| Course Type | Elective Course |
|---|
| Course Level | Bachelor's Degree |
|---|
| Year of Study | - |
|---|
| Semester | - |
|---|
| ECTS | 6 |
|---|
| Name of Lecturer(s) |
- |
| Learning Outcomes |
At the end of this course, the students;
- Will define basic concepts, research methods and theories of comparative psychology.
- Will compare the principles of learning in nearly all species of animal life, including humans.
- Will explain the basis of animal behavior through the findings of comparative biology and experimental psychology.
- Will compare behavior, learning styles and capabilities of species.
- Will explain an understanding of animal cognition and its development and function.
|
| Mode of Delivery | Face to face |
|---|
| Prerequisites | No |
|---|
| Recommended Optional Programme Components | None |
|---|
| Course Description | This course discusses theory and research in animal cognition from a comparative perspective. The course begins with an introduction to basic principles of animal learning and memory. With this background information established, the course then focuses on empirical and theoretical approaches to domains such as spatial cognition, timing and counting, social learning, communication, language, and theory of mind. For each of these topics, comparisons among animal species are made, including comparisons to humans (particularly infants and children). |
|---|
| Course Contents |
| WEEK |
TOPICS |
|
1st Week |
Basic Concepts in Comparative Psychology |
|
2nd Week |
Introduction to Animal Behavior |
|
3rd Week |
Biological Evolution |
|
4th Week |
Evolution and Development |
|
5th Week |
Simple Nervous Systems and Behavior |
|
6th Week |
Evolution of the Vertebrate Brain and Behavior |
|
7th Week |
General Processes in Associative Learning |
|
8th Week |
Mid-Term Exam |
|
9th Week |
Comparative Analysis of Associative Learning |
|
10th Week |
Animal Cognition |
|
11th Week |
Genes and Behavior |
|
12th Week |
Early Learning and Behavior |
|
13th Week |
Early Social Learning and Behavior |
|
14th Week |
Social and Reproductive Behavior |
|
15th Week |
General review |
|
| Recommended or Required Reading | Papini, M. R. (2008). Comparative psychology. NY: Psychology Press.
Greenberg, G., & Haraway, M. M. (1998). A handbook of comparative psychology. NY: Routledge. |
|---|
| Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods |
- Lecture
- Discussion
- Questions/Answers
- Project
|
|---|
| Assessment Methods and Criteria |
|
Quantity |
Percentage (%) |
| Mid-term |
1 |
25 |
| Quiz |
1 |
20 |
| Project |
1 |
30 |
| Total(%) |
|
75 |
| Contribution of In-term Studies to Overall Grade(%) |
|
75 |
| Contribution of Final Examination to Overall Grade(%) |
|
25 |
| Total(%) |
|
100 |
|
| ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload |
| Activities |
Quantity |
Duration (Hour) |
Total Workload (Hour) |
| Midterm exam |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Preparation for Quiz |
|
|
|
| Individual or group work |
14 |
4 |
56 |
| Preparation for Final exam |
1 |
30 |
30 |
| Course hours |
15 |
3 |
45 |
| Preparation for Midterm exam |
1 |
20 |
20 |
| Laboratory (including preparation) |
|
|
|
| Final exam |
1 |
1 |
1 |
| Homework |
|
|
|
| Project |
1 |
30 |
30 |
| Total Work Load | 183 |
| Total Work Load / 30 (h) | 6.1 |
| ECTS Credit of the Course | 6 |
|
| Language of Instruction | English |
|---|
| Work Placement(s) | No |
|---|
