Cognitive Processes of Perception and Attention

Unit 3 Assignment – Perception and Attention

This assignment will assess the following outcomes:

PS200-1: Explain the cognitive processes of perception and attention.
PS200-2: Describe the areas of the brain responsible for specific cognitive processes.
GEL-1.02: Demonstrate college-level communication through the composition of original materials in Standard English.

Assignment Description:

For this Assignment you will write a 2–3 page expository paper about perception and attention. This assignment covers material you learned in both Units 2 and 3.

Part 1: Perception

The first part of your assignment will involve a discussion of the topic of perception. This part of the assignment covers information from Unit 2 of this course. It is recommended that you write this part of the paper in Unit 2. In this part of the assignment you should provide answers to the following questions:

• Explain the cognitive process of perception and describe how top-down and bottom-up processing contribute to visual perception.
• Describe one mistake that may occur in visual perception when we over-use top-down processing (for example, you could discuss change blindness or inattentional blindness).
• Describe the areas of the brain responsible for visual perception.

Part one of your paper should be approximately one page in length and should include at least one reference (there should be a total of at least two references for your entire assignment).

Part 2: Attention

The second part of your paper will involve a discussion of the topic of attention. This part of the assignment covers information from Unit 3 of this course. It is recommended that you write this part of the assignment in Unit 3. In this part of the assignment you should provide answers to the following:

• Explain the cognitive process of attention and distinguish between selective attention and divided attention.
• Describe one task cognitive psychologists use to study attention in the laboratory (for example, you could discuss the Stroop task, visual search, or dichotic listening).
• Describe the areas of the brain responsible for attention.

Part two of your paper should be approximately one page in length and should include at least one reference (there should be a total of 2 references for your entire assignment).

Your assignment should contain the following components:

Title page
The first page of your assignment should contain an APA formatted title page, including your name, course name and number, assignment title, and date. The writing center has some resources to assist you with APA formatting:
https://campus.purdueglobal.edu/MyStudies/AcademicSupportCenter/WritingCenter/WritingReferenceLibrary/ResearchCitationAndPlagiarism/APAmanuscript2.aspx

Introduction
Your assignment should begin with a one paragraph introduction providing the reader with an overview of what to expect in your assignment. The writing center has some great resources for writing an introduction: https://campus.purdueglobal.edu/MyStudies/AcademicSupportCenter/WritingCenter/WritingReferenceLibrary/TheWritingProcess/IntroductionsAndConclusions.aspx

Body
You should answer each of the questions outlined in Parts 1 and 2 in complete sentences and paragraphs. The assignment must be written in Standard English and demonstrate superior organization, including a highly developed viewpoint and purpose. The communication of your thoughts must be highly ordered, logical, and unified, displaying exceptional content, organization, style, and mechanics (including the use of correct grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure). Your discussion should be supported throughout with information from the course Readings, as well as one other peer-reviewed journal article, obtained from the university library.

Conclusion
You should wrap up your assignment with a one paragraph conclusion, summarizing the main points in your assignment. The writing center has some great resources for writing a conclusion: https://campus.purdueglobal.edu/MyStudies/AcademicSupportCenter/WritingCenter/WritingReferenceLibrary/TheWritingProcess/IntroductionsAndConclusions.aspx

References
At the end of your assignment you should include a list of all the references you have cited within your assignment. Your reference list should be APA formatted. You reference list should include a minimum of 2 citations, one to the course text and the other to a peer reviewed journal article, obtained from the university library. Please see the following guidelines for how to format your references:
https://campus.purdueglobal.edu/MyStudies/AcademicSupportCenter/WritingCenter/WritingReferenceLibrary/ResearchCitationAndPlagiarism/BasicCitationGuidelines.aspx

Writing Requirements and Assignment Guidelines
You should incorporate information from your course textbook and one other peer reviewed journal article. The journal article of your choice should be obtained from the university library:
https://library.purdueglobal.edu/library

Your Assignment should be 2-3 page expository essay, not including the Title and Reference pages, and should include the following elements:
• Title page: Provide your name, title of Assignment, course and unit number, and date
• Body: Answer the questions in complete sentences and paragraphs
o The assignment must be written in Standard English and demonstrate superior organization, including a highly developed viewpoint and purpose. The communication of your thoughts must be highly ordered, logical, and unified, displaying exceptional content, organization, style, and mechanics (including the use of correct grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure).
• Reference Page: Sources in APA format
• Use Arial or Times New Roman 12-point font, double-spaced
• Use 6th Edition APA Formatting and Citation style
o If you need assistance with APA style, please visit the Writing Center.

Submitting your Assignment
Create your essay in a word document. Save it in a location you will remember and with the following format: Lastname_FirstnameUnit3Assignment. When you are ready to submit it, click on the Assignment Dropbox and submit.

College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Arts and Sciences

Assignment Rubrics

Course: PS200 INTRODUCTION TO COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
A description of all Assignments/Projects to be completed can be found under each of the units in the course. Rubrics for all assignments/projects can be found below.

Unit 3 Assignment Rubric
Grading Criteria Points
Possible Points
Earned
Content
PART ONE

Explain the cognitive process of perception and describe how top-down and bottom-up processing contribute to visual
perception.

Answer should display an accurate understanding of the course material and should be supported by reliable sources.
0-20

Describe one mistake that may occur in visual perception when we over-use top-down processing (for example, you could discuss change blindness or inattentional blindness).

Answer should display an accurate understanding of the course material and should be supported by reliable sources.
0-20

Describe the areas of the brain responsible for visual perception.

Answer should display an accurate understanding of the course material and should be supported by reliable sources.

0-20
PART TWO

Explain the cognitive process of attention and distinguish between selective attention and divided attention.

Answer should display an accurate understanding of the course material and should be supported by reliable sources.
0-20

Describe one task cognitive psychologists use to study attention in the laboratory (for example, you could discuss the Stroop task, visual search, or dichotic listening).

Answer should display an accurate understanding of the course material and should be supported by reliable sources.

0-20

Describe the areas of the brain responsible for attention.

Answer should display an accurate understanding of the course material and should be supported by reliable sources.

0-20
Writing
STRUCTURE
Paper includes an introduction with thesis statement and a conclusion.

Paper is appropriate in length (body of the paper should be 2–3 pages, not including the title page or reference page).

Paper demonstrates superior organization; communication is highly ordered, logical, and unified.
0-10
MECHANICS

Paper uses Standard American English including correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and complete sentences and paragraphs.

Paper is free of typographical errors.

Paper includes a highly developed viewpoint and purpose.
0-10
APA FORMATTING AND REFERENCES

Paper is presented in APA format, including correctly formatted title page, running head, page numbers, double spacing etc.

Paper includes reference to the textbook and at least one additional peer reviewed journal article, obtained from the Purdue Global Library.

Paper includes in-text citations and reference page, which are correctly formatted using APA style.
0-10
Total 150
An explanation of the points earned, as well as where the Assignment could be strengthened will be included with your grade.

Unit 6 Assignment Rubric
Grading Criteria Points
Possible Points
Earned
Content
PART ONE: Long term memory

Describe semantic, episodic, and procedural memory providing your own real-world examples of each to illustrate.

Answer should display an accurate understanding of the course material and should be supported by reliable sources.

0-30

Describe the difference between an explicit and implicit memory. From the examples you provided of semantic, episodic, and procedural memories, which are implicit, and which are explicit.

Answer should display an accurate understanding of the course material and should be supported by reliable sources.

0-20

Describe a flash-bulb memory. Based on what you have learned about flash-bulb memories, do you think they are any more accurate than other types of memory?

Answer should display an accurate understanding of the course material and should be supported by reliable sources.

0-20
PART TWO: Metacognition

Describe metacognition and distinguish between metamemory and metacomprehension.

Answer should display an accurate understanding of the course material and should be supported by reliable sources.

0-30

Based on the responses of your classmates to the metacomphrension quiz, in your opinion do undergraduate students have good metacomprehension skills? How do your findings from the metacomprehension quiz compare with research on this topic in cognitive psychology?

Answer should display an accurate understanding of the course material and should be supported by reliable sources.

0-20

How might students improve their metacomphrension skills?

Answer should display an accurate understanding of the course material and should be supported by reliable sources.

0-20
PART 3: Reliability, Accountability and Timeliness
Did you successfully complete the Unit 5 Learning Activity by the due date? Why or why not?

Explain how the entire class would be affected if students (or yourself) did not complete this activity in a timely manner.
0-10
Writing
STRUCTURE
Paper includes an introduction with thesis statement and a conclusion.

Paper is appropriate in length (body of the paper should be 2–3 pages, not including the title page or reference page).

Paper demonstrates superior organization; communication is highly ordered, logical, and unified.
0-10
MECHANICS

Paper uses Standard American English including correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and complete sentences and paragraphs.

Paper is free of typographical errors.

Paper includes a highly developed viewpoint and purpose.
0-10
APA FORMATTING AND REFERENCES

Paper is presented in APA format, including correctly formatted title page, running head, page numbers, double spacing etc.

Paper includes reference to the textbook and at least one additional peer reviewed journal article, obtained from the Purdue Global Library.

Paper includes in-text citations and reference page, which are correctly formatted using APA style.
0-10
Total 180
An explanation of the points earned, as well as where the Assignment could be strengthened will be included with your grade.