Psychological Processes: Attention and Perception
Code: 102577 ECTS Credits: 6| Degree | Type | Year | Semester |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2502443 Psychology | FB | 1 | 1 |
Contact
- Name:
- Jenny Moix Queralto
- Email:
- jenny.moix@uab.cat
Use of Languages
- Principal working language:
- catalan (cat)
- Some groups entirely in English:
- No
- Some groups entirely in Catalan:
- Yes
- Some groups entirely in Spanish:
- No
Other comments on languages
In Groups 1 and 2 lectures may be given in spanish if students and teacher come to an agreement.Teachers
- Jenny Moix Queralto
- Olga Soler Vilageliu
- Andres Chamarro Lusar
- Oriol Granados Bartrons
- María Inés Caño Melero
Prerequisites
No previous requirement.
Objectives and Contextualisation
This basic subject is located in the first year of the degree and it is part of a group of subjects aimed at learning the different basic psychological processes, which is composed of: Motivation and Emotion, Memory, Learning and Conditioning, Thinking and Language, and Attention and Perception.
The main aims of this subject are to:
- To describe the fundamental aspects of the psychological processes related to attention and perception.
- Ensure that at the end of the semester students will have acquired terminology and knowledge about the main research trends in these areas
- Identify the implications of attention and perception processes in some areas of daily life such as education, advertising, etc.
- Implement experimental tasks using different methodologies and procedures used in the research of these processes through practical lessons
Competences
- Analyse scientific texts written in English.
- Distinguish and relate the different focuses and theoretical traditions that have contributed to the historical development of psychology as well as its influence on the production of knowledge and professional practice.
- Distinguish between the design of research, procedures and techniques to evaluate hypotheses, contrast them and interpret the results.
- Evaluate, contrast and take decision on the choice of adequate methods and instruments for each situation and evaluation context.
- Identify, describe and relate the structures and processes involved in basic psychological functions.
- Prepare and write technical reports on the results of the evaluation, research or services requested.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
- Take decisions in a critical manner about the different research methods in psychology, their application and the interpretation of the results deriving from them.
- Use different ICTs for different purposes.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyse scientific texts written in English.
- Apply knowledge of attentional and / or perceptual processes to solve everyday problems in which these processes are involved.
- Compare the results obtained in practice on attentional and / or perceptual and theoretical models relate processes.
- Describe the different sensorial modes for capturing information involved in its production and it bio-physical-neurological foundations.
- Distinguish the mechanisms of attentional processing.
- Identify and describe the processes and phases involved in the codification of information.
- Identify evaluation methods for attention processes.
- Identify the different theoretical focuses of the scientific study of attention and perception processes.
- Organize experiments on human perception and attention, reasoning decisions made in their planning.
- Prepare and write reports based on the results of experiments on the processes of attention and perception.
- Students must be capable of collecting and interpreting relevant data (usually within their area of study) in order to make statements that reflect social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
- Use different ICTs for different purposes.
Content
Block A: Attention
1. Definition and characteristics of attention
2. Variables that influence attention
3. Sustained attention. Selective attention. Divided attention
4. Attention and awareness
5. Applications of the study of attention
Block B: Perception
6. Definition and characteristics of perception
7. Perception and Psychophysics
8. Perceptual organization
9. Perception of colour, depth, size, and distance
10. Sensory systems
Methodology
A combination of teaching methods to promote student learning will be used: 1) Lectures, 2) Monographic conferences, 2) Laboratory practical sessions, 3) Practical sessions carried out in the classroom
The practical content will be carried out in two practical session typologies: in the laboratory sessions, students will carry out classical cognitive experiments, and in the classroom practical sessions, students will solve two problems/activities that will need to be presented orally.
N.B. The proposed teaching and assessment methodologies may experience some modifications as a result of the restrictions on face-to-face learning imposed by the health authorities. The teaching staff will use the Moodle classroom or the usual communication channel to specify whether the different directed and assessment activities are to be carried out on site or online, as instructed by the Faculty.
Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.
Activities
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type: Directed | |||
| Conferences | 7.5 | 0.3 | 2, 4, 6 |
| Laboratory practical sessions | 6 | 0.24 | 2, 3, 9, 11, 12 |
| Lectures | 27 | 1.08 | 4, 6 |
| Practical sessions carried out in the classroom | 12 | 0.48 | 1, 2, 3, 9, 11, 12 |
| Type: Supervised | |||
| Supervision | 7.5 | 0.3 | |
| Type: Autonomous | |||
| Essay writing | 24 | 0.96 | 1, 2, 3, 9, 11, 12 |
| Preparation of oral presentations | 24 | 0.96 | 1, 2, 3, 9, 12 |
| Study | 40 | 1.6 | 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 8, 7, 6, 9 |
Assessment
The subject will be assessed as follows:
1: Written exam (multiple choice) assessing Block A: Attention (30%). First assessment period
2: Written exam (multiple choice) assessing Block B: Perception (30%). Second assessment period
3. Two oral presentations (20% -10% each-): the activities carried out in groups of 4-5 students in the classroom practical sessions will be presented orally. Last practical session
4. Research essay (20%): following the laboratory sessions, each group of 4-5 students will design and implement their own experiment and deliver a brief scientific report. Second asessment period
Students will not be assessed in cases where they fail to deliver 40% or more of the activities. To pass this course students must achieve a minimum final grade of 5/10, given that the mean of the two exam grades is at least of 4/10. Where this requirement is met, the final grade will consist of the weighted average of the 4 activities (2 exams + 2 oral presentations + research essay). However, the grades corresponding to the practical sessions (2 oral presentations and the research essay) will only compute in the final grade if the mean of the two exams grades is equal or higher than 4/10. If the average grade of the two exams does not reach 4 points, the final grade of the subject will be that grade without adding the practical activities grades. A final syntesis test for those who enroll for the second time or more is not foreseen.
To be eligible to participate in the retake process, students are required to have previously been assessed for at least 2/3 of the total assessment activities, which corresponds to at least 3 out of the 4 activities. Additionally, students are required to have achieved an average final grade of the subject of less than 5 and equal or higher than 3.5. The retake will consist of 4 questions, each corresponding to an evaluation assessment activity and students will be able to retake activity 1 and/or 2, and/or 3, and/or 4. The grade of each question will substitute the original grade of the assessment activity;however, the maximum final grade will be 5.
The UAB assessment regulations can be found in the following link: https://www.uab.cat/web/estudiar/graus/graus/avaluacions-1345722525858.html
Assessment Activities
| Title | Weighting | Hours | ECTS | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV1. Written exam: Block 1. Attention | 30% | 1 | 0.04 | 4, 5, 8, 7, 6 |
| EV2. Written exam: Block 2. Perception | 30% | 1 | 0.04 | 2, 4, 8, 6 |
| EV3. Practical sessions carried out in the classroom | 20% | 0 | 0 | 1, 2, 3, 11, 12 |
| EV4. Laboratory practical sessions | 20% | 0 | 0 | 2, 3, 10, 9, 11 |
Bibliography
Main references:
Garcia Sevilla, Júlia (1999). Psicología de la atención. Madrid: Síntesis.
Morgado, Ignacio (2012). Cómo percibimos el mundo: Una exploración de la mente y los sentidos. Barcelona: Ariel.
Complementary references:
Estaún, Santiago (2016). Una iniciació a la Psicofísica. Bellaterra. Publicacions UAB.
Goldstein, Bruce (2006). Sensación y percepción. Madrid: International Thomson Editores.
Johnson, Addie & Proctor Robert (2015). Atención. Teoría y práctica. Madrid: Editorial Universitaria Ramón Areces.
Software
.