Overview

This unit provides students with an understanding of the contents and workings of the human mind and their relation to behaviour. Students will gain an awareness and knowledge of the main theories of cognition and human performance. Students will be given the opportunity to participate in a variety of practical exercises where they can apply their theoretical knowledge to practical situations and demonstrations.

Requisites

Prerequisites
PSY10005 Introduction to Research Methods
STA10003 Foundations of Statistics
PSY10007 Brain and Behaviour
PSY10003 Psychology 100
PSY10008 Fundamentals of Psychology
PSY10004 Psychology 101

Rules

  • Two of:
    • PSY10005 Introduction to Research Methods, and
    • STA10003 Foundations of Statistics

and

  • One of:
    • PSY10007 Brain and Behaviour, or
    • PSY10003 Psychology 100 

and

  • One of:
    • PSY10008 Fundamentals of Psychology, or
    • PSY10004 Psychology 101 

OR

  • Three of:
    • STA10003 Foundations of Statistics, and
    • PSY10008 Fundamentals of Psychology, and
    • PSY10007 Brain and Behaviour

and

  • Admission into one of these courses:
    • BA-SSCPSY2S Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology), or
    • BA-SSPSY6 Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology), or
    • BA-BEHP Bachelor of Behavioural Studies (Psychology)
Equivalent units
  • HAY205 - Cognition and Human Performance
  • HAYG422 - Cognition and Human Performance
  • LSY200 - Cognition and Human Performance
  • LSY520 - Cognition and Human Performance
  • PSS240(C) - Cognition and Human Performance
  • SLSY200 - Cognition and Human Performance
Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Teaching Period 1
Location
Online
Start and end dates
09-March-2026
07-June-2026
Last self-enrolment date
22-March-2026
Census date
07-April-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
28-April-2026
Results released date
30-June-2026
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-August-2026
01-November-2026
Last self-enrolment date
16-August-2026
Census date
01-September-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-September-2026
Results released date
08-December-2026
Teaching Period 3
Location
Online
Start and end dates
02-November-2026
07-February-2027
Last self-enrolment date
15-November-2026
Census date
01-December-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
22-December-2026
Results released date
02-March-2027

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Explain the evolution of contemporary cognitive psychology
  • Evaluate the major theoretical and biological underpinnings of human perception, attention, memory, reasoning, language, and learning
  • Compare and contrast the different methodologies used in contemporary cognitive psychology, including neuroscience and cognitive science approaches
  • Apply theories and principles of cognitive psychology to situations that arise in everyday life
  • Critically evaluate contemporary research articles published by leading cognitive psychologists
  • Analyse and present findings from cognitive research in an appropriate manner

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
On-campus Class 24 12 weeks 2
Online Lecture 12 12 weeks 1
Specified Activities Various 36 12 weeks 3
Unspecified Activities Independent Learning 78 12 weeks 6.5
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 12.5

Swinburne Online

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Hours Per Week
Live Online Class 4 4 weeks 1
Online Directed Online Learning and Independent Learning 146 12 weeks 12.17
Total Hours: 150 Total Hours (per week): 13.17

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Assignment 1 Individual  25%  4,5,6 
Assignment 2 Individual  40%  2,3,5,6 
Examination Individual  35%  1,2,3,5 

Content

  • Theories of cognitive functioning and processes
  • Perception
  • Attention
  • Memory
  • Problem-solving
  • Decision-making
  • Language
  • Learning
  • Graduate Attribute 1 (Communication 1 - Verbal Communication)
  • Graduate Attribute 2 (Communication 2 - Communicating using different media)
  • Graduate Attribute 3 (Teamwork 1 - Collaboration and negotiation)
  • Graduate Attribute 4 (Teamwork 2 - Teamwork roles and processes)
  • Graduate Attribute 5 (Digital Literacies 1 - Information literacy)
  • Graduate Attribute 6 (Digital Literacies 2 - Technical literacy)

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.