Psychology 3138G-001
Memory
If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.
1.0 CALENDAR DESCRIPTION
A review of the theories and data bearing on how people encode, store and retrieve information, both from permanent and temporary memory stores. Emphasis will be given both to laboratory studies and the study of memory in ecologically valid settings.Prerequisites: Psychology 2820E or both Psychology 2800E and 2810, and one of Psychology
2115A/B, 2134A/B, 2135A/B. Minimum grade of 60% required in all prerequisite courses.
3 lecture/discussion hours, 0.5 course
Unless you have either the prerequisites for this course or written special permission from your Dean to enroll 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.
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Dr. Stefan KöhlerOffice and Phone Number: NSB-201; 519-661-2111 ext. 86364
Office Hours: by appointment
Email: stefank@uwo.ca
Course Coordinator: n/a
Teaching Assistant: Daniel Glizer
Office: by appointment
Office Hours: by appointment
Email: dglizer@uwo.ca
Time and Location of Classes: Tues 2:30pm – 5:30pm; NCB-117
If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, there are several resources here at Western to assist you. Please visit: http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ for more information on these resources and on mental health.
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. You may also wish to contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at 519-661-2111 ext 82147 for any specific question regarding an accommodation.
3.0 TEXTBOOK
Schwartz, B.L. (2014). Memory. Foundations and applications (2nd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.Additional required readings will be posted on OWL (see Schedule). These readings are mandatory and will also be covered in the exams.
Reading Guidelines and Lecture Notes will be posted on OWL.
4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES
1. To provide a comprehensive research-oriented overview of the history, methodology, theories, and contentious issues in the study of human memory.2. To encourage reading and writing about primary source material in memory research; to encourage critical thinking about memory research; to explore and appreciate the limits of current scientific
knowledge in the field.
3. To provide training for public (in-class) presentations on a specific research question and its empirical study; to encourage discussion of contentious issues in memory research.
Any course of this sort contains material that must be learned from both lectures and readings. Some material from the text will not be covered in lectures; similarly, some material from the lectures will not be covered in the readings. Therefore, it is imperative that students attend the lectures and do the readings regularly for successful completion of the course.
An important component of the present course relates to the in-class discussion of the content covered. Students will be asked to participate actively in this exchange of thoughts and ideas. The in class-presentations will serve to stimulate this discussion.
For the in-class presentations, students are expected to work in groups of two individuals. It is the responsibility of each group to obtain the reference for the primary research article to be presented prior to starting any work on it. Students are required to request this information from the instructor at least one week prior to the date of presentation.
To familiarize students with academic writing in this field of study, the course also requires several mini-reviews of presentations and the completion of a scholarly essay on primary research. Students are expected to choose their own topic (directly relevant to the course) for this essay.
5.0 EVALUATION
Course performance will be evaluated based on five different sources:
|
1. |
Midterm exam |
20% of total grade |
|
2. |
Final exam |
25% of total grade |
|
3. |
Original scholarly essay |
25% of total grade |
|
4. |
Oral in-class presentation |
15% of total grade |
|
5. |
3 Mini-Reviews |
15% of total grade |
Although the Psychology Department does not require instructors to adjust their course grades to conform to specific targets, the expectation is that course marks will be distributed around the following averages:
70% 1000-level and 2000-level courses
72% 2190-2990 level courses
75% 3000-level courses
80% 4000-level courses
The Psychology Department follows the University of Western Ontario grading guidelines, which are as follows (see http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/general/grades_undergrad.pdf ):
A+ 90-100 One could scarcely expect better from a student at this level
A 80-89 Superior work that is clearly above average
B 70-79 Good work, meeting all requirements, and eminently satisfactory
C 60-69 Competent work, meeting requirements
D 50-59 Fair work, minimally acceptable
F below 50 Fail
6.0 TEST AND EXAMINATION SCHEDULE
In-class presentation: Dates (one per student) will be determined in first two weeks of classes.
Mini-Reviews: Due in printed format in class one week (Tuesday 2:30 pm) after the reviewed presentation. Dates (three per student) will be determined in first week of classes. Late submissions will not be accepted. Length per Mini-Review: 2 double-spaced pages, 12-point font (i.e., roughly between 400 and 600 words).
Essay: Complete essay due April 5, 2016, 2:30 pm (last week of class) in hardcopy and electronic submission to TurnItIn via OWL. There will be a penalty for late submissions. Length: 8 double- spaced pages, 12-point font (i.e., roughly between 1800 and 2300 words).
Final Exam: During final exam period. This test will cover the materials from the entire course; it is a cumulative exam. Mixed format: multiple choice and short answers.
7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE
Planned Lecture Schedule with Assigned Readings:
|
|
Topic |
Presentations |
Assigned Readings |
|
Jan 5 |
General course introduction |
No |
- |
|
Jan 12 |
Historical overview and introduction |
No |
Textbook Ch. 1 |
|
Jan 19 |
Memory and the brain |
No |
Textbook Ch. 2 |
|
Jan 26 |
Working memory |
Yes |
Textbook Ch. 3 |
|
Feb 2 |
Learning |
Yes |
Textbook Ch. 4, 13 |
|
Feb 9 |
Episodic memory |
Yes |
Textbook Ch. 4 |
|
Feb 16 |
Reading week -- no class |
No |
-- |
|
Feb 23 |
Semantic memory |
Yes |
Textbook Ch. 5 |
|
March 1 |
Midterm |
no |
-- |
|
March 8 |
Anterograde amnesia and related memory disorders |
Yes |
Textbook Ch. 10 |
|
March 15 |
Autobiographical memory and retrograde amnesia |
Yes |
Textbook Ch. 7 |
|
March 22 |
Memory and emotion |
Yes |
reading provided online at OWL |
|
March 29 |
Memory distortions and memory illusions |
Yes |
Textbook Ch. 8 |
|
April 5 |
To be selected by class |
Yes |
reading provided online at OWL |
8.0 STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES
Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offenses. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offenses because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offense are described at the following link: http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/scholastic_discipline_undergrad.pdf
As of Sept. 1, 2009, the Department of Psychology will take the following steps to detect scholastic offenses. All multiple-choice tests and exams will be checked for similarities in the pattern of responses using reliable software, and records will be made of student seating locations in all tests and exams. All written assignments will be submitted to TurnItIn, a service designed to detect and deter plagiarism by comparing written material to over 5 billion pages of content located on the Internet or in TurnItIn’s databases. 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 http://www.turnitin.com
Possible penalties for a scholastic offense include failure of the assignment, failure of the course, suspension from the University, and expulsion from the University.
9.0 POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR MEDICAL ILLNESS
The University of Western Ontario’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2015/pg117.html
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation:
http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html
10.0 OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar web site: http://registrar.uwo.ca
Student Development Services web site: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca
Please see the Psychology Undergraduate web site for information on the following:
http://psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/student_responsibilities/index.html
- Policy on Cheating and Academic Misconduct
- Procedures for Appealing Academic Evaluations
- Policy on Attendance
- Policy Regarding Makeup Exams and Extensions of Deadlines
- Policy for Assignments
- Short Absences
- Extended Absences
- Documentation
- Academic Concerns
- 2015 Calendar References
No electronic devices, including cell phones, will be allowed during exams.
