Information Science 2300
Human Information Processing

Spring 2008 (2084)

Instructor: Dr. Stephen Hirtle
Office: 2B01 IS Building 
Office Phone: 412-624-9434
Email: hirtle@pitt.edu
Office Hours: Tues, 1:30pm - 3:00pm, or by appt.
Class Meets: Mon 6:00pm - 8:50pm
GSA: none
Secretary: Mary Stewart, 732 IS Bldg, 412-624-9402
Prerequisite: None; Class is not open to students who have completed  IS 1042 or other undergraduate course in Cognitive Psychology.

Overview. Through this course you will become familiar with the research and theories in the field of human information processing and develop the tools necessary to evaluate such research. The focus will be on basic research (e.g., how do we encode, store, and process information; what are the limits on each stage of human information processing; what heuristics are used in processing information), rather than on applied questions. However, at several points during the semester, we will examine studies which show connections to the applied questions.

Required Textbook.

Email.  All email to the instructor about this class must contain "IS 2300" in the subject line to be read. For example, the subject line might read "IS 2300: Question about memory". Email without this information might be deleted by spam filters or placed in a folder to be read at a later date. Email with the appropriate identifier will usually be read within 48 hours of receipt.

Assignments: Your performance will be evaluated on the basis of two exams and a short research proposal.  Each exam and the research proposal will be given equal weight (1/3) in determining the final course grade. Class attendance and participation in discussion is expected.  There will be several ungraded homework assignments that will prepare you for the exams.

Readings: The class reading list shows the topics and readings to be discussed each week. You need to read the appropriate readings before the class in which they are assigned and to come to the meeting prepared to discuss them thoughtfully. You should be prepared to answer questions that I pose and to contribute ideas, suggestions, and questions of your own.

Research Proposal:  The research proposal should address a specific methodological or theoretical issue that arises during the course or in the reading of related material.  The proposal should be an experimental proposal, such as would be found in a grant proposal, to resolve an issue. The project write-up should be written using APA format for citation and references, described separately. The presentation will count for 10% of the project grade. 

The due date for paper is shown on the reading list.  Late papers will result in a penalty of one full letter grade per week, pro-rated. Thus, an A paper turned in 1-2 days late would be given an A-, 3-5 days late would be given a B+, 6-7 days late would be given a B, and so on. As a result, an incomplete will be given only for extenuating circumstances and might result in a comparable demerit at the discretion of the instructor.   Plagiarism on the paper may result in a failing grade for the course, so be sure you understand the limitations of using others work and proper methods of citation.  For good advice on this topic, see avoiding plagiarism prepared by Professors David Birnbaum and Helena Goscilo.  All papers will be checked using Pitt's standard plagiarism software, which compares papers against various on-line sources and previously submitted papers.

Exams: The midterm and final exams will test your ability to integrate material from the course. Exams will cover the material in the textbook, readings and lectures. The exams will be closed-book, in-class exams.  There will be several ungraded homework assignments that will prepare you for the exams.

Special circumstances.  If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor and the Office of Disability Resources and Sevices, 216 William Pitt Union, (412-648-7890/TTY:412-383-7355) as early as possible in the term. DRS will verify your disability and determine reasonable accomodations for this course.  You should be aware that my office is up a short flight of stairs.  If this problematic, I am happy to arrange a meeting in an accessible location at any time.

Assignments.Your performance will be evaluated on the basis of two exams and a short research proposal.  Each exam and the research proposal will be given equal weight (1/3) in determining the final course grade. Class attendance and participation in discussion is expected.  There will be several ungraded homework assignments that will prepare you for the exams.

Reading List

Section 1: Acquiring Information

1/7 Week 1 - Introduction and History

1/14  Week 2 - Perception

1/18 Fall Term Add/Drop Ends

1/21 No Class Meeting - Martin Luther King Day

1/28  Week 3 - Attention

2/4   Week 4 - Application of Theory

Section 2: Memory Processes

2/11 Week 5 - Remembering New Information

2/18 Week 6 - Remembering New Information

2/25 Midterm Exam

3/3 Week 7 - Application: Spatial Knowledge

3/10 No class -- Spring Break

Section 3: Higher Cognitive Processess

3/17 Week 8 - Concepts & Categories

3/24 Week 9 - Expertise & Creativity

3/31 Week 10 - Application: Judgment and Decision Making

4/7 Presentations I

4/14 Presentations II

4/21 Final Exam

4/23 (Wed, 9pm) Projects Due

 

 

Last update: January 6, 2008