PYMPBC-Programming for Behavioural and Cognitive Neurosciences

Module Provider: Psychology
Number of credits: 10 [5 ECTS credits]
Level:7
Terms in which taught: Autumn term module
Pre-requisites:
Non-modular pre-requisites: Graduate level quantitative skills relevent to Psychology and familiarity with computers
Co-requisites:
Modules excluded:
Current from: 2020/1

Email: p.scarfe@reading.ac.uk

Type of module:

Summary module description:
The module will introduce students to basic programming skills necessary to design psychology experiments and analyse data through a set of seminars and hands-on practical sessions.

Aims:
The aim of this module will be to ensure that all students taking this module have a basic grasp of programming necessary to design psychology experiments and analyse data.

Assessable learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, students should
- be familiar with basic principles of programming
- be able to write programs to run simple experiments
- be able to analyse experimental data (behavioural and/or neuroimaging) using skills developed in this module

Additional outcomes:
It is anticipated that this module will inform much subsequent work by students on postgraduate courses in psychology and related disciplines. Programming skills are highly transferable, and hence will benefit students in any future profession that involves using a quantitative/ analytic approach.

Outline content:
introduction to programming, designing experiments using a high-level programming language (e.g. Matlab), analysing data using a high-level programming language (e.g. Matlab)

Brief description of teaching and learning methods:
This module will be taught through a mix of plenary lectures to introduce specific topics, and accompanying practical sessions to provide hands-on training.

Summative assessment- Examinations:

Summative assessment- Coursework and in-class tests:
The module will be assessed by a practical project that will involve the use of programming techniques taught in the module. The topic of the project will be set at the end of the module.

Formative assessment methods:

Penalties for late submission:
Penalties for late submission on this module are in accordance with the University policy. Please refer to page 5 of the Postgraduate Guide to Assessment for further information: http://www.reading.ac.uk/internal/exams/student/exa-guidePG.aspx

Assessment requirements for a pass:
50%

Reassessment arrangements:

Additional Costs (specified where applicable):
1) Required text books:
2) Specialist equipment or materials:
3) Specialist clothing, footwear or headgear:
4) Printing and binding:
5) Computers and devices with a particular specification:
6) Travel, accommodation and subsistence:

Last updated: 4 April 2020