Psychology 2210B-001
Introduction to Animal Cognition
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
An introduction to animal cognition, including topics such as classical and operant conditioning, memory, timing, and categorization.
Prerequisite: A mark of at least 60% in 1.0 credits of Psychology at the 1000 level
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.
Antirequisite: Psychology 2280E
Antirequisites are courses that overlap sufficiently in content that only one can be taken for credit. So if you take a course that is an antirequisite to a course previously taken, you will lose credit for the earlier course, regardless of the grade achieved in the most recent course.
3 lecture hours, 0.5 course
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Krista Macpherson
Office hours: By appointment
Email: kmacphe6@uwo.ca
Teaching Assistant: Indra Bishnoi
Office Hours: TBA
Email: ibishnoi@uwo.ca
Time and Location of Classes: Mon 2:30-4:30pm
Wed 2:30-3:30pm
All lectures in UCC 146
Students who are in emotional/mental distress should refer to Mental Health@Western
http://www.uwo.ca/uwocom/mentalhealth/ 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. You may also wish to contact Student Accessibility Services (formerly known as Services for Students with Disabilities) at 519-661-2147.
3.0 TEXTBOOK
Olmstead, M. C., & Kuhlmeier, V. A. (2015). Comparative Cognition. Cambridge University Press.
This textbook is mandatory for the course.
4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES
The course will provide a general introduction to research and theory in animal learning and cognition. Particular emphasis will be given to classical and instrumental learning, as well as current research on cognitive capacities of animals.
4.1 STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
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Learning Outcome |
Learning Activities
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Assessment |
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Knowledge and Understanding |
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Describe and explain key concepts and research findings in animal cognition. Summarize the history of animal cognition research and recognize its contributions to the fields of psychology, neuroscience and biology. Explain our current understanding of cognition in a number of species and compare the cognition of a variety of species to identify how evolutionary pressures shape cognition in animals. |
Course Reading Lectures
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Midterm Tests Quiz Final Exam
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Critical Thinking |
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Critically evaluate concepts and theories as they relate to our understanding of animal cognition.
Formulate testable hypotheses about animal behaviour and cognition. |
Course Readings Lectures
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Midterm Tests Quiz Final Exam |
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Communication |
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Communicate ideas and research-based evidence in writing in a professional manner.
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In class discussion during lectures |
Short essay portion of exams Quiz Final Exam |
5.0 EVALUATION
Exam 1: 30% of final grade
Exam 2: 30% of final grade
Final Exam: 35% of final grade
Participation: 5% of final 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 Western's 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 ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION SCHEDULE
Exam 1 (February 10th):
Exam 2 (March 16th):
Final Exam (TBA April 6-26):
Participation: Pop quizzes (5 quizzes each worth 1% of final mark…please see details below!)
There will be THREE tests, TWO given during the term and ONE during the final exam period. The tests will not be explicitly cumulative although you must retain and understand earlier material in order to understand and discuss later material. The tests will include multiple choice, short answer, and short essay questions.
Participation marks will be awarded based on the completion of 5 pop quizzes (two before the first exam, two between the first and second exams, and one between the second and final exam). If you miss a quiz, you may write and submit a 500-word summary of the readings assigned for the lecture that day. The dates of the quizzes will be posted on the course website once they have occurred, and it is your responsibility to check if you have missed one. The 500-word summary is due exactly one week from the date of the missed quiz, and will not be accepted after this one week time period. Failure to complete a quiz or submit a 500-word write-up will result in a mark of zero for that particular quiz.
7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE
Tentative and subject to change. The only way to know what was covered in a particular lecture is to attend lectures. (Page numbers are for the assigned text and show the material that is related to what is planned for a particular lecture)
January 06 Chapter 1 (pages 1-30)
08 Anthropomorphism (Readings to be assigned)
13 Chapter 2 (pages 32-67)
15 Chapter 2 (pages 32-67)
20 Chapter 3 (pages 69-105)
22 Chapter 3 (pages 69-105)
27 Chapter 4 (pages 107-137)
29 Chapter 4 (pages 107-137)
February 03 Chapter 4 (pages 107-137)
05 Remaining material & review
10 Midterm #1
TEST 1 ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 10th WILL COVER ASSIGNED READING AND LECTURE MATERIAL FROM JAN 06th to Feb 5th, INCLUSIVE. THE TEST WILL BE IN THE USUAL CLASSROOM.
12 Chapter 5 (pages 146-183)
NO CLASS—READING WEEK
24 Chapter 5 (pages 146-183)
26 Chapter 6 (pages 185-212)
March 02 Chapter 6 (pages 185-212)
04 Chapter 7 (pages 213-246)
09 Chapter 7 (pages 213-246)
11 Chapter 8 (pages 248-270)
16 Midterm #2
TEST 2 ON MONDAY, MARCH 16th WILL COVER ASSIGNED READING AND LECTURE MATERIAL FROM FEB 12th to MARCH 11th, INCLUSIVE. THE TEST WILL BE IN THE USUAL CLASSROOM.
18 Chapter 9 (pages 271-307)
23 Chapter 9 (pages 271-307)
25 Chapter 10 (pages 309-338)
30 Chapter 10 (pages 309-338)
April 01 Chapter 11 (pages 339-365)
06 Chapter 12 (pages 366-389)
08 Chapter 13 (pages 391-404) ?
FINAL EXAM WILL COVER READINGS AND LECTURE MATERIAL FROM MARCH 20th to APRIL 8th, INCLUSIVE. DATE AND LOCATION OF FINAL EXAM TBA (APRIL 6-26).
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
Computer-marked multiple-choice tests and/or exams may be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.
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
Western’s policy on Accommodation for Medical Illness can be found at:
http://www.westerncalendar.uwo.ca/PolicyPages.cfm?PolicyCategoryID=1&Command=showCategory&SelectedCalendar=Live&ArchiveID=#Page_12
The full policy for consideration for absences can be accessed at: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/academic_policies/appeals/Academic_Consideration_for_absences.pdf
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
If you experience an extenuating circumstance (e.g., illness, injury) sufficiently significant to temporarily make you unable to meet academic requirements, you may request accommodation through the following routes:
- Submitting a Self-Reported Absence form (for circumstances that are expected to resolve within 48 hours);
- For medical absences, submitting a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner in order to be eligible for Academic Consideration;
For non-medical absences, submitting appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in their Faculty of registration in order to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain accommodation. The self-reported absence form may NOT be used for absences longer than 48 hours; coursework/tests/exams/etc., worth more than 30% of the final grade; or exams scheduled in the December or April final-exam periods: http://counselling.ssc.uwo.ca/procedures/medical_accommodation.html
Students seeking academic consideration:
- are advised to consider carefully the implications of postponing tests or midterm exams or delaying handing in work;
- are encouraged to make appropriate decisions based on their specific circumstances, recognizing that minor ailments (upset stomach) or upsets (argument with a friend) are not normally an appropriate basis for a self-reported absence;
must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hours after the end of the period covered by either the self-reported absence or SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence
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
- 2019-2020 Calendar References
No electronic devices, including cell phones and smart watches, will be allowed during exams.
Copyright Statement: Lectures and course materials, including power point presentations, outlines, 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 lecture notes, wiki material, and other course materials publicly and/or for commercial purposes without the instructor’s written consent.
