Statistics for Cognitive Science
Undergraduate course
- ECTS credits
- 5
- Teaching semesters
- Spring
- Course code
- KOGSTAT
- Number of semesters
- 1
- Teaching language
- Norwegian, English if necessary
- Resources
- Schedule
- Reading list
Course description
Objectives and Content
Students are given an introduction to hypothesis testing in Cognitive Science. The course gives a basis for understanding statistical hypothesis formulation, research design, and analysis of the results with statistical tests. The course will provide an understanding of the normal distribution, z-values, and parametric and non-parametric tests. Students will become familiar with concepts such as variance, standard deviation, central tendency measures, statistical significance, relevance, and type I- and II-errors. Students will be taught to read and evaluate scientific literature with statistical argumentation. The course will also give a basis for evaluating statistical significance and relevance. Teaching is designed so that students will see how statistics is relevant for cognitive science through relevant examples. They will also be able to choose a valid statistical test.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
The candidate has knowledge about...
- statistical concepts, techniques and models
- good practice for statistical analysis of experimental data in cognitive science
- theories and conventions for statistical analysis
- analytical models
Skills
The candidate can...
- read and interpret statistical analyses
- communicate statistical work and results.
General competence
The candidate can...
- choose correct tests for fairly straightforward experimental designs
- have a critical eye for one's own and others' analyses
- put statistical analysis in a relevant scientific context
- prepare experimental design which is suitable for statistical analysis.
ECTS Credits
5 ECTS
Level of Study
Bachelor
Semester of Instruction
Spring
Place of Instruction
Bergen
Required Previous Knowledge
None
Recommended Previous Knowledge
None
Credit Reduction due to Course Overlap
Access to the Course
The course is open to all who have a right to study at the University of Bergen.
Teaching and learning methods
Lectures, independent study and exercises. Active participation is a requirement for this course. It is not given that all aspects of the course goals will be covered by the lectures; a certain level of self-study is expected through reading the literature and doing exercises.
Compulsory Assignments and Attendance
Three day written exercise of about 1 page. A written report must be handed in, which outlines the solution to a chosen task. This assignment must be approved before the student can take the exam.
Forms of Assessment
Three hour written exam
The exam assignment will be given in the language of instruction in the course.
The exam can be submitted in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.
Grading Scale
A - F
Assessment Semester
Spring. Assesment only in the teaching semester.
Reading List
About 200 pages of instructional materials and 200 pages of reference materials.
Course Evaluation
Evaluation of the offered course will be carried out in accordance with the University of Bergen's quality assessment system.
Examination Support Material
None
Programme Committee
The program board for Linguistics, in consultation with the program board for Cognitive Science.
Course Coordinator
The program board for Linguistics, in consultation with the program board for Cognitive Science
Course Administrator
Department of linguistic, literary and aesthetic studies