which
is a form of cheating.

…course outline continued on next page….

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Course Outline

Date Topic Reading

January 10 Introduction, themes and research methods Chapters 1 and 2

January 17 Perception Chapter 4

January 24 Attention Chapter 5

In class experiment using Top Hat
January 31 Short-term storage Chapter 6
In class experiment using Top Hat
February 7 Long-term memory: Systems and processes Chapter 7
In class experiment using Top Hat
February 14 Midterm Test

February 21 Reading Week

February 28 Long-term memory in practice Chapter 8

In class experiment using Top Hat
March 6 Knowledge Chapter 9

March 13 Imagery Chapter 10

In class experiment using Top Hat
March 20 Decision making Chapter 13
In class experiment using Top Hat
March 27 Language: Language development and phonology Chapter 11

April 3 Language: Syntax and discourse Chapter 11

*Please note that the content of chapter 3 (The Brain) will not explicitly be covered or tested, however, we will refer to some brain
areas and functions throughout the course so it is your responsibility to ensure you are familiar with the basic ideas covered in the
chapter.

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