| CODE | CGS5041 | ||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Research Methods in Cognitive Science | ||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 10 | ||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Cognitive Science | ||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit introduces all aspects of research methods in cognitive science. These include basic issues of causal inference and experimental design (Shadish, Cook, & Campbell, 2002), and the analysis of data using statistical methods for a variety of designs and different types of outcome variables. The study-unit will be divided into four parts: 1. Basics of experimental design both in theory and practical implementation; 2. Hands-on experience with existing data sets and basic statistics from simple regression, comparison of two or more means (t-test and ANOVA), and dealing with multiple random effects (linear mixed-effect models using statistical software (e.g., Navarro et al., 2019); 3. The theoretic foundations of causal and statistical inferences (Dienes, 2008); 4. Review and preparation for the assessment. Study-Unit Aims: Cognitive Science is a field that strongly relies on experimentation. The aim of this study-unit is familiarise the student with different aspects of cognitive science experiments - including their implementation in state of the art software, as well as the epistemological foundations of causal and statistical inference. The unit will familiarise students with classic texts on these issues as well as topic-specific applications of experimental research. Particular attention is given to the multivariate data sets that typically arise in cognitive science with multiple dependencies of data points (in time-series, repeated-measure studies). This should equip the students with the necessary knowledge to embark on an experimental study of their own. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - identify whether an empirical study is truly experimental research or an observational study; - appreciate and be able to deal with the tension between external and internal validity in experimental research; - design standard 2 x 2 experiments using both variables that are parametric and non-parametric. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - implement psychological experiments in state-of-the art software packages; - use statistical software to carry out comparison of means and analysis of variance also when using crossed random effects; - explain the differences between frequentist and Bayesian approaches to statistical inference; - apply this knowledge in processing large datasets; - comprehend the “results” sections of empirical papers in cognitive science; - select an appropriate statistical test for a study depending on design and dependent variable. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - Dienes, Z. (2008). Understanding psychology as a science: An introduction to scientific and statistical inference. Palgrave Macmillan. - Navarro, D. J., Foxcroft, D. R., & Faulkenberry, T. J. (2019). Learning statistics with JASP: a tutorial for psychology students and other beginners. Danielle J. Navarro, David R. Foxcroft, and Thomas J Faulkenberry. https://doi.org/10.24384/HGC3-7P15. Supplementary Readings: - Field, A.,& Hole, G. (2003). How to design and report experiments. SAGE Publications. - Shadish, W. R., Cook, T. D., & Campbell, D. T. (2002). Experimental and Quasi-experimental Designs for Generalized Causal Inference. Houghton Mifflin. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Practical | ||||||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Claude Julien Bajada Holger Mitterer (Co-ord.) |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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