University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 15

ECTS credits : 7

Level : SCQF level 10

Semester: 2

Availability restrictions: Only available to students in second year of honours or permission from Honours advisor. Can be available as a dip down for PGT students.

Planned timetable: Thursday 11-1pm

In this course students will critically appraise psychological research on causal cognition and its evolution and development. There will be a focus on developing skills of critical evaluation of both empirical and theoretical research outputs. The course will be interdisciplinary, covering material from e.g. human cognitive research, computational modelling, developmental and comparative psychology.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisite(s): Before taking this module you must pass PS2001 and pass PS2002

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 1x 2hr lecture (X10 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours: 20

Guided independent study hours: 128

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: Written Exam = 90% Coursework = 10%


Re-assessment: Written Exam = 90% Coursework = 10%

Personnel

Module coordinator: Professor A M Seed
Module teaching staff: Dr Amanda Seed

Intended learning outcomes

• By the end of the module students will be able to critically evaluate empirical and theoretical research in the area of causal cognition
• By the end of the module students will have abstracted key principles for critical evaluation
• By the end of the module students will demonstrate knowledge of key concepts concerning the evolution of mind
• By the end of the module students will demonstrate knowledge of current thinking in the nature of causal cognition in humans
• By the end of the module students will demonstrate knowledge of current thinking concerning the ability of children and non human animals to think about causality