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PS211-15 Perception, Planning and Action

Department
Psychology
Level
Undergraduate Level 2
Module leader
James Tresilian
Credit value
15
Module duration
12 weeks
Assessment
21% coursework, 79% exam
Study location
University of Warwick main campus, Coventry
Introductory description

To interest students in the psychology of perceiving, planning and acting

Module web page

Module aims

To engage students in: the psychology of perceiving, planning and acting, particularly: the neurobiological basis of perception, neuropsychological deficits in perceiving, planning and action and attention.

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Sensing and Perceiving
Perception of Colour
Perceiving Depth and Distance
Deficits in Perception
Deficits in Planning
Deficits in Action
An Introduction to Attention
Revision sessions

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

  • Knowledge and understanding of the how perceptual processes work to provide useful information about the environment
  • A basic knowledge of the neurobiology of vision.
  • Knowledge of how abnormalities and/or damage to the nervous system lead to deficits in perception, planning and action
  • A basic understanding of theories of perception, planning and attention and of how observations of the damaged or abnormal brain can play a role in developing and testing these theories
Indicative reading list

Wolf, J. et al. (2015) Sensation and Perception (4th Edition). Sunderland MA: Sinauer Associates

Ellis, A., & Young, A. (1996). Human cognitive neuropsychology : a textbook with readings. Hove : Psychology Press.

McCarthy, R A. & Warrington E. K. (1990) Cognitive Neuropsychology: A Clinical Introduction. Academic Press, Inc

Parkin, A.J, (1996). Explorations in Cognitive Neuropsychology. Blackwell Publishers Ltd

Styles, E. A. (1997). The psychology of attention. Psychology Press Ltd

View reading list on Talis Aspire

Subject specific skills

knowledge and understanding of how the central nervous system uses neural signals to obtain information about the environment
knowledge of neuropsychological deficits in perception, planning and action
critical evaluation of cognitive psychological theories
employ evidence-based reasoning and examine practical, theoretical, and ethical issues associated with the range of methodologies;

Transferable skills

critical analysis of information
effectively communicate information, arguments and analysis
familiarity with collecting and organising stored information found in library book and journal collections, and online, critically evaluating primary and secondary sources;
effective personal planning and self-reflection skills

Study time

Type Required
Lectures 29 sessions of 1 hour (19%)
Seminars 2 sessions of 1 hour (1%)
Private study 119 hours (79%)
Total 150 hours
Private study description

119 hours guided individual study including assessment & exam preparation

Costs

No further costs have been identified for this module.

You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.

Students can register for this module without taking any assessment.

Assessment group D3
Weighting Study time
Weekly assessments 5%

5 x weekly sets of assessment questions (MCQs and other automatically marked questions) each set assessed pass/fail (5% total, 1% per question set).

Essay 16%
Online Examination 79%
Feedback on assessment

Answers and written feedback comments for assessment questions. Standard academic feedback form and annotations on electronic copy for essay.\r\nExam results online\r\n

Past exam papers for PS211

Post-requisite modules

If you pass this module, you can take:

  • PS351-15 Psychology and the Law

Courses

This module is Core optional for:

  • UPHA-L1CA Undergraduate Economics, Psychology and Philosophy
    • Year 2 of L1CA Economics, Psychology and Philosophy
    • Year 2 of L1CC Economics, Psychology and Philosophy (Behavioural Economics Pathway)
    • Year 2 of L1CE Economics, Psychology and Philosophy (Philosophy and Psychology Pathway)
  • Year 2 of UPSA-C800 Undergraduate Psychology
  • Year 2 of UIPA-C8L8 Undergraduate Psychology and Global Sustainable Development

This module is Option list B for:

  • Year 2 of UPHA-VL78 BA in Philosophy with Psychology

This module is Option list C for:

  • Year 3 of UPSA-C802 Undergraduate Psychology with Linguistics