Overview
An overview of the evolution and function of cognitive processes. Emphasis will be placed on understanding how natural selection shaped cognition across animal species. Topics such as memory, decision making, cooperation, and communication will be examined from a behavioural ecology and experimental psychology perspective.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:
- Recognize and recall experimental findings that support or do not support existing theories in comparative cognition.
- Apply theories to predict outcomes of experimental manipulations.
- Engage in critical reading of primary and secondary sources.
- Combine critical reading skills and conceptual knowledge of comparative cognition to create a review of experimental findings for a broad audience.
Topics
- History of comparative cognition
- Sensory systems
- Memory
- Associative processes
- Orientation and navigation
- Causality and tool use
- Decision making
- Categorization and concept formation
- Social competence
- Prosocial behavior
- Communication
- Social learning
Terms
Evaluation
10% - Quizzes
50% - Weekly Activities
20% - Paper Assignment
20% - Proctored Final Exam
**Evaluation Subject to Change**
Proctored Exams
If a student is enrolled in ONLY online courses (section 700), they may choose either of the following options to write the exam:
- Write the final exam online: you will write in onQ with Examity proctoring. A $100 online exam fee will be charged to your SOLUS account.
- Write the final exam in-person: you will write on Queen’s campus in Kingston. You will not be charged an extra fee to write on campus.
If a student is enrolled in ANY in-person courses (section 001, 002, etc), you MUST write all your final exams in-person on Queen’s campus, including for an online course. You may not choose to write your exams online.
Location and Timing of Final Exams
Once the exam schedule has been finalized the exam date will be posted on your SOLUS account. The exam dates for each Term are listed in the Academic Calendar. Student exam schedules for the Fall Term are posted via SOLUS immediately prior to the Thanksgiving holiday; for the Winter Term they are posted on the Friday before Reading Week, and for the Summer Term they are individually noted on the Arts and Science Online syllabi. Students should delay finalizing any travel plans until after the examination schedule has been posted. Exams will not be moved or deferred to accommodate employment, travel/holiday plans or flight reservations.
Textbook and Materials
ASO reserves the right to make changes to the required material list as received by the instructor before the course starts. Please refer to the Campus Bookstore website at to obtain the most up-to-date list of required materials for this course before purchasing them.
Required Textbook
- Olmstead, M.C., & Kuhlmeier, V.A. (2015). Comparative Cognition. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Time Commitment
Students can expect to spend approximately 9-10 hours a week (108-120 hours per term equivalent) in study/reading and online activity for.