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Cognitive Psychology

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Cognitive psychology is the study of mental processes: understanding how the mind works. In this course, we will introduce all of the key concepts in the field of cognitive psychology including perception, attention, memory, decision making and much more.

We’ll start by exploring how we perceive the world and how our senses translate our experiences into a model of the world. We will then explore how we use this to guide our actions and pay attention. We’ll explore how memory works and how this relates to learning, before exploring higher cognitive processes such as language, problem-solving and decision making.

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Cognitive psychology is the study of mental processes: understanding how the mind works. In this course, we will introduce all of the key concepts in the field of cognitive psychology including perception, attention, memory, decision making and much more.

We’ll start by exploring how we perceive the world and how our senses translate our experiences into a model of the world. We will then explore how we use this to guide our actions and pay attention. We’ll explore how memory works and how this relates to learning, before exploring higher cognitive processes such as language, problem-solving and decision making.

We will see cognitive psychology in action looking at how mental imagery is used in sport and how condition and emotion interact with mental health. Finally, we’ll explore research methods: how do we look inside the brain and understand what is going on, drawing on the latest insights from neuroscience and neuropsychology.

Topics covered in this course:

  • What is cognitive psychology

  • Visual perception

  • Pattern recognition

  • Mental imagery

  • Perception and action

  • Change blindness

  • Attention

  • Memory

  • Learning

  • Language

  • Problem solving

  • Decision-making

  • Cognition and emotion

  • Consciousness

  • Research methods

Throughout the course, we will use exercises and examples to explore how our own minds work. For example, what happens to visual stimuli in our blind spot? How can we read words partially obscured? How do we know how far away something is? How well can we multitask? What causes speech errors? And what mental shortcuts may throw off our decision-making?

We’ll do all of this through videos, readings, exercises and quizzes, so whatever your learning style there will be something in this course for you. By the end of the course, you will be familiar with all the key topics in the field of cognitive psychology. Please note that this is not a course on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), nor it is a personal development course.

I can’t wait to see you inside the course.

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Develops all the key concepts in the field of cognitive psychology
Provides a comprehensive study of cognitive processes such as perception, attention, memory, and decision making
Emphasizes the application of cognitive psychology in various fields including sport and mental health
Introduces learners to research methods used in cognitive psychology
Utilizes exercises and examples to facilitate理解

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Reviews summary

Foundational cognitive psychology overview

According to learners, this course offers a solid and comprehensive introduction to cognitive psychology. Students frequently praise the instructor's incredibly clear explanations, which effectively break down complex topics. The high-quality videos and effective exercises and quizzes are highlighted as key strengths for reinforcing learning. While providing a strong theoretical foundation, some students note that optional readings can be quite dense. It is important for prospective learners to know this course is purely academic and does not cover CBT or personal development, a distinction that has led to misaligned expectations for some.
Videos, exercises, and quizzes enhance understanding and retention.
"The videos are high quality and the embedded exercises truly helped solidify my understanding."
"The course materials, including the videos and quizzes, are top-notch."
"I really benefited from the exercises and quizzes, which helped reinforce the concepts."
Provides a broad and thorough overview of key cognitive areas.
"A very thorough introduction to cognitive psychology. The breadth of topics covered is impressive..."
"This course exceeded my expectations! The module on change blindness was particularly mind-blowing."
"Good course for understanding the basics of cognitive psychology. The instructor covers a lot of ground effectively."
Instructor excels at making complex cognitive theories accessible.
"The instructor's explanations are incredibly clear, breaking down complex topics like memory and attention..."
"The instructor is passionate and makes learning enjoyable."
"Excellent course for an introductory level. The instructor's clear communication style makes complex subjects approachable."
"I loved how the course broke down concepts like perception and decision-making."
One reviewer noted some dated content or inconsistent video quality.
"Disappointed. Some of the content felt a bit dated, and the video production quality wasn't consistent across all modules."
"I expected more updated research findings, especially in such a fast-evolving field."
Supplemental readings can be challenging for some learners.
"My only minor feedback is that some of the optional readings were quite dense and academic, which might be a bit much for absolute beginners."
"I found the readings to be very informative but they required significant focus."
Pacing can be inconsistent, impacting comprehension for some beginners.
"I found the pacing a bit inconsistent. Some lectures moved very quickly, while others felt slow."
"As a beginner, I occasionally felt I needed more concrete examples or deeper dives into certain theories."
"Some topics felt rushed, others dragged. I think it tries to cover too much without sufficient depth."
Course is theoretical; not for practical therapy or self-improvement.
"I enrolled hoping for practical psychological tools or something related to self-improvement/CBT. This course is purely theoretical and academic."
"The description could be clearer about its academic focus. While the information is solid, it wasn't what I was looking for."
"This course is truly about the science of the mind, not a self-help guide."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Cognitive Psychology with these activities:
Review foundational math skills
This course assumes that students have some foundational math skills, so taking some time to review those skills before the course starts can help ensure success.
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  • Take a practice test to assess your current level of math skills.
  • Review the topics that you need to brush up on.
  • Do practice problems to improve your skills.
Follow tutorials on using SPSS
SPSS is essential software for this course, so it is important to make sure that you are comfortable using it before the course begins.
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  • Find a tutorial on using SPSS.
  • Follow the tutorial step-by-step.
  • Practice using SPSS on your own.
Review textbook
Reviewing the textbook before class will help you get a head start on the material and make it easier to follow along in class.
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  • Read the assigned chapters.
  • Take notes on the key concepts.
  • Create flashcards to help you memorize the material.
Six other activities
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Watch online videos
Watching online videos can help you learn about the key concepts of cognitive psychology in a more engaging way.
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  • Find online videos that cover the topics you are studying in class.
  • Watch the videos and take notes on the key points.
  • Discuss the videos with your classmates or instructor.
Form a study group
Forming a study group can help you learn from your classmates and get help with the material you are struggling with.
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  • Find a few classmates who are also taking the course.
  • Meet regularly to discuss the material, work on practice problems, and quiz each other.
  • Help each other out when you are struggling with the material.
Solve practice problems
Solving practice problems can help you test your understanding of the material and identify areas where you need more practice.
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  • Find practice problems in your textbook or online.
  • Solve the problems and check your answers.
  • Review the problems you got wrong and try to understand why you made mistakes.
Read a book on cognitive psychology
Reading a book on cognitive psychology can help you learn about the field in more depth and get a better understanding of the key concepts.
Show steps
  • Find a book on cognitive psychology that is appropriate for your level of knowledge.
  • Read the book and take notes on the key concepts.
  • Discuss the book with your classmates or instructor.
Contribute to open source projects
Contributing to open source projects can help you learn about the practical applications of cognitive psychology and get involved in the field.
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  • Find an open source project that is related to cognitive psychology.
  • Read the documentation and learn about the project.
  • Make a contribution to the project.
Develop a research project
Developing a research project can help you apply the principles of cognitive psychology to a real-world problem.
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Show steps
  • Identify a research question that you are interested in.
  • Design a study to test your hypothesis.
  • Collect and analyze data.
  • Write a report on your findings.

Career center

Learners who complete Cognitive Psychology will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Cognitive Psychology.
This textbook introduces readers to the necessary information about the human mind and its cognitive processes during learning, problem-solving, memory, and reasoning. It is an excellent modern resource that is well-written and comprehensive, with a very good fit for this course.
This updated textbook for cognitive psychology introduces the fundamental concepts of the field in a way that connects theory and research with everyday experiences. It covers core topics and includes case studies and examples to help students develop a deeper understanding of the human mind.
This comprehensive handbook provides a broad overview of all the major topics of undergraduate cognitive psychology. It readable and well-organized book.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of the field of memory, including major theories and models of memory. It classic work that is accessible to students and researchers alike.
This textbook provides a comprehensive introduction to the study of language. It covers all major aspects of language, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of the field of problem solving and reasoning. It covers all major theories and models of problem solving and reasoning.
This textbook provides a comprehensive overview of the field of decision making. It covers all major theories and models of decision making.
This comprehensive textbook on cognitive neuroscience by leading scholars covers contemporary topics on cognitive neuroscience from multiple perspectives.
This comprehensive textbook provides a modern, evidence-based introduction to cognitive psychology. It is an accessible and engaging resource that explores the full breadth of the field.

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