Postgraduate Course: Seminar in Intelligence (PSYL11078)
Course Outline
| School | School of Philosophy, Psychology and Language Sciences |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | This course has the format of student presentations on a curated set of core topics of the field supplemented with lectures from the course coordinator and occasional guests.
The course immerses students in the intelligence literature - how intelligence affects our lives, the size and development of differences in intelligence, IQ testing, behaviour and molecular genetics, environments such as school, the structure of intelligence. A number of methods come up along the way and are described. The primary reading for the course is based on influential articles, both recent and past. |
| Course description |
The course will begin with introductory lectures providing an overview of intelligence. In this early period we will also develop the week-to-week plan for the course, which depends entirely on what students will present each week.
Below is a list of areas from which students can select their presentation topic. Other topics are possible by agreement with the course organizer. Each presentation will be based on papers, usually comparing at least two papers. Before their presentation, students must discuss their plans individually with the course organizer, including an interactive session pre-viewing the presentation with the lecturer. Students must also write a summary of their presentation and submit this along with their presentation (it will be sent to all students of the course).
Each presentation is followed by group discussion - probably in forums, but live online if possible. Participation in discussions is part of assessment.
- The course organizer will review your topic, then once you have made it, your power point and speaking notes (or a draft recording). This will usually be done interactively over a video call like Teams (or in person if possible).
- You will pre-record your presentation, which should last 15 minutes or longer.
- Each student will post at least one question after the recording goes up - usually in a class forum, and the presenter will provide short answers to each
- The course organizer will write or record a discussion for the talk.
Topics covered are:
1) The definitions and structure of intelligence
2) The nature of general intelligence (underlying cognitive and biological structure)
3) Genetic and familial influences on intelligence (e.g., twin/family and molecular genetic studies)
4) Intelligence and lower-level cognitive processes
5) The biological foundations of intelligence
6) The evolutionary psychology of intelligence and intelligence in in nonhuman animals
7) The influences of intelligence on health, well-being, and psychopathology
8) Intelligence, culture, national and cohort differences
9) Intelligence, development and ageing
10) Intelligence and personality: empirical relations and conceptual similarities and differences
11) Intelligence and society
12) Intelligence in organizational settings
13) Modifiability of intelligence
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2024/25, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 22,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
174 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
1. A summary (1 to 2 pages) of the presentations to be handed out to fellow students prior to presentation (10%)
2. Presentation and leading discussion (or forums) on the presentation topic (40%)
3. Participation in discussion groups during the other weeks (10%)
4. An essay (1500 words) on a topic of one other presentation of the course (40%) |
| Feedback |
Each week students will present on and lead a discussion (on forums in online years) covering either at least two large related articles. The presenter is encouraged to meet the course organizer at least one week prior to their presentation to discuss the presentation plan. Students receive feedback from the course organizer both during the presentation and more formally shortly after the presentation.
Also, before submitting the essay, students can meet the course organizer to discuss their essay plan. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- gain knowledge of major research conducted in intelligence
- gain knowledge of how to conduct intelligence research (methodological design issues, etc.)
- summarize and present scientific papers
- lead and participate in small discussion groups
- write a text on the topic of presentation that is accessible to public and yet scientifically accurate
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Reading List
| The reading list for introductory material will be provided at the beginning of the course. The reading list for the student presentation will be provided as the choices become available. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Reading and evaluating scientific papers and methods. Online recordings, Presenting speaking. Essay writing. |
| Keywords | intelligence,cognitive abilities,individual differences |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Rene Mottus
Tel: (0131 6)50 3410
Email: rene.mottus@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Olivia Coltman
Tel:
Email: ocoltman@ed.ac.uk |
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