Module and Programme Catalogue

Search site

Find information on

2019/20 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PSYC2554 Perception, Action and Cognition

10 creditsClass Size: 295

Module manager: Dr Richard Wilkie
Email: r.m.wilkie@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

Pre-requisite qualifications

Successful completion of Year 1 of: BSc Psychology or MPsyc, BSc Advanced Psychology or BA Philosophy, Psychology and Scientific Thought (and its International and Industrial variants)or BSc Psychology with Education (and its international and industrial variants).

This module is mutually exclusive with

PSYC3454Joint Hons/Intercalated Programme: Perception, Action and Co

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

Students will develop their knowledge of Perception, Action and Cognition with particular emphasis on the research expertise of the module team.

Objectives

This module provides advanced coverage of key concepts in Perception, Action and Cognition from a psychological perspective. The module will be delivered by experts in the field. The course is grounded within an Information Theory perspective so students will be taught how to define information and will be introduced to the principles of inference through the use of Bayes theorem. Following the course, students should understand the theoretical contribution of the ecological approach to perception and action, and be able to contrast this with computational and inferential approaches. Students should further understand recent theories of how the brain uses information (e.g. the Bayesian brain hypothesis) and specifically how it uses information to control action. The course includes illustrative experimental examples so that by the end of the course students should be able to appreciate how humans perceive a three-dimensional world, generate skilled interactions with that world and have some insights into the consequences of brain disorder (neuropsychology). Students should also be able to show a critical understanding of the relationship between eye movements and perception and how eye movements support skilled interactions with the world. One major theme throughout the course relates to interactions between cognition and action, and the students will learn how cognition supports and limits both perception and action.

Learning outcomes
By the end of the course students should be able to appreciate how we perceive a three-dimensional world and how we interact with that world. Students will also be able to show a critical understanding of how eye movements impact upon perception and how they help us interact with the world, and how cognition supports and limits both perception and action. Students should also understand the contribution of the ecological approach to understanding perception and action, and be able to contrast this with other approaches.
The knowledge outcomes will be assessed during the module using a formative mid-module MCQ, with the main summative assessment being the end of module exam.


Syllabus

Perception and Action; Cognition vs Action; Monocular and binocular 3D cues; the role of eye-movements in sampling visual information; the role of eye-movements for controlling the hand; motor control mechanisms; Gibson's ecological approach to vision, including the informational sources of optic flow (for driving) and tau (for catching); perceptual mechanisms supporting driving and catching, neuropsychological disorders in Perception and Action.

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
Drop-in Session11.001.00
Class tests, exams and assessment10.500.50
Lecture101.5015.00
Tutorial11.001.00
Private study hours82.50
Total Contact hours17.50
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)100.00

Private study

- 40 hours: 10 x 4 hours preparation for each lecture
- 10 hours: preparation for mid-module MCQ
- 29 hours: preparation for the end of semester exam
- 3.5 hours: preparation for tutorial

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

The mid-module MCQ test will provide feedback to the student as to whether their preparation and understanding of the topic areas has been sufficient.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
In-course MCQformative0.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)0.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated


Exams
Exam typeExam duration% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc)2 hr 100.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/04/2019

Disclaimer

Browse Other Catalogues

Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team.PROD

© Copyright Leeds 2019