Psychology 2115A-200
Introduction to Sensation and Perception
If there is a discrepancy between the outline posted below and the outline posted on the OWL course website, the latter shall prevail.
WESTERN UNIVERSITY
LONDON CANADA
Department of Psychology
2021 - 2022
Psychology 2115A Section 200
Introduction to Sensation and Perception
- CALENDAR DESCRIPTION
An introduction to the study of the human senses and higher order perceptual processes. Data gathered from psychophysical research and studies of the nervous system in both humans and other animals will be discussed. The course will review the mechanisms and principles of operation of vision, hearing, touch, taste and smell.
Antirequisite: Psychology 2015 A/B
Antirequisites are courses that overlap sufficiently in content that only one can be taken for credit. 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.
Prerequisite: a mark of at least 60% in 1.0 Psychology credits at the 1000 level
4 lecture hours (2 online, 2 in-person); 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.
2.0 COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Blake Butler
Office and Phone Number: WIRB 6126 x 85831
Office Hours: By appointment
Email: bbutler9@uwo.ca
Teaching Assistant: TBD
Office Hours: By appointment
Email: TBD
Time and Location of Classes: This course will use a blended model of delivery in which lecture content will be provided online via the course OWL site and will be complemented by an in-class lecture (Wednesdays 2:30-4:30pm). Students will be expected to watch online content prior to attending lecture which will build on these core concepts.
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. You may also wish to contact Student Accessibility Services (formerly known as Services for Students with Disabilities) at 519-661-2147.
3.0 TEXTBOOK
Schwartz BL, & Krantz JH. 2019. Sensation & Perception, 2nd Edition.
NOTE: I have selected this book because it provides a comprehensive and accessible view of the fundamental concepts of sensation and perception, includes a host of online resources that support learning, and because it is one of the more affordable options available (although I acknowledge ‘affordable’ is all relative). I want to make two things clear here: 1) You will do much better in this course if you purchase and read the text; and 2) Yes, we will use the entire book.
4.0 COURSE OBJECTIVES & LEARNING OUTCOMES
This course is an introduction to how we make sense of sensory input -- our primary source of information about the world. We will explore how sensation differs from perception; investigate different theoretical traditions that have attempted to account for perceptual phenomena; survey the methods that are used to study sensation and perception; and trace the functional and anatomical organization of the different sensory modalities, from sensory transduction, through stages of information processing, to perception.
We will cover the basic principles involved in seeing, hearing, touch, sensation of the position and movement of one’s body in the world, tasting, and smelling. Many principles are common to more than one sense domain, and commonalities will be emphasized whenever possible. Throughout, we assume that the goal of perception is behaviour. Perception is our only means of extracting information from the environment, allowing us to experience the discrete objects, people and events “out in the world” that drive our behaviour.
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Learning Outcome |
Assessment |
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Depth and Breadth of Knowledge.
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Quizzes & Final Exam |
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Knowledge of Methodologies.
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Quizzes, Group Project, & Final Exam |
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Application of Knowledge.
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Final Exam |
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Communication Skills.
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Group Project |
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Autonomy and Professional Capacity.
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Group Project |
5.0 EVALUATION
Quizzes (15% each)
There will be three quizzes throughout the term, each of which will contribute 15% toward your final grade. These will focus on the material presented since the previous test (i.e. Quiz 2 will focus on material presented in weeks 4 through 6), including both lectures and associated readings. Details regarding Quiz format will be discussed in class.
Group Project (15%)
As a group of ~6 students, you will choose a perceptual phenomenon (a non-exhaustive list will be provided or you can come up with your own) and prepare a presentation that contains a) a description of the phenomenon; b) a description of what is interesting/puzzling about the phenomenon; c) a reasonable hypothesis that might explain the phenomenon; and d) a description of an experiment that could test the hypothesized explanation. These reports will be shared with your peers. Groups will be assigned early in the term, and you will be responsible for scheduling meetings as a group to complete this project.
Final Exam (40%)
The final exam will be written in person and scheduled within the Final Exam period. The exam will include material from throughout the course and will include both lecture material and assigned readings. The exam will include multiple choice and short answer questions, and will focus on applications-based questions (i.e. applying the concepts from the course to novel problems). More details will be provided before the end of term.
5.1 POLICY ON MISSING COURSEWORK
Quizzes: No makeup quizzes will be scheduled. If you miss a quiz with appropriate documentation or during a period covered by a self-reported absence, your final exam will be reweighted to accommodate for the absence. Quizzes missed without documentation will receive a mark of zero.
Group Project: Group members will complete peer evaluations outlining the relative contributions of each member. If you do not make a substantive contribution to the group project, your mark will reflect this.
Final Exam: A single makeup exam will be scheduled for all students who miss the scheduled date with appropriate documentation. Students who miss the final exam without documentation will receive a mark of zero.
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
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
Note that 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. To maximize your grade, do your best on each and every assessment within the course.
6.0 ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION SCHEDULE
Quiz 1 – Wednesday September 29 in-class
Quiz 2 – Wednesday October 20 in-class
Quiz 3 – Wednesday November 17 in-class
Group Presentations – Wednesday November 24 in-class
Final Exam – TBD (to be held in person during final exam period)
7.0 CLASS SCHEDULE
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DATE |
TOPIC |
READINGS |
ASSESSMENTS |
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Week 0 (Sept 8) |
Introduction to 2115 |
None |
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Week 1 (Sept 13-17) |
What is perception, and how can we study it? |
Chapters 1 &2 |
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Week 2 (Sept 20-24) |
Visual system: The eye |
Chapter 3 |
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Week 3 (Sept 27-Oct 1) |
Visual system: The brain |
Chapter 4 |
Quiz 1 (Chapters 1-4) |
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Week 4 (Oct 4-8) |
Object & colour perception |
Chapters 5 & 6 |
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Week 5 (Oct 11-15) |
Depth & Size Perception |
Chapter 7 |
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Week 6 (Oct 18-22) |
Motion perception |
Chapter 8 |
Quiz 2 (Chapters 5-8) |
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Week 7 (Oct 25-29) |
Visual attention |
Chapter 9 |
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Week 8 (Nov 1-5) |
Reading Week |
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Week 9 (Nov 8-12) |
The auditory System |
Chapter 10 |
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Week 10 (Nov 15-19) |
The auditory brain & sound localization |
Chapter 11 |
Quiz 3 (Chapters 9-11) |
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Week 11 (Nov 22-26) |
Speech & Music perception |
Chapter 12 & 13 |
Group Project Presentations |
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Week 12 (Nov 29 – Dec 3) |
Touch & pain |
Chapter 14 |
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Week 13 (Dec 6-8) |
Summary |
None |
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8.0 LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional lands of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak and Attawandaron peoples, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum.
With this, we respect the longstanding relationships that Indigenous Nations have to this land, as they are the original caretakers. We acknowledge historical and ongoing injustices that Indigenous Peoples (e.g. First Nations, Métis and Inuit) endure in Canada, and we accept responsibility as a public institution to contribute toward revealing and correcting miseducation, as well as renewing respectful relationships with Indigenous communities through our teaching, research and community service.
9.0 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.
10.0 POLICY ON THE USE OF EXAM PROCTORING SOFTWARE
When examinations and tests cannot be given in person (e.g., in courses coded as Distance Studies; in the event of a lockdown order), they may be conducted using either a monitoring platform such as Zoom or a remote proctoring service, such as Proctorio. If Zoom is used for exam invigilation, you will be required to keep your camera on for the entire session, hold up your student card for identification purposes, and share your screen with the invigilator if asked to do so at any time during the exam. The exam session using Zoom will not be recorded.*
If a remote proctoring service is used, the service will require you to provide personal information (including some biometric data). The session will be recorded. The instructor will alert you to the use of this software as close as possible to the start of the term, however, in the event that in-person exams are unexpectedly canceled, you may only be given notice of the use of a proctoring service a short time in advance. More information about remote proctoring is available in the Online Proctoring Guidelines. Please ensure you are familiar with any proctoring service’s technical requirements before the exam. Additional guidance is available at the following link: https://www.uwo.ca/univsec/pdf/onlineproctorguidelines.pdf
* Please note that Zoom servers are located outside Canada. If you would prefer to use only your first name or a nickname to login to Zoom, please provide this information to the instructor in advance of the test or examination. See this link for technical requirements: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us
11.0 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 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
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.
12.0 CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR RETURN TO LOCKDOWN: IN-PERSON & BLENDED CLASSES
In the event of a COVID-19 resurgence or any other event 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.
13.0 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.
14.0 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
- 2021-2022 Calendar References
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 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.
Policy on the Recording of Synchronous Sessions: Some or all of the remote learning sessions for this course (if scheduled) may be recorded. The data captured during these recordings may include your image, voice recordings, chat logs and personal identifiers (name displayed on the screen). 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.
