Outline

Overview

In this unit of study, you will study three of the core topics of Psychology: Perception, Cognition, and Intelligence. Our sensory systems generate our experience of our bodies and what exists in the world. In the perception component, you will learn how our sensory systems influence our ability to act in the world and the conditions and consequences of perceptual errors. The cognition component of the course will focus on the theoretical and methodological issues that arise in how we attend to, remember, think, problem solve, and make decisions, and consider the consequences of how biases and heuristics influence our choices. The intelligence component will explore the historical evolution of the concept of intelligence, issues in its measurement, the relationship to concepts of creativity, emotional intelligence, and the influence of the environment. You will participate in inquiry-led tutorials that will reinforce and expand on concepts in the unit, and develop broad thinking skills to relate evidence to rational arguments and choices that can be applied to any problem solving domain.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Psychology Academic Operations
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	PSYC1002
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	PSYC2013 or PSYC2014
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Caleb Owens, caleb.owens@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 1 September 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Written exam ?	Final Exam See Canvas for details.	45%	Formal exam period	2 hours	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Out-of-class quiz	Practice Quiz (Perception) See Canvas for details.	0%	Week 03 Due date: 24 Aug 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 24 Aug 2025	See Canvas for details.	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
In-class quiz	Perception Quiz See Canvas for details.	12.5%	Week 05	See Canvas for details.	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	Research Report An APA-formatted report based on an experiment conducted in tutorials and set references.	30%	Week 09 Due date: 07 Oct 2025 at 23:59 Closing date: 04 Nov 2025	1300 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
In-class quiz	Cognition Quiz See Canvas for details.	12.5%	Week 11	See Canvas for details.	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = early feedback task ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Practice Quiz (Perception) (0%): A quiz running online in Week 3 which will give you a sense of how well you are understanding the content. See Canvas for full details.

Research Report (30%): The Research Report is an APA-formatted report based on an experiment conducted in the first tutorial and set references. See Canvas for full details.

Perception Quiz and Cognition Quiz (12.5% each): Each quiz will assess your understanding of the relevant lecture series. See Canvas for full details.

Final Exam (45%): Each lecture, tutorial, and the Research Report will be assessed in a two-hour closed book exam held after the teaching period ends. The initial version of the Final Exam will consist of multiple-choice questions, but if you are approved by Special Consideration to miss the initial Final Exam, any Replacement Exam will consist of short-answer questions. The Final Exam is a compulsory assessment, so if you do not attempt it, you will receive an Absent Fail (AF) grade, and it is also a hurdle assessment, so students will need to meet the required standard in order to pass the unit. See Canvas for full details.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Vision 1 - Bart	Lecture (1 hr)
	Vision 2 - Bart	Lecture (1 hr)
	Vision 3 - Bart	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	Vision 4 - Bart	Lecture (1 hr)
	Vision 5 - Bart	Lecture (1 hr)
	Vision 6 - Bart	Lecture (1 hr)
	Introduction to course and assessments; research report data collection	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 03	Vision 7 - Bart	Lecture (1 hr)
	Vision 8 - Bart	Lecture (1 hr)
	Vision 9 - Bart	Lecture (1 hr)
	Vision tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 04	Vision 10 - Bart	Lecture (1 hr)
	Hearing 1 - David	Lecture (1 hr)
	Hearing 2 - David	Lecture (1 hr)
	Audition tutorial	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 05	Hearing 3 - David	Lecture (1 hr)
	Consciousness 1- David	Lecture (1 hr)
	Consciousness 2 - David	Lecture (1 hr)
	Perception quiz	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 06	Early and late selection and models of attention - Daniel	Lecture (1 hr)
	Attentional capacity and automaticity - Daniel	Lecture (1 hr)
	Control over attention and preattentive processes - Daniel	Lecture (1 hr)
	Attention: demonstration and discussion	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 07	Divided attention, inattentional blindness and change blindness - Daniel	Lecture (1 hr)
	Divided attention - Daniel	Lecture (1 hr)
	Theories and methods in cognitive psychology - Caleb	Lecture (1 hr)
	Long term memory: Demonstration and discussion	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 08	Memory systems and processes I - Caleb	Lecture (1 hr)
	Memory systems and processes II - Caleb	Lecture (1 hr)
	Long-term memory I - Caleb	Lecture (1 hr)
	Problem solving: experiment and discussion	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 09	Long-term memory II - Caleb	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 09	Applications of theories of memory - Caleb	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 10	Thinking and problem solving - Bruce	Lecture (1 hr)
	Problem-solving heuristics - Bruce	Lecture (1 hr)
	Representation and problem solving – Bruce	Lecture (1 hr)
	Decision making: Demonstration and discussion	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 11	Decision-making phenomena - Bruce	Lecture (1 hr)
	Heuristics and biases – Bruce	Lecture (1 hr)
	Adaptive approaches – Bruce	Lecture (1 hr)
	Cognition quiz	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 12	Foundations of intelligence – Kit	Lecture (1 hr)
	Theories of intelligence I – Kit	Lecture (1 hr)
	Theories of intelligence II - Kit	Lecture (1 hr)
	What is intelligence?	Tutorial (1 hr)
Week 13	More than one intelligence I? – Kit	Lecture (1 hr)
	More than one intelligence II – Kit	Lecture (1 hr)
	Researching intelligence – Kit	Lecture (1 hr)
	Designing an intelligence test	Tutorial (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

As per Section 60(5)(c), 68(2)(a), and 68(3) of the University’s Coursework Policy, a student must comply with a Unit of Study’s attendance requirement – for this Unit of Study, a student must be recorded as having attended at least six (6) tutorials, and if a student does not meet this requirement, they will receive an Absent Fail (AF) grade.

Also, as noted in the Assessment table, the Final Exam is a compulsory assessment, so a student who does not attend it and is not approved to miss it will receive an Absent Fail (AF) grade.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

No single textbook covers all the topics taught in this unit, but the below are given as recommendations for each of the three lecture series - digital copies of these (or similar editions) are available through the University Library. If any text is directly assessed, this will be confirmed on Canvas.

Perception: Wolfe, J.M., Kluender, K.R., Levi, D.M., Bartoshuk, L.M., Herz, R.S., Klatzky, R., Lederman, S.J., and Merfeld, D.M. Sensation and Perception (4th edition).

Cognition: Eysenck, M.W., & Keane, M.T. (2015). Cognitive Psychology: A student’s handbook (7th edition). New York: Psychology Press.

Intelligence: Sternberg, R. J. (Ed.). (2018). The nature of human intelligence. Cambridge University Press.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. understand the 3 core areas of psychology taught in this course: perception, cognition, and intelligence
LO2. understand the quantitative and statistical methods involved in perception, cognition and intelligence, and analyse and contrast their appropriateness for studying the core content in each domain
LO3. understand APA style communication and use it to read research papers and create a research report
LO4. examine and question the appropriateness and validity of findings from perception, cognition and intelligence as they apply to diverse groups
LO5. appreciate how much of the core content of perception, cognition and intelligence plays a role in your personal and professional identity and wider public policy

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

In 2024 students were confused about the requirements of the research report assignment so support this semester will be greatly enhanced.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

PSYC2016: Perception, Cognition, and Intelligence

Semester 2, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links