Psychology 2210B 001 FW25

Introduction to Animal Cognition

Western University 

London                   Canada 

 

Department of Psychology 

Winter 2025 

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.  

https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/academics/timetables.html 

 

Antirequisites: Psych 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: Dr. Morgan Gustison (pronouns she/her) 

Office & Phone: see Brightspace 

Office Hours: TBA 

Email: mgustiso@uwo.ca 

 

Teaching Assistants: TBA 

Office:  

Office Hours:  

Email:  

 

Time and Location of Classes: see Student Centre 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 

 

Required: Olmstead, M. C. & Kuhlmeier, V. A. (2015). Comparative Cognition. Cambridge University Press  (approx 76$ Amazon) 

 

Optional: Shettleworth, S.J. (2012). Fundamentals of Comparative Cognition. Oxford University Press: Oxford. This book is more concise than the required text, but it gives a very accessible summary of the topics covered in the course. 

 

4 Course Objectives and Learning Outcomes 

 

Learning Outcome  

Learning Activity  

Assessment 

Depth and Breadth of Knowledge  

  • Describe and explain key concepts and research findings in animal cognition.    
  • Summarize the history of animal cognition research and recognize its contributions to psychology, neuroscience, philosophy, and biology.   
  • Describe current understanding of cognition in multiple species and compare their cognition to ascertain the influence of evolutionary pressures.  

Course Readings   

  

Lectures   

  

 

Assignments  

 

Quizzes  

  

Tests 

 

Final Exam 

Knowledge of Methodologies  

  • Recognize and compare the different experimental approaches used in animal cognition research.   
  • Identify the unique challenges of animal cognition research and describe methods used in the discipline to handle those challenges.   

Course Readings   

  

Lectures   

 

Quizzes 

 

Tests   

  

Final Exam  

 

Application of Knowledge  

  • Identifying the aspects of cognition that are conserved across species.   
  • Discussing and generating questions about animal cognition.  
  • Classify explanations for behaviour by their level of analysis and distinguish between different levels of analysis.  
  • Critique and synthesize research on animal cognition 

Course Readings  

  

Lectures   

  

Assignments 

 

Quizzes 

 

Assignments 

 

Tests   

  

Final Exam  

 

Communication Skills 

  • Communicate ideas and research-based evidence in professional writing.    

In class discussions  

  

Assignments 

Assignments 

5 Evaluation 

 

Quizzes: 10% 

Test 1: 25%  

Test 2: 25% 

Assignment 1: 5% 

Assignment 2: 5% 

Final Exam: 30%   

 

Tests & Final Exam  

Test 1 will assess all lecture and textbook content from weeks 1- 4. Test 2 will assess all lecture and textbook content from weeks 6-9. The final exam will assess lecture and textbook content from weeks 10-13. While the final exam is not cumulative, some foundational concepts covered earlier in the course will carry over to the final. Tests and final exam will follow a similar format including multiple choice, fill in the blank, definition and short answer questions. 

 

Quizzes 

Quizzes will be timed open book assessments completed on Brightspace. The quizzes will be entirely based on textbook material and are intended to be part of pre-class preparations.   

 

Assignments 

Students will complete two short thought papers during the term. One must be completed in the first half of the course and can be written on any topic covered in the first half of the course. The second thought paper must be written in the second half of the course on a topic covered in the second half of the course. Each thought paper should be 300-500 words and consist of original thoughts, questions, and opinions supported by course material. 

 

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 

 

Late submissions of Assignments 1 and 2 without discussion with the instructor will be penalized with a 5% per day deduction. An extension to an Assignment deadline may be granted to students who have submitted academic consideration or accommodation. 

 

Flexibility in assessment is used for Quizzes. Only the highest 8 quiz scores will be counted towards the final grade. Due to this flexibility, requests for academic consideration may be denied. 

 

Make-up texts/exams will be arranged for Tests 1 and 2 and the Final Exam with academic consideration or accommodation. However, Test 2 and the Final Exam are designated assessments, which means that they will require formal supporting documentation for academic consideration. 

 

For more information about academic consideration: https://registrar.uwo.ca/academics/academic_considerations/index.html  

 

For more information about academic accommodation: https://academicsupport.uwo.ca/accessible_education/academic_accomodation.html  

 

 

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 assignments will be offered to enhance a final grade; nor will requests to change a grade because it is needed for a future program be considered.  

 

6 Assessment/Evaluation Schedule 

 

Quizzes: Timed open book quizzes on Brightspace to be completed by 11:55pm on Sundays before lecture. There are 9 weekly quizzes for weeks 2-4, 6, 8-9, and 11-13. This course component uses flexible assessment – only the top 8 of 9 quizzes will be counted towards the final grade. This means that students can miss one quiz without penalty. 

 

Test 1: February 2nd in Class 

 

Assignment 1: due February 23rd by 11:55 PM via Brightspace  

 

Test 2: March 9th in Class 

 

Assignment 2: due March 30th by 11:55 PM via Brightspace  

 

Final Exam: Scheduled during final exam period (April 12-30) 

7 Class Schedule 

 

Week 

Date 

Lecture 

Textbook Readings 

Weekly Assessments 

1 

January 5 

Introduction & History of Comparative Cognition 

 

Chapter 1 

 

2 

January 12 

Sensory Systems & Memory I 

 

Chapters 2 & 3 

Quiz 1 

3 

January 19 

Memory II & Associative Processes 

 

Chapters 3 & 4 

Quiz 2 

4 

January 26 

Orientation & Navigation 

 

Chapter 5 

Quiz 3 

5 

February 2 

Test 1 (textbook and lecture material for weeks 1-4) 

 

6 

February 9 

Timing & Number 

 

Chapters 6 & 7 

Quiz 4 

7 

February 16 

Reading Week 

 

8 

February 23 

Causality & Tool use 

 

Chapter 8 

Quiz 5 

Assignment 1 due  

9 

March 2 

Categories & Concepts 

 

Chapter 9 

Quiz 6 

10 

March 9 

Test 2 (textbook and lecture material for weeks 6-9) 

 

11 

March 16 

Social Cognition & Prosocial Behaviour 

 

Chapters 10 & 11 

Quiz 7 

12 

March 23 

Communication & Social Learning 

 

Chapter 12 & 13 

Quiz 8 

13 

March 30 

Complex Cognition 

Readings posted on Brightspace 

Quiz 9 

Assignment 2 due 

 

14 

April 6 

No Class (Drop-in Office Hours) 

 

April Exam Period (April 12-30) 

Final Exam (textbook and lecture material for weeks 11-13) 

 

 

 

 

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. 

 

Statement on Use of Electronic Devices 

 

Electronic devices are allowed during lectures for course-related (e.g. note-taking) purposes. Students who wish to use their devices for activities that are not course-related are encouraged to sit in the back of the lecture room to minimize disruption to their peers. Electronic devices are not permitted during tests and the final exam without prior accommodation approval. 

 

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. 

 

AI Policy for Psychology:  

Responsible use of AI is allowed in Psychology.  This includes using AI for brainstorming, improving grammar, or doing preliminary/background research on a topic.  

  

AI is not to be used in place of critical thinking.  

  

The misuse of AI undermines the academic values of this course.  Relying on AI to create full drafts or fabricate sources is prohibited.  You are ultimately responsible for any work submitted, so it is highly advised that you critically review your Generative AI output before incorporating this information into your assignments.  

  

If you use AI, you must clearly explain its role in your work.  All written assignments will require an AI Usage Statement, in which you will indicate what tools you have used, what you have used them for, and (broadly) how you have modified this information.  Assignments without an AI Usage Statement will not be accepted.  

  

Violations of this policy will be handled according to Western’s scholastic offense policies. 

 

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. 

 

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 

 

Academic Considerations: https://registrar.uwo.ca/academics/academic_considerations/index.html 

 

 

11 Other Information  

 

 

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.