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Course profile

The Science of Everyday Thinking (PSYC2371)

Study period
Sem 2 2025
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person

Course overview

Study period
Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
Study level
Undergraduate
Location
St Lucia
Attendance mode
In Person
Units
2
Administrative campus
St Lucia
Coordinating unit
Psychology School

This course explores the nature of everyday thinking. Why people believe weird things, how to deal with opinion change, and why expectations and emotions skew our judgements. We examine and debate topics such as subliminal persuasion, paranormal phenomena, alternative medicine, placebos and miracles. You will learn how to evaluate claims, understand why we consistently make the same kinds of "irrational" mistakes, and how to make better decisions.

How does your mind construct the reality you experience every moment? In PSYC2371, you will explore the surprising science of everyday thinking, from the moment-to-moment construction of perception to the malleability of memory, from unconscious influences to the power of situations. Through several engaging classes, you will discover why people see different colours in the same dress, create false memories with confidence, and find meaningful patterns in random noise. You will examine cutting-edge research on mental construction, cognitive illusions, and belief formation while learning to become a scientist of your own mind—applying evidence-based thinking to everything from social media to health claims to personal decision-making.

This course uses a “flipped classroom” approach where you engage with content before class, freeing up our weekly sessions for hands-on activities and interactive experiments. Each week brings a new mind-bending demonstration or challenge: you’ll experience visual illusions in real-time, test your memory’s reliability through false memory experiments, attempt to read micro-expressions, design your own everyday experiments, and participate in belief-change simulations. You’ll analyse viral phenomena like the dress debate, conduct pattern-detection exercises with random data, evaluate wellness claims using scientific frameworks, and practice persuasion techniques rooted in cognitive science. These engaging activities transform abstract concepts into lived experiences, making the science of thinking both memorable and immediately applicable to your daily life.

Throughout the semester, you will master practical strategies for understanding how your mind builds experience, recognising when your brain’s constructions might mislead you, and designing better environments for yourself and others. Drawing on insights from expert interviews and contemporary research, you will develop meta-cognitive skills that help you navigate an increasingly complex information landscape, from deepfakes to algorithm-driven content to synthetic realities. Frequent in-class quizzes and exercises will solidify your grasp of core concepts, while integrative projects and a final examination encourage you to apply cognitive science principles to real-world challenges.

By the end of this course, you will understand not just how your mind constructs reality, but how to use this knowledge to think more clearly, learn more effectively, and thrive in an age where the line between constructed and synthetic experience continues to blur. More importantly, you’ll have experienced these principles firsthand through weekly activities that make cognitive science come alive.

Course requirements

Recommended prerequisites

We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:

PSYC1020 or PSYC1030

Course contact

Course staff

Lecturer

Timetable

The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.

Aims and outcomes

The Science of Everyday Thinking is be open to all second-year students, and
provides a general exploration of the nature of everyday thinking. For
example: basic critical thinking skills, how to deal with opinion change, why
our expectations and emotions skew our judgements, how to unpack issues, read
actively, consider baselines, and understand superstitious belief.

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Identify and understand various cognitive processes that affect human behaviour in the real world. That is, the application of findings and theories should help students make sense of why people believe the things that they do.

LO2.

Display an understanding of the quantitative aspects of thinking and reasoning, such as: reasoning with frequencies and probabilities, estimating base rates, distinguishing samples from populations, and differentiating correlation and causation.

LO3.

Assess, use, document and present information objectively and effectively.

LO4.

Conduct and complete effective research.

LO5.

Articulate and debate current issues in the news and media by means of verbal and written presentation

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category Assessment task Weight Due date
Quiz Weekly In-Class Quizzes
  • In-person
50%

6/08/2025 - 29/10/2025

Reflection Weekly AI Explorations
  • Online
20%

6/08/2025 - 29/10/2025

The Weekly AI Exploration exercises are due before class each Monday at 5pm—this gives us time to review submissions before our class on Wednesday.

- King’s Birthday week (Monday 6 Oct)—the due date moves to Tuesday 7 Oct at 5pm

- No submission for the Ekka week since we’re dropping that content

Examination Final Examination
  • In-person
30%

End of Semester Exam Period

8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025

Assessment details

Weekly In-Class Quizzes

  • In-person
Mode
Written
Category
Quiz
Weight
50%
Due date

6/08/2025 - 29/10/2025

Other conditions
Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes
L01, L02

Task description

Each week in class, you’ll complete a pencil-and-paper quiz using traditional bubble sheets. These quizzes build on the assigned readings and activities—such as scientific papers, book chapters, videos, and live demonstrations—and help solidify your grasp of the material. Research shows that frequent testing promotes better long-term retention than studying alone (Roediger et al., 2011), so you’ll have regular opportunities to recall and apply key concepts.

There are 11 quizzes in total, each worth 5%. Only your top 10 scores will be counted, making up 50% of your overall grade. You can expect to see your quiz results on Blackboard within a week or two; if you have any questions or concerns about your marks, feel free to contact the tutors.


No AI Allowed

These quizzes measure your understanding of the material without assistance from artificial intelligence. Using AI tools or any other form of unauthorised help may be treated as academic misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.

Submission guidelines

Completed and submitted in class.


Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Each week, you'll complete an in-class quiz worth 5% of your final grade. To accommodate unexpected circumstances like illness or emergencies, only your top 10 out of 12 quiz scores will count toward your final grade. This built-in flexibility eliminates the need for make-up quizzes while ensuring fairness and academic integrity. Missing one or two quizzes results in these zeros being automatically dropped as your lowest scores. For three documented absences, your quiz component will be reweighted across your best nine scores (5.56% each). Students who miss four or more quizzes due to documented serious circumstances will have their situation reviewed individually by the course coordinator.

Weekly AI Explorations

  • Online
Mode
Written
Category
Reflection
Weight
20%
Due date

6/08/2025 - 29/10/2025

The Weekly AI Exploration exercises are due before class each Monday at 5pm—this gives us time to review submissions before our class on Wednesday.

- King’s Birthday week (Monday 6 Oct)—the due date moves to Tuesday 7 Oct at 5pm

- No submission for the Ekka week since we’re dropping that content

Learning outcomes
L01, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Each week, you’ll be assigned a specific short exercise using a generative AI tool, directly tied to that week’s content. You’ll produce an AI-generated output (earning 1%) and then write a brief reflection (another 1%) describing what you tried, what you learned, and whether the AI proved helpful or misleading. Note that you must submit the AI output to earn marks for the reflection. Over the semester, there are 11 such tasks; your best 10 count toward a total of 20%.


Allowed Generative AI

In line with UQ’s goal of preparing you for responsible AI use, you may choose any appropriate generative AI tool to complete each exercise. While we’ll define the weekly tasks in detail, potential examples range from critiquing a cognitive bias or creating an infographic to drafting a mini research proposal or outlining a high-stakes crisis response scenario.


Rationale

By pairing hands-on AI practice with thoughtful reflection, you’ll sharpen your critical thinking about the capabilities and limits of AI—skills you can carry forward into real-world decision-making contexts.

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.

Each week, you'll complete a structured exercise using generative AI, directly tied to that week's content. Each task consists of an AI-generated output (1%) and your brief reflection (1%) analysing what you tried, learned, and whether the AI proved helpful or misleading. To accommodate unexpected circumstances, only your top 10 out of 12 task scores will count toward your final grade. This built-in flexibility eliminates the need for make-up tasks while ensuring fairness and academic integrity. Missing one or two tasks results in these zeros being automatically dropped as your lowest scores. For three documented absences, your task component will be reweighted across your best nine scores. Students who miss four or more tasks due to documented serious circumstances will have their situation reviewed individually by the course coordinator. You must submit the AI output to receive marks for the reflection, as this hands-on practice develops critical thinking about AI's capabilities and limitations.

Final Examination

  • In-person
Mode
Written
Category
Examination
Weight
30%
Due date

End of Semester Exam Period

8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025

Other conditions
Time limited.

See the conditions definitions

Learning outcomes
L01, L02

Exam details

Planning time 10 minutes
Duration 120 minutes
Calculator options

No calculators permitted

Open/closed book Closed book examination - no written materials permitted
Exam platform Paper based
Invigilation

Invigilated in person

Submission guidelines

Deferral or extension

You may be able to defer this exam.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Grade Cut off Percent Description
1 (Low Fail) 0 - 23.99

Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

2 (Fail) 24 - 46.99

Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

3 (Marginal Fail) 47 - 49.99

Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes

4 (Pass) 50 - 64.99

Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes.

5 (Credit) 65 - 74.99

Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes.

6 (Distinction) 75 - 84.99

Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes.

7 (High Distinction) 85 - 100

Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Additional course grading information

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Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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Learning period Activity type Topic
Week 1

(28 Jul - 03 Aug)

Workshop

Class 1 - Your Brain's Reality Studio: How the Mind Constructs Experience

Discover how your brain actively constructs reality rather than passively recording it, using examples like "the dress" and the Laurel/Yanny phenomenon. Learn about predictive processing and why everyone's brain creates slightly different versions of reality.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Week 2

(04 Aug - 10 Aug)

Workshop

Class 2 - The Grand Illusion: When Your Senses Lie to You

Explore how expectation and context shape what you see and hear, from mistaking cricket chirps for sonic weapons to the science behind visual illusions. Understand why your brain's instant interpretations feel like objective reality when they're actually constructions.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Week 3

(11 Aug - 17 Aug)

No student involvement (Breaks, information)

No Class - Ekka Day (Optional Reading: The Pharmacy Between Your Ears - How Belief Becomes Biology)

Optional Reading: Investigate how belief becomes biology through placebo and nocebo effects, while learning to separate real healing from regression to the mean. Develop skills for evaluating health claims scientifically in an era of wellness influencers and miracle cures.

Learning outcomes: L01

Week 4

(18 Aug - 24 Aug)

Workshop

Class 3 - Memory's Time Machine - Why Your Past Keeps Changing

Examine why millions "remember" events that never happened (like the Mandela Effect) and how every act of remembering actually rewrites the memory. Learn how social media, fake news, and even conversations can create false memories that feel completely real.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Week 5

(25 Aug - 31 Aug)

Workshop

Class 4 - Behind the Curtain - The Real Science of Your Unconscious Mind

Separate the myths from reality about your unconscious mind, discovering what science actually shows about habits, implicit bias, and unconscious influence. Learn why your unconscious nudges rather than controls, and how to work with both conscious and unconscious processes effectively.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Week 6

(01 Sep - 07 Sep)

Workshop

Class 5 - Mind Reader’s Paradox – Why We’re Terrible at Reading People

Discover why we're surprisingly terrible at reading people despite feeling confident in our judgements, from failed Zoom interviews to barely-better-than-chance lie detection. Learn practical tools for more accurate (and humble) people-reading in our digital age.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Week 7

(08 Sep - 14 Sep)

Workshop

Class 6 - Kitchen Table Scientists - How We Experiment (Badly) Every Day

Understand why your everyday "experiments" (from dating to dieting) often fail, using examples from pandemic sourdough disasters to TikTok cooking myths. Master the principles of good experimentation to test your assumptions more effectively.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Week 8

(15 Sep - 21 Sep)

Workshop

Class 7 - Belief's Death Grip - Why Being Wrong Feels Impossible

Explore why being wrong feels impossible, examining how beliefs become woven into identity and resist change even in the face of contradictory evidence. Learn what actually changes minds (hint: not facts alone) and how to update your own beliefs more flexibly.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Week 9

(22 Sep - 28 Sep)

Workshop

Class 8 - The Power of Place - When Situations Trump Personality

Discover how situations shape behaviour more powerfully than personality, from why good people do bad things to how tiny environmental tweaks create massive changes. Learn to design better contexts for yourself and others using "channel factors."

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Mid Sem break

(29 Sep - 05 Oct)

No student involvement (Breaks, information)

Mid-semester Break

No class

Week 10

(06 Oct - 12 Oct)

Workshop

Class 9 - Learning's Secret Code - Why Struggle Beats Ease Every Time

Uncover why the study methods that feel best (highlighting, re-reading, cramming) work worst, while struggle and difficulty enhance real learning. Master evidence-based techniques like retrieval practice and spaced repetition that make knowledge stick.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Week 11

(13 Oct - 19 Oct)

Workshop

Class 10 - The Pattern Junkie's Dilemma - Finding Faces in the Clouds

Explore your brain's tendency to find meaningful patterns in random noise, from seeing faces in clouds to believing in manifestation. Learn when to trust your pattern detection and when it leads you astray in our algorithm-driven world.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Week 12

(20 Oct - 26 Oct)

Workshop

Class 11 - The Mind Changer's Playbook - Science-Based Persuasion That Works

Master the science of persuasion and belief change, discovering why stories beat facts and questions beat arguments. Learn ethical techniques for changing minds (including your own) in our polarised, echo-chamber world.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Week 13

(27 Oct - 02 Nov)

Workshop

Class 12 - Future-Proof Your Mind - Thriving in the Age of Synthetic Reality

Integrate all previous insights to build cognitive flexibility for an age of synthetic reality and AI manipulation. Develop meta-awareness and practical strategies for thriving when the line between constructed and artificial reality continues to blur.

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.

School guidelines

Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: