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Module

PSY2002 : Perception

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Gabriele Jordan
  • Lecturer: Dr Quoc Vuong, Professor Anya Hurlbert, Professor Christopher Petkov, Dr Yoav Tadmor, Professor Jenny Read
  • Owning School: Psychology
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 2 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

The module will provide insights into both lower- and higher-level aspects of perceptions across different domains (e.g. visual, gustatory and olfactory). Apart from gaining knowledge of perceptual systems, students will be encouraged to think about possible everyday applications of the various topics (why is it important, who does it benefit) and develop an awareness of the pros and cons of a variety of experimental measures. Ultimately, students should be able to evaluate key readings and get a better foundation for undertaking related projects in their final year if they so wish.

Outline Of Syllabus

Perceptions permit us to obtain knowledge of our environment by processing the sensory input (e.g. light, sounds) and working out the most likely interpretation of the state of the world. Perceptions across any domain seem to be remarkably effortless and instantaneous, but the underlying steps required to succeed are diverse and complex and require the student to think about aspects of physics (the stimulus), the neural substrates (brain), as well as psychology.
The module will take the student from lower-level, more elementary aspects of perceptions (such as colour, depth, space, or sound) to higher-level perception of objects, faces, scenes, or voices.
Students will be made aware of the progression from classical, seminal studies to modern developments taught by researchers who can be considered as at the forefront of their respective fields.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Structured Guided LearningLecture materials101:3015:00Non-synchronous Online: videos, recaps etc
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture111:0011:00Present in person
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading551:0055:00General reading and revision
Structured Guided LearningAcademic skills activities62:0012:00Non-synchronous online: Set learning based activities
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching61:006:00Present in person: set based learning activities
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesModule talk11:001:00Present in person: Introduction to the course
Total100:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The lecture materials are used as the most effective mode of imparting the core knowledge of the module. Related structured guided learning sessions provide students with the opportunity to acquire more in-depth knowledge, improve understanding, and prepare them for the exam. Private study is essential for in-depth review of knowledge imparted through lecture materials.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Digital Examination902A100MCQs (45), Short answer questions (3 max 400 words): unseen, PIP Inspera invigilated.
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The Digital examination will test the students' independent learning and understanding of knowledge of perceptual systems and their functions and the students' ability to integrate and reflect on the topics' importance in their everyday context.

If the module is failed students will resit failed assessments in the same format during the August resit period.

Reading Lists

Timetable