Warren Fass, PhD
Fall, 2000
Office: 103-C Fisher
10:00-11:15
Office Phone: 362-7561
TH
Office Hours: 9-10, TH or by appointment
207 Fisher
e-mail: fass@imap.pitt.edu
TEXT: Cognition (4th)
Margaret Matlin, Harcourt/Brace,
1998
The following is the order of the
chapters in the text and the readings that will be covered in class. It
is your responsibility to read each of the chapters and readings before
the appropriate class and learn the information that is contained in that
material. Readings # 1-6 are on reserve in the Library.
CHAPTER (pp) TOPIC
1 (1-25)
Introduction
Reading # 1
Methods of memory research
2 (26-63)
Perception and Attention
Reading # 2
Attention and Automaticity
http://www.csicop.org/si/9204/subliminal-perception.html
Subliminal
perception
http://future-world.com/pages/subcat.htm
Subliminal audiocassettes
http://future-world.com/pages/333doc.htm
Subliminal tapes
Test # 1 (10/3) on above
3 (64-102)
Models of memory
4 (103-134)
Sensory and STM
http://www.hope.edu/academic/psychology/100/sternart.html
STM
scanning
http://www.bgsm.edu/bgsm/physpharm/meh/Sternsmk/sternsmk.html
Smoking and scanning
5 (135--182)
Long-term Memory
Reading # 3
Mood and memory
Reading # 4
Memories for trauma
Reading # 5
Psychogenic disorders
Reading # 6
Mneomic methods...
http://www.mindtools.com/memory.html
Mnemonic techniques
7 (242-268)
General Knowledge
8 (300-313)
Understanding discourse
12 (435-460)
Memory development
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ATTENDANCE POLICY:
There is no attendance policy. However, you are responsible for all material
covered in class and any changes made in the class content that may occur
in your absence.
QUIZZES: Surprise quizzes are possible and their points will be considered extra credit points. Surprise quizzes cover material discussed in class, as well as the material in the text and/or readings that relate to the class content. Quizzes may vary from 2-6 pts.
TESTS: There are 3 major tests, tentatively scheduled for-- 10/3, 10/26, & 11/30. Each test is worth 100 pts and will contain multiple-choice (and matching when appropriate), as well as short answer and essay type questions. The questions test your factual knowledge, as well as your ability to understand, apply, and integrate the material from lectures, the text, and the readings. Each test is worth 100 pts.
FINAL EXAM: The final exam is worth 100 pts and is comprehensive. The final exam will be constructed in a manner similar to the previous tests. The final exam is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 14, 9:00-11:00.
MAKE-UP EXAMS: There are no make-up exams. All exams must be taken at their scheduled times. The final exam will only be given at the scheduled time.
Class Activities: A variety of demonstrations will be performed in class or will need to be accessed on-line, in an attempt to illustrate some of the basic memory principles. Occasionally, a brief write-up may be necessary to submit based upon those demonstrations (not for extra credit).
Project: Some time during this term, your memory will surprise you--both by its failure, as well as its success. Your task will be to record those instances and explain them. When you have a MAJOR memory failure (failing to buy an item at the store is not a major failure, failing to buy a b'day present for a significant other would be major), you need to write down the detail of the circumstances surrounding that failure (e.g., what was not remembered, what you were doing at the time, when/how you remembered the event, etc)--you need to provide sufficient detail of the event so that I will be able to understand the situation (a paragraph or two would be fine)--you obviously have to remember to write down what you had previously forgotten!! After detailing your experience, you need to provide two possible explanations for your failure by using two different theories, concepts, principles, etc presented in the course, and the cure/solution for the problem based upon each approach. You need to do this for -2- DIFFERENT failure situations (with each situation explained by 2 different theories, etc)--You are to follow a similar procedure for one major memory success (describe it, choose 2 approaches, etc). Finally, you are to follow a similar procedure for one instance in which you were 99.99% SURE that you had remembered an event correctly, but you were later told that you memory for the event was WRONG. Again, you are to provide the detail of the event, and explanations and cures for your 'fasle' memory.
The above project must be typed, double-spaced and submitted no later than NOON, Friday, Dec. 1, 2000 (NO EXCEPTIONS TO DEADLINE)
Project worth: Failures
30 pts (15 pts each)
(60 pts)
Success
15 pts
False memory 15 pts
GRADES: Your final grade will be determined by the following:
97%+ A+
70--76% C
90-96% A
67-69% D+
87-89% B+
60-66% D
80-86% B
55-59% D-
77-79% C+
< 55% F
PREVIOUS GRADES
Fall, 1999
A+, A
53 (17%)
A+, A 2 ( 8%)
B+, B
103 (34%)
B+, B 7 ( 28%)
C+, C
102 (34%)
C+, C 14 (56%)
D+, D, D- 38
(13%)
D+, D 2 ( 8%)
F
7 ( 2%)
REFERENCES FOR READINGS
1) Lockhart, R. S. (2000). Methods of memory research. In E. Tulving and F. I. M. Craik (Eds.), The Oxford handbokk of memory (pp. 45-57). NY: Oxford University Press.
2) Galotti, K. M. (1994). Attention and automaticity. In K. M. Galotti, Cognitive psychology in and out of the laboratory (pp. 71-95). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Publishing Company.
3) Jones, J. L. (1999). The psychotherapist's guide to human memory (pp. 79-95). NY: Basic Books.
4) Jones, J. L. (1999). The psychotherapist's guide to human memory (pp. 97-115). NY: Basic Books.
5) Parkin, A. J. (1997). Memory and amnesia: An introduction (163-184). NY: Blackwell Publishers.
6) Bellezza, F. S. (1996). Mnemonic
methods to enhance storage and retrieval. In E. L. Bjork, & R. A. Bjork
(Eds.), Memory (pp. 345-380). NY: Academic Press.