Overview

This unit provides students with an understanding of the contents and workings of the human mind and their relation to behaviour. Students will gain an awareness and knowledge of the main theories of cognition and human performance. Students will be given the opportunity to participate in a variety of practical exercises where they can apply their theoretical knowledge to practical situations and demonstrations.

Requisites

Prerequisites
PSY10005 Introduction to Research Methods
STA10003 Foundations of Statistics
PSY10007 Brain and Behaviour
PSY10003 Psychology 100
PSY10008 Fundamentals of Psychology
PSY10004 Psychology 101

Rules

Pre-requisite
PSY10005 Introduction to Research Methods and STA10003 Foundations of Statistics and PSY10007 Brain and Behaviour
OR
PSY10003 Psychology 100 and PSY10008 Fundamentals of Psychology
OR
PSY10004 Psychology 101
OR
STA10003 Foundations of Statistics and PSY10008 Fundamentals of Psychology and PSY10007 Brain and Behaviour
AND
Admission into BA-SSCPSY2S Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) OR BA-SSPSY6 Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology) OR BA-BEHP Bachelor of Behavioural Studies (Psychology)

Equivalent
HAY205 - Cognition and Human Performance; HAYG422 - Cognition and Human Performance; LSY200 - Cognition and Human Performance; LSY520 - Cognition and Human Performance; PSS240(C) - Cognition and Human Performance; SLSY200 - Cognition and Human Performance

Teaching Periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Teaching Period 1
Location
Online
Start and end dates
11-March-2024
09-June-2024
Last self-enrolment date
24-March-2024
Census date
05-April-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
26-April-2024
Results released date
02-July-2024
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
29-July-2024
27-October-2024
Last self-enrolment date
11-August-2024
Census date
31-August-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-September-2024
Results released date
03-December-2024
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
04-November-2024
09-February-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-November-2024
Census date
29-November-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
27-December-2024
Results released date
04-March-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Explain the evolution of contemporary cognitive psychology
  • Evaluate the major theoretical and biological underpinnings of human perception, attention, memory, reasoning, language, and learning
  • Compare and contrast the different methodologies used in contemporary cognitive psychology, including neuroscience and cognitive science approaches
  • Apply theories and principles of cognitive psychology to situations that arise in everyday life
  • Critically evaluate contemporary research articles published by leading cognitive psychologists
  • Analyse and present findings from cognitive research in an appropriate manner

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Live Online
Class
1.00 13 week 13
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning
11.42 12 weeks 137
TOTAL150

Swinburne Online

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Class
2.00 12 weeks 24
Live Online
Class
1.00 12 weeks 12
Specified Activities
Various
3.00 12 weeks 36
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning
6.50 12 weeks 78
Live Online
Class
1.00 4 weeks 4
Online
Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning
12.17 12 weeks 146
TOTAL300

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment 1Individual 25% 4,5,6 
Assignment 2Individual 40% 2,3,5,6 
Assignment 3Individual 35% 1,2,3,5 

Content

  • Theories of cognitive functioning and processes
  • Perception
  • Attention
  • Memory
  • Problem-solving
  • Decision-making
  • Language
  • Learning
  • Graduate Attribute 1 (Communication 1 - Verbal Communication)
  • Graduate Attribute 2 (Communication 2 - Communicating using different media)
  • Graduate Attribute 3 (Teamwork 1 - Collaboration and negotiation)
  • Graduate Attribute 4 (Teamwork 2 - Teamwork roles and processes)
  • Graduate Attribute 5 (Digital Literacies 1 - Information literacy)
  • Graduate Attribute 6 (Digital Literacies 2 - Technical literacy)

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.