Psychology 2210B 001 FW24
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.
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.
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: SSC 9232
Office Hours: TBA
Email: mgustiso@uwo.ca
Teaching Assistant: TBA
Office:
Office Hours:
Email:
Time and Location of Classes: see Student Centre for Time Table
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
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 our present understanding of cognition in multiple species and compare their cognition to ascertain the influence of evolutionary pressures on animal cognition. |
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 OWL. 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 assignments without discussion with the instructor will be penalized with a 5% per day deduction. An extension to an assignment deadline will be provided to students with an academic accommodation or consideration.
Missed tests must be discussed as soon as possible with the instructor. Makeup test dates will be announced via OWL.
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 OWL 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 3rd in Class
Assignment 1: due February 24th by 11:55 PM via OWL
Test 2: March 10th in Class
Assignment 2: due March 31st by 11:55 PM via OWL
Final Exam: Scheduled during final exam period (April 7-30)
7 Class Schedule
Week |
Date |
Lecture |
Textbook Readings |
Weekly Assessments |
1 |
January 6 |
Introduction & History of Comparative Cognition
|
Chapter 1 |
|
2 |
January 13 |
Sensory Systems & Memory I
|
Chapters 2 & 3 |
Quiz 1 |
3 |
January 20 |
Memory II & Associative Processes
|
Chapters 3 & 4 |
Quiz 2 |
4 |
January 27 |
Orientation & Navigation
|
Chapter 5 |
Quiz 3 |
5 |
February 3 |
Test 1 (textbook and lecture material for weeks 1-4)
|
||
6 |
February 10 |
Timing & Number
|
Chapters 6 & 7 |
Quiz 4 |
7 |
February 17 |
Reading Week
|
||
8 |
February 24 |
Causality & Tool use
|
Chapter 8 |
Quiz 5, Assignment 1 due |
9 |
March 3 |
Categories & Concepts
|
Chapter 9 |
Quiz 6 |
10 |
March 10 |
Test 2 (textbook and lecture material for weeks 6-9)
|
||
11 |
March 17 |
Social Cognition & Prosocial Behaviour
|
Chapters 10 & 11 |
Quiz 7 |
12 |
March 24 |
Communication & Social Learning
|
Chapter 12 & 13 |
Quiz 8 |
13 |
March 31 |
Complex Cognition |
Readings posted on OWL |
Quiz 9, Assignment 2 due
|
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 (see Section 9).
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.
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
View Western’s policy on academic consideration for medical illnesses this link
Find your academic counsellor here: https://www.registrar.uwo.ca/faculty_academic_counselling.html
Students must see the Academic Counsellor and submit all required documentation in order to be approved for certain academic considerations. Students must communicate with their instructors no later than 24 hours after the end of the period covered SMC, or immediately upon their return following a documented absence.
Medical Absences
Submit a Student Medical Certificate (SMC) signed by a licensed medical or mental health practitioner to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for Academic Consideration.
Nonmedical Absences
Submit appropriate documentation (e.g., obituary, police report, accident report, court order, etc.) to Academic Counselling in your Faculty of registration to be eligible for academic consideration. Students are encouraged to contact their Academic Counselling unit to clarify what documentation is appropriate.
Religious Consideration
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.
11 Other Information
- Office of the Registrar: https://registrar.uwo.ca
- Student Development Services: sdc.uwo.ca
- Psychology Undergraduate Program: https://www.psychology.uwo.ca/undergraduate/index.html
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.
12 Land Acknowledgement
We acknowledge that Western University is located on the traditional territories of the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak, and Chonnonton. Nations, on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum. This land continues to be home to diverse Indigenous Peoples (First Nations, Métis and Inuit) whom we recognize as contemporary stewards of the land and vital contributors of our society.