Cognitive Psychology and Its Applications

Course

URL study guide

https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/XM_40010

Course Objective

The course aims at providing an overview of cognitive psychology and its applications. Students will: -understand the role of human cognitive capabilities and limitations in the design of products, work places, and large systems. (Knowledge and understanding) -get acquainted with main areas of human factors and with main theories and findings on human performance. (Knowledge and understanding) -understand where in the process to apply knowledge and what methods can be used to analyze human performance. (Apply knowledge and understanding) -learn how to approach and solve an applied problem in man-machine systems. (Make judgements) (Lifelong learning skills)

Course Content

The course covers a number of central principles from the area of cognitive psychology and how these principles can be applied in the design of modern man-machine systems including human-computer systems. A variety of topics will be discussed such as mental workload, decision-making, driving behaviour, route finding, medical decision-making and display design.

Teaching Methods

Lectures (~18 hours) and practical assignments (~6 hours)

Method of Assessment

Practical research assignment and presentation (30%), Open-end exam (70%). These evaluations are independent from each other and cannot be used to compensate for one another. An improved version of the research assignment can be used for re-examination. A resit is needed for the open-end exam. These components can be re-examined separately.

Literature

An introduction to Human Factors Engineering (2013) by Wickens et al.

Target Audience

The course Cognitive Psychology and its Applications is for students from AI, Psychology or any other interdisciplinary field.

Additional Information

The course Cognitive Psychology and its Applications is a core course in the MSc Artificial Intelligence. Two core qualifications of a graduate are: -"Has basic knowledge of physiological, psychological, or social aspects of human functioning that can be exploited in Socially Aware Artificially Intelligent systems." -"Has in-depth knowledge, insight and skills in at least one area of the human-oriented disciplines, e.g. Clinical and Cognitive Psychology, Social Sciences, Movement Sciences, Criminology, or Medicine." The course Cognitive Psychology and its Applications contributes to these two qualifications.
Academic year1/09/2431/08/25
Course level6.00 EC

Language of Tuition

  • English

Study type

  • Master