Research toolbox

Course

URL study guide

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

Course Objective

Students will learn about important methods and paradigms used in cognitive psychology. They will receive hands-on experience in conducting an experiment, and consolidate their skills in analyzing data and reporting results. In all, they acquire a 'toolbox' with which to unravel human cognitive functioning. In Research Toolbox we have four key objectives. At the end of the course, you will be able to: (i) Critically assess and evaluate the validity of scientific studies; (ii) Use various research methodologies, in terms of techniques (behavioral tasks, eye-tracking, pupillometry), experimental design (counterbalancing, Latin-square) and analysis (Linear Mixed Modelling); (iii) Translate a research question into a valid experimental design; (iv) Analyze and report data in the format of a scientific paper

Course Content

In this course, you will learn to apply the instruments, methods and tricks that cognitive psychologists have up their sleeve for investigating cognition. You will gain practical experience in the whole research process: translating a research question into a good experimental design, collecting behavioral data, analyzing data, and writing a report. How can we use simple behavioral measures such as response time and accuracy to learn about the brain? And what can we learn from more complex measures, such as eye movements and pupil size? What variables do we have to take into account when designing an experiment, so that our results are not susceptible to alternative explanations and that we can safely draw conclusions? These things will be covered in this course. All in all, the course should optimally prepare you for your bachelor’s thesis project—and potentially for a career in science.

Teaching Methods

The course comprises three components that largely proceed in parallel. Component 1 consists of several workshops in which we learn and practice techniques that come in handy when designing an experiment or when analyzing and interpreting data. Component 2 consists of lectures in which we discuss reading materials from which we draw insights both in terms of theory and methodology. For component 3, we collect data with an experiment of our own (in teams), and we analyze this data and write a report.

Method of Assessment

Written exam: 40% of final gradeResearch report (prepared in groups): 40% of final gradeWriting an abstract (prepared individually): 10% of final gradeWorkshop participation: 10% of final grade

Literature

No purchase of literature is required; some papers will be shared onCanvas throughout the course.

Target Audience

BA3 students in the track Genes, Brain and Behavior.

Additional Information

Tuition will be in English.Partial grades are only valid during the study year in which the gradehas been achieved.

Entry Requirements

Students should at least have done an introductory course to cognitivepsychology, and Methodology 1.

Recommended background knowledge

Research Methods 2 (Methodologie 2) Statistics 2 (Statistiek 2)
Academic year1/09/2431/08/25
Course level6.00 EC

Language of Tuition

  • English

Study type

  • Bachelor