Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE CGS5041

 
TITLE Research Methods in Cognitive Science

 
UM LEVEL 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course

 
MQF LEVEL 7

 
ECTS CREDITS 10

 
DEPARTMENT Cognitive Science

 
DESCRIPTION The study-unit introduces all aspects of research methods in cognitive science. These include basic issues of causal inference and experimental design (Shadish, Cook, & Campbell, 2002), measuring techniques in cognitive (neuro-)science (Luck, 2014), and the analysis of data using statistical methods (Fields et al, 2015) for a variety of designs and different types of outcome variables.

The study-unit will be divided into four parts.
1. Basics of experimental design and basic programming skills (in R).
2. Hands-on experience with existing data sets and basic statistics (e.g., t-test).
3. Working with complex data structures (e.g., ERP methods) in statistical programming and more complex analyses (mixed-effect regression, analysis of variance).
4. Review and preparation for the assessment.

Study-Unit Aims:

Cognitive Science is a field that strongly relies on experimentation. The aim of this study-unit is familiarize the student with different aspects of cognitive science experiments, as well as the epistemological foundations of causal inference. The unit will familiarize students with classic texts on these issues as well as topic-specific applications of experimental research. Particular attention is given to the multivariate data sets that typically arise in cognitive science with multiple dependencies of data points (in time-series, repeated-measure studies). To handle such data structures, it is necessary to be able to employ basic principles of computer programming, which are taught in the study-unit. This should equip the students with the necessary knowledge to embark on an experimental study of their own.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- identify whether an empirical study is truly experimental research or an observational study;
- appreciate and be able to deal with the tension between external and internal validity in experimental research;
- design standard 2 x 2 experiments using both variables that are parametric and non-parametric.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:
- use statistical software to carry out comparison of means and analysis of variance;
- apply conditionals and flow control structures and distinguish different data structures in computer programming;
- apply this knowledge in processing large datasets;
- comprehend the “results” sections of empirical papers in cognitive science;
- select an appropriate statistical test for a study depending on design and dependent variable.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

- Field, A.,& Hole, G. (2003). How to design and report experiments. SAGE Publications.
- Braun, John W. & Murdoch, D.J. (2007). A first course in statistical programming with R. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Supplementary Readings:

- Luck, S. J. (2014). An Introduction to the Event-Related Potential Technique. Boston: MIT Press.
- Shadish, W. R., Cook, T. D., & Campbell, D. T. (2002). Experimental and Quasi-experimental Designs for Generalized Causal Inference. Houghton Mifflin.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Practical

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Classwork SEM1 No 20%
Case Study (Take Home) SEM1 Yes 40%
Report SEM1 Yes 40%

 
LECTURER/S Claude Julien Bajada
Holger Mitterer (Co-ord.)

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit