Psychology 4550
Animal Learning and Cognition
Spring 1997
Instructor: Dr. Michael F Brown
Course Requirements:
Midterm Exam: 30%
Term Paper: 25%
Final Exam: 30%
Participation in class discussion, quality of discussion leadership, possible
"pop"quizzes: 15%
Text and readings:
Lieberman, D.A. (1993). Learning: Behavior & Cognition. Wadsworth Publishing. (2nd
Edition)
This course covers the scientific study of learning and cognitive processes as it has developed from experiments using animal subjects. The course will center around our classroom discussion of the textbook and other assigned reading material. It is expected that students will have read the material prior to the class period for which it is assigned, and that students will have thought about the material, in the sense of being prepared to discuss it.
We will try to run the course as a seminar. This means that it is essential that everyone have read and thought about the material before class. I suggest that you outline the ideas in each chapter and jot down any and all questions you have as you read each chapter. In order to ensure that everyone meets his/her responsibility to keep up with the reading, there may be a"pop" quiz on the reading at any time. This option will be exercised only if it appears that some students are not keeping up with the reading.
In addition to the textbook chapters, approximately 1 additional reading per week will be assigned. Most of these readings will be from the primary literature (i.e., journal articles & book chapters). I will generally provide these readings to you at least one week before you are to have read them.
Generally, Tuesdays will be devoted to a review of basic issues in the topic area to be covered that week. I will provide a general overview, and we will discuss specific experiments and ideas covered in the textbook. Most Thursdays will be dedicated to the discussion of a non-textbook reading. One or two of you will take responsibility for leading the discussion on these Thursdays.
The examinations will emphasize your understanding of the conceptual aspects of the material. They will be in the form of short essay questions. The final exam will NOT be cumulative. The term paper will be described in detail in a separate handout. It will involve an in-depth conceptual review of a topic that falls within the boundaries of the course. Students will be consulting with me on an individual basis as they go through the process of writing the paper.
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Last updated: 04/30/2003