Experimental psychology, 15 credits

Ma B, Sh A with at least the Pass grade/3.

Part 1
On completion of the course, the student should be able to

• describe the way our senses and our brain interpret the environment in psychologically meaningful units and various theories about this
• describe the principles of how we pay attention to certain types of information, but not other
• give examples of tasks that may be included in the psychologist profession and discuss different aspects of the role of the psychologist

Part 2
On completion of the course, the student should be able to

• describe basic homeostatic emotions such as hunger, thirst and sexuality from psychological, evolutionary and neuroscience perspectives
• describe basic emotions such as fear and anger from psychological, evolutionary and neuroscience perspectives and reflect on the ways in which feelings (or emotions) play a central role in people's lives

Module 3
On completion of the course, the student should be able to

• define and understand the meaning of descriptive statistical concepts (e.g. population, sample, measures of central tendency, variance) and statistical inference (e.g. significance, significance level, within- and between-subject comparisons, t-test), and be able to discuss and implement statistical analysis of simple experimental data
• characterise descriptive methods and the difference between qualitative and quantitative data
• describe the principles of experimental design and analyse the strengths and weaknesses of experimental methodology in different research contexts
• in a group setting plan and carry out a laboratory session in the form of a smaller experiment and in writing be able to analyse, report and discuss its results
• during a seminar be able to discuss your own as well as other students’ experimental lab-reports from a statistical, methodological, and ethical perspective.

The course contains three modules.

The main part of the teaching takes place in the form of lectures/seminars where the students are encouraged to actively participate. A compulsory study visit to a psychologist's workplace is included. Observe that attendance at the preparatory confidentiality lecture is a requirement to be able to participate on the study visit. Further, demonstrations and statistical calculation exercises, and an implementation of a laboratory work, are included. This laboratory work implies that the students in groups formulate an issue for an experiment and plan, carry out, analyse, and report this in a written report that is then presented at a seminar. Reports may be written in and ventilated in English. Teaching is also given in the format of compulsory seminars. The course coordinator decides whether, and if so how, absence from compulsory course elements can be made up. Final results can not be reported before the student has participated in the compulsory education elements or recovered absence in accordance with the instructions of course coordinator. In case of absence from confidentiality lecture/study visit contact the study visit coordinator.

The course is examined separately for each module. The grades fail, pass and pass with distinction are applied:

Part 1
1) A written examination at the end of module 1. The examinations are graded with fail/pass/pass with distinction
2) Active participation in a follow-up seminar after study visit. The examination is graded with fail/pass

To pass the module, pass is required on examinations 1 and 2. To pass with distinction, in addition to this a pass with distinction is required on examination 1.

Part 2
1) A written examination at the end of part 2. The examinations are graded with fail/pass/pass with distinction.

Module 3:
1) Written examination of method (grades fail/pass/pass with distinction) and statistics (grades fail/pass/pass with distinction).
2) A written report of completed group experiment and oral review of this in a seminar. It is also required that the group acts as a critic of another group's report (grades fail/pass).

To pass the module, pass is required on both parts of the examination (method and statistics) and on the group experiment. To pass with distinction, pass with distinction is required on one of the two parts of the examination.

Grade for the whole module
Observe that in addition to that specified above, participation in compulsory parts is necessary to pass the module. Compulsory parts are given in the timetable.

Course grade
For a pass grade in the whole course, at least a pass in all modules of the course is required. For pass with distinction in whole course, pass with distinction is required in at least two of the three modules of the course.

Limitation in the number of examinations:
A student who has not passed after the regular examination has a right to participate in five further examinations. If the student has carried out six failed examinations/tests, no additional opportunities are given. The times the student has participated in the same test are counted as examination opportunities. Submission of a blank exam is counted as an examination opportunity. An examination to which the student was registered but did not participate is not counted as an examination opportunity.

The transition rules follow KI's local guidelines for examination.

Course evaluation takes place in accordance with KI's local guidelines. Results and possible actions are communicated to the students via the course web page.