PN5012 Origins of Human Cognition

Academic year

2024 to 2025 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

15

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 11

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Planned timetable

"Lectures: Tuesdays 9-11; Practicals: Tuesdays 2-5 (Weeks 1-4, 6)"

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Prof A M Seed

Prof A M Seed
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr A Seed

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This module focuses on the origins of human cognition from evolutionary and developmental perspectives. How do we come to parse the 'blooming buzzing confusion' of cues from our physical and social environments into meaningful representations that support functionally adaptive behaviour? In the physical world are objects, their properties and the causal underpinnings of their interactions. The social world contains agents, their actions, and their mental states. How does cognitive processing reveal cues and build representations about the causal structure of the physical and social world? This course examines how these features are perceived and processed by developing humans and other animals for adaptive behaviour, and investigates the evidence for the proximate mechanisms underlying the abilities seen. The module links together the evolution and development of different cognitive abilities with a focus on empirical comparative research.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

100% Coursework; Resubmission of failed components only

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

"2-hour seminars, 3- hour tutorials and practicals."

Intended learning outcomes

  • understand research methods by becoming familiar with current literature
  • realise limits in methods and theory through critical evaluation
  • formulate new studies to advance the field
  • debate the extent to which problem-solving is underpinned by conceptual thought and reasoning in humans and other animals
  • communicate a reasoned argument grounded in evidence and current theory both verbally and in writing