Psychology 2210B 001 FW24
Introduction to Animal Cognition
Western University
London Canada
Department of Psychology
Fall/Winter 2024
Psychology 2210B Section 001
Introduction to Animal Cognition
1 Calendar Description
An introduction to animal cognition, including topics such as classical and operant conditioning, memory, timing, and categorization.
Antirequisites: Psychology 2280E
Prerequisites: A mark of at least 60% in 1.0 credits of Psychology at the 1000 level.
3 lecture hours; Course Weight: 0.5
Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enrol in it, you may be removed from this course and it will be deleted from your record. This decision may not be appealed. You will receive no adjustment to your fees in the event that you are dropped from a course for failing to have the necessary prerequisites.
2 Course Information
Instructor: Krista Macpherson, Phd
Office & Phone: see Brightspace for details
Office Hours: Tuesdays 11am-1pm
Email: kmacphe6@uwo.ca
Teaching Assistant: Dami Solaja & Austin Robertson
Office: TBA
Office Hours: TBA
Email: osolaja@uwo.ca (Dami); arobe223@uwo.ca (Austin)
Time and Location of Classes: see Student Centre for Timetable
For courses that include an online component, students must have a reliable internet connection and computer that are compatible with online learning system requirements.
3 Course Materials
This textbook is mandatory for the course:
Olmstead, M. C., & Kuhlmeier, V. A. (2015). Comparative Cognition. Cambridge University Press.
The Bookstore at Western: $77.50 paper copy, or $76.00 e-book
4 Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes
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Depth and Breadth of Knowledge
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Knowledge of Methodologies
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Application of Knowledge
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Communication Skills
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Awareness of Limits of Knowledge
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5 Evaluation
Exam 1: 30%
Exam 2: 30%
Final Exam: 35%
Participation (Best 8 of 10): 5%
The evaluation and testing formats for this course were created to assess the learning objectives as listed in section 4 and are necessary for meeting these learning objectives
Policy on Missing Coursework
Dates for midterm make-up exams will be announced via Brightspace. It is the student’s responsibility to check this date and ensure that they are available to write on the specified day if a make-up exam is required. Grades will not be rounded.
Participation marks will consist of 12 online quizzes, valued at 0.5 each. The quiz will consist of a question related to that days lecture, and must be answered during the lecture (students are expected to have a laptop or device with Brighspace access during class). The lowest 2 participation scores will be dropped as a built-in accommodation for missed lectures, therefore there are absolutely no accommodations for missed participation marks.
The Psychology Department follows Western’s grading guidelines: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf
The expectation for course grades within the Psychology Department is that they will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level to 2099-level courses
72% 2100-2999-level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
In the event that course grades are significantly higher or lower than these averages, instructors may be required to make adjustments to course grades. Such adjustment might include the normalization of one or more course components and/or the re-weighting of various course components.
Policy on Grade Rounding
Please note that although course grades within the Psychology Department are rounded to the nearest whole number, no further grade rounding will be done. No additional because it is needed for a future program be considered.
6 Assessment/Evaluation Schedule
Exam 1 (February 3rd, 2025)
Exam 2 (March 10th, 2025)
Final Exam: TBA, during Final Exam period
Participation: A participation question will be completed during each lecture.
7 Class Schedule
Tentative and subject to change. Page numbers are for the assigned text and show the material that is related to what is planned for a particular lecture. Lecture slides will be posted to Brightspace.
January 06 Introduction & History (Chapter 1, pp.1-30); Anthropomorphism
13 Sensation & Perception (Chapter 2, pp. 32-67)
20 Memory (Chapter 3, pp. 69-105)
27 Associative Learning (Chapter 4, pp.107-137)
February 03 Midterm #1
10 Time, space & number (Ch. 5&6, pp. 146-212)
17 Reading Week (no class)
24 Decision Making, Object physics Chapters 7&8 (pp. 213-270)
March 03 Category Learning (Chapter 9, pp. 185-212)
10 Midterm #2
17 Prosocial Behaviour (Chapters 10 & 11 pp. 309-365)
24 Communication (Chapter 12, pp. 366-389)
31 Learning from Others (Chapter 13 pp. 391-404)
8 Academic Integrity
Scholastic offences are taken seriously, and students are directed to read the appropriate policy, specifically, the definition of what constitutes a Scholastic Offence, at the following Web site: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf.
Possible penalties for a scholastic offence include failure of the assignment/exam, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
Plagiarism Detection Software
All required papers may be subject to submission for textual similarity review to the commercial plagiarism detection software under license to the University for the detection of plagiarism. All papers submitted for such checking will be included as source documents in the reference database for the purpose of detecting plagiarism of papers subsequently submitted to the system. Use of the service is subject to the licensing agreement, currently between Western and Turnitin.com.
Use of AI
The use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to produce written work is not permitted unless permission is granted by the instructor for specific circumstances. Any work submitted must be the work of the student in its entirety unless otherwise disclosed. When used, AI tools should be used ethically and responsibly, and students must cite or credit the tools used in line with the expectation to use AI as a tool to learn, not to produce content.
Multiple Choice Exams
Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams will be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.
Exam Proctoring Software
Tests and examinations for online courses may be conducted using a remote proctoring service. More information about this remote proctoring service, including technical requirements, is available on Western’s Remote
Proctoring website at: https://remoteproctoring.uwo.ca.
Personal Response Systems (“Clickers”)
In classes that involve the use of a personal response system, data collected will only be used in a manner consistent to that described in this outline. It is the instructor’s responsibility to make every effort to ensure that data remain confidential. However, students should be aware that as with all forms of electronic communication, privacy is not guaranteed.
9 Academic Accommodations and Accessible Education
View Western’s policy on academic accommodations for student with disabilities at this link.
Accessible Education provides supports and services to students with disabilities at Western.
If you think you may qualify for ongoing accommodation that will be recognized in all your courses, visit Accessible Education for more information. Email: aew@uwo.ca Phone: 519 661-2147
10 Absence & Academic Consideration
View Western’s policy on academic consideration for medical illnesses this link
Find your academic counsellor here: https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/faculty_academic_counselling.html
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain academic considerations. Students must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hours after the end of the period covered SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence.
Medical Absences
Submit a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for Academic Consideration.
Nonmedical Absences
Submit appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.
Religious Consideration
Students seeking accommodation for religious purposes are advised to contact Academic Counselling at least three weeks prior to the religious event and as soon as possible after the start of the term.
11 Other Information
- Office of the Registrar: https://registrar.uwo.ca
- Student Development Services: www.sdc.uwo.ca
- Psychology Undergraduate Program: https://www.psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/index.html
Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Health and Wellness@Western https://www.uwo.ca/health/ for a complete list of options about how to obtain help.
Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if you require any other arrangements to make this course more accessible to you.
If you wish to appeal a grade, please read the policy documentation at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/appealsundergrad.pdf. Please first contact the course instructor. If your issue is not resolved, you may make your appeal in writing to the Undergraduate Chair in Psychology (psyugrd@uwo.ca).
Copyright Statement
Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, videos and similar materials, are protected by copyright. You may take notes and make copies of course materials for your own educational use. You may not record lectures, reproduce (or allow others to reproduce), post or distribute any course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.
Include the text below only if your course includes recorded live sessions.
Policy on the Recording of Synchronous Sessions
Some or all the learning sessions for this course may be recorded. The data captured during these recordings may include your image, voice recordings, chat logs and personal identifiers. The recordings will be used for educational purposes related to this course, including evaluations. The recordings may be disclosed to other individuals participating in the course for their private or group study purposes. Please contact the instructor if you have any concerns related to session recordings. Participants in this course are not permitted to privately record the sessions, except where recording is an approved accommodation, or the student has the prior written permission of the instructor.
12 Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak, and Chonnonton. Nations, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors of our society.
