Undergraduate Course: Eye Movements and Visual Cognition (PSYL10096)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Humanities and Social Science |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | The aim of this course is to develop students' understanding of the role of eye movements in visual cognition. In lecture 1, the concept of visual attention is introduced; topics to be covered include the distinctions between exogenous versus endogenous attention, space- versus object-based attention, and covert versus overt attention. The remaining lectures build on the idea that, most of the time, attention is active and overt and that visual selection typically involves selection via eye movements. The course thus emphasizes the use of eye tracking to study visual attention and cognition. In lectures 2 to 5, the role of eye movements and attention in complex visual-cognitive tasks such as (1) reading, (2) scene perception, (3) dynamic image perception, and (4) real-world activity are discussed in depth. For each of these tasks, we will introduce and critically evaluate theoretical proposals made to explain the "Where" and "When" of eye fixations and attentional selection. Specifically, we will discuss factors influencing where and for how long we make fixations (fixation locations and durations), what we are able to process during a fixation, and how we determine where and when to fixate next within a sentence or a visual scene. |
| Course description |
Not entered
|
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | Degree major in Psychology and passes in psychology courses at least to the equivalent of junior honours level in Edinburgh. |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2014/15, Available to all students (SV1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Block 2 (Sem 1) |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
88 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Essay (3000 words) to be set by the Course Organiser.
Typically, suggested essay topics will require students to contrast and critically evaluate different theoretical or computational approaches on the issue in question. Students may also choose their own topic, subject to approval by the Course Organiser. Due 4pm, Thursday 15 January 2015.
Visiting Student Variant Assessment (100%)
Essay (3000 words) provided by the course organiser and due 4pm, Thursday 11 December. |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
|
| Academic year 2014/15, Part-year visiting students only (VV1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Block 2 (Sem 1) |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
88 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Essay (3000 words) to be set by the Course Organiser.
Typically, suggested essay topics will require students to contrast and critically evaluate different theoretical or computational approaches on the issue in question. Students may also choose their own topic, subject to approval by the Course Organiser. Due 4pm, Thursday 15 January 2015.
Visiting Student Variant Assessment (100%)
Essay (3000 words) provided by the course organiser and due 4pm, Thursday 11 December. |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the course, students will
- understand the core theoretical concepts of visual attention, key experimental paradigms, and main sources of evidence associated with these concepts;
- know the basic characteristics of eye movements;
- understand the relationship between eye movements and (overt) visual attention;
- have a good understanding of the field of eye-movement research, and in particular
- have some depth of knowledge in the areas of reading and scene perception;
- be able to critically evaluate existing theories and empirical evidence;
- be able to apply knowledge about eye movements and visual cognition in both written and oral form.
|
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Antje Nuthmann
Tel: (0131 6)50 3459
Email: antje.nuthmann@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Fiona Graham
Tel: (0131 6)50 3440
Email: F.Graham@ed.ac.uk |
|
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