Psychology 2210B-001 (Online for 2020-21)
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, Phd
Office hours: By appointment via Zoom
Email: kmacphe6@uwo.ca
Teaching Assistant: Kate Raymond
Office Hours: By appointment via Zoom
Email: kraymon9@uwo.ca
Time and Location of Classes: Mon 2:30-4:30pm
Wed 2:30-3:30pm
This is a synchronous online course
All lectures online and accessible via OWL
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
This textbook is mandatory for the course:
Olmstead, M. C., & Kuhlmeier, V. A. (2015). Comparative Cognition. Cambridge University Press.
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 animals4.1 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.
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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
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Quiz Final Exam
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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
Dates for midterm make-up exams will be announced via OWL. 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.
All exams will be administered online through Gradescope and proctored via Zoom. Completion of this course will require you to have a reliable internet connection and a device that meets the technical requirements for these services.
The instructor will provide you with an entry code so that you can add yourself to the course on Gradescope. Information and technical support for using Gradescope is available at: https://help.gradescope.com/category/cyk4ij2dwi-student-workflow
Information and technical support for using Zoom is available at: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us
I have elected to use remote proctoring in this course as a means for validating that students have met the learning outcomes of the course. Given the introductory nature of the learning outcomes tested, unproctored assessments such as term papers or take-home examinations, would not provide an adequate way to distinguish between answers provided by different students. Use of online proctoring assures students that they can write assessments on equal terms with their classmates and signals to prospective employers, graduate supervisors, and professional schools that, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Western has endeavoured to maintain the high standards that are at the core of our degrees.
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 8th, 2021): 30%
Exam 2 (March 15th, 2021): 30%
Final Exam (TBA): 35%
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 which will be completed via OWL at the end of lecture (two quizzes will take place 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 11 Chapter 1 (pages 1-30) 13 Anthropomorphism (Readings to be assigned) 18 Chapter 2 (pages 32-67) 20 Chapter 2 (pages 32-67) 25 Chapter 3 (pages 69-105) 27 Chapter 3 (pages 69-105)
February 01 Chapter 4 (pages 107-137)
03 Chapter 4 (pages 107-137)
08 Midterm #1
10 Chapter 8 (Tool Use Only)
NO CLASS Feb 15th or 17th—READING WEEK
22 Chapter 5 (pages 146-183)
24 Chapter 5 (pages 146-183)
March 01 Chapter 6 (pages 185-212)
03 Chapter 6 (pages 185-212)
08 Chapter 7 (pages 213-246)
10 Chapter 7 (pages 213-246)
15 Midterm #2
17Chapter 8 (Causality/Object Physics)
22Chapter 9 (pages 271-307)
24Chapter 10 (pages 309-338)
29Chapter 10 (pages 309-338)
31Chapter 11 (pages 339-365)
April 05 Chapter 12 (pages 366-389)
07Chapter 13 (pages 391-404)
12Remaining material & Review
8.0 STATEMENT ON ACADEMIC OFFENCES
Students are responsible for understanding the nature and avoiding the occurrence of plagiarism and other scholastic offences. Plagiarism and cheating are considered very serious offences because they undermine the integrity of research and education. Actions constituting a scholastic offence 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 offences. 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 will be subject to submission for similarity review by software that will check for unusual coincidences in answer patterns that may indicate cheating.
In classes that involve the use of a personal response system (PRS), data collected using the PRS 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. Your PRS login credentials are for your sole use only. Students attempting to use another student’s credentials to submit data through the PRS may be subject to academic misconduct proceedings.
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.
9.0 POLICY ON ACCOMMODATION FOR ILLNESS OR OTHER ABSENCES
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
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 must be submitted before the exam/coursework deadline in order to be valid. It 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 hoursafter 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 Contingency Plan for Return to Lockdown
In the event of a COVID-19 resurgence during the course that necessitates the course delivery moving away from face-to-face interaction, all remaining course content will be delivered entirely online, either synchronously (i.e., at the times indicated in the timetable) or asynchronously (e.g., posted on OWL for students to view at their convenience). The grading scheme will not change. Any remaining assessments will also be conducted online as determined by the course instructor.
11.0 STATEMENTS CONCERNING ONLINE ETIQUETTE
In courses involving online interactions, the Psychology Department expects students to honour the following rules of etiquette:
- please “arrive” to class on time
- please use your computer and/or laptop if possible (as opposed to a cell phone or tablet)
- please ensure that you are in a private location to protect the confidentiality of discussions in the event that a class discussion deals with sensitive or personal material
- to minimize background noise, kindly mute your microphone for the entire class until you are invited to speak, unless directed otherwise
- In classes larger than 30 participants please turn off your video camera for the entire class unless you are invited to speak
- In classes of 30 students or fewer, where video chat procedures are being used, please be prepared to turn your video camera off at the instructor’s request if the internet connection becomes unstable
- Unless invited by your instructor, do not share your screen in the meeting
The course instructor will act as moderator for the class and will deal with any questions from participants. To participate please consider the following:
- If you wish to speak, use the “raise hand” function and wait for the instructor to acknowledge you before beginning your comment or question.
- Please remember to unmute your microphone and turn on your video camera before speaking.
- Self-identify when speaking.
- Please remember to mute your mic and turn off your video camera after speaking (unless directed otherwise).
General considerations of “netiquette”:
- Keep in mind the different cultural and linguistic backgrounds of the students in the course.
- Be courteous toward the instructor, your colleagues, and authors whose work you are discussing.
- Be respectful of the diversity of viewpoints that you will encounter in the class and in your readings. The exchange of diverse ideas and opinions is part of the scholarly environment. “Flaming” is never appropriate.
- Be professional and scholarly in all online postings. Use proper grammar and spelling. Cite the ideas of others appropriately.
Note that disruptive behaviour of any type during online classes, including inappropriate use of the chat function, is unacceptable. Students found guilty of Zoom-bombing a class or of other serious online offenses may be subject to disciplinary measures under the Code of Student Conduct.
12.0 OTHER INFORMATION
Office of the Registrar: http://registrar.uwo.ca
Student Development Services: 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
- 2020-2021 Calendar References
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.
