Course coordinator
Dr Amanda Robinson
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2025 (24/02/2025 - 21/06/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Psychology School
Enrolment Note:This course has maximum quota of 25 students per semester, seminars with less than 10 students may not run. Enrolment for Seminars opens in O Week following the Honours Orientation information session. Enrolment will close once the quota has been reached. This course provides students with the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of the primary research literature within the context of the wider theoretical framework in relation to relevant topics that vary from year to year.
PSYC4884: Minds, Machines, and Visual Recognition
This seminar explores the fascinating intersection of human visual cognition and artificial intelligence, examining how each system informs our understanding of the other. We will look at the effortless way humans recognise faces and objects, and compare this to how AI systems try to do the same thing. We will discuss topics like visual recognition, deep fakes, and how both humans and AI can show biases in what they perceive. The course focuses on understanding the psychological principles behind these processes rather than technical implementation. Together we will explore big questions about how both human and artificial minds make sense of the visual world around them.
Course requirements
Restrictions
BPsySc(Hons), BSc(Hons) in Psychology, BA(Hons) in Psychology students only.
Course contact
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Amanda Robinson
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to develop skills in critical evaluation and to deepen understanding of contemporary research on a topic in psychology.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Demonstrate a critical and in-depth understanding of key topics in an area of psychology.
LO2.
Demonstrate an ability to communicate orally and in writing about a topic in an area of psychology.
LO3.
Demonstrate an understanding of how different types of research methods can contribute to our understanding of an area of psychology.
LO4.
Effectively engage with others to discuss and evaluate empirical research.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Participation/ Student contribution | Class Participation | 20% |
5/03/2025 - 28/05/2025 |
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Research report | 40% |
12/05/2025 2:00 pm |
| Presentation | Student Presentation | 40% |
The week you are assigned in the first class |
Assessment details
Class Participation
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
5/03/2025 - 28/05/2025
Task description
This course will be interactive, and its success will depend on the involvement of all students. Each week, a presenter will lead discussion on the given topic, but involvement of other students is expected. Students should read the materials before each seminar, ask relevant questions of the presenter, and participate actively in discussions on the topic. Active participation is worth 20% of the overall grade in this course.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Research report
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
12/05/2025 2:00 pm
Task description
Your research report will focus on an experiment to investigate visual cognitive processes in humans. Each student will contribute images to a a class database, then select and report on a subset of these images that they believe test interesting aspects of visual recognition.
Your 2000-3000 word report should:
- Present relevant background literature for the chosen area of investigation
- Describe and justify your specific research question
- Analyse the provided experimental data
- Discuss what your findings reveal about human cognitive processes
Format: Standard research report structure (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion) using APA style.
Submission guidelines
Submit via Turnitin.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
For full details please review the School of Psychology Student Guidelines - Extensions and Deferred quiz/exam.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Student Presentation
- Mode
- Activity/ Performance, Oral
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
The week you are assigned in the first class
Task description
Each student will give a 30 minute presentation on a research paper. Papers will be selected in week 1.
Students will lead discussion on a recent published paper, presenting sufficient background information for the class to understand the study in context, along with a critical appraisal of the study.
Key elements to cover:
- Provide context: What do we already know about this topic?
- Clearly explain the methods used
- Present the key findings and what they reveal about the topic
- Discuss limitations - What questions remain unanswered? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the approach?
- Consider broader implications (e.g., ethical implications, use cases).
Remember to:
- Read beyond your assigned paper to understand the broader context, but keep your focus on what this specific study reveals
- Prepare thoroughly to answer questions about both the concepts and approach
- Practice explaining complex concepts clearly
- Encourage class discussion by posing thought-provoking questions
- Be prepared to discuss real-world implications of the research
All students are expected to read each week's paper(s) and participate in discussion by asking relevant questions that demonstrate engagement with both the psychological and methodological aspects of the research.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 19.99 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. |
| 2 (Fail) | 20 - 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. |
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.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (24 Feb - 02 Mar) |
Seminar |
Welcome & Introduction Overview of topic and assignments. Each student will be assigned one research paper to present during the seminar over the following weeks. |
Week 2 (03 Mar - 09 Mar) |
Seminar |
Seminar Detailed discussion and examples of good presentation approaches. |
Week 3 (10 Mar - 16 Mar) |
Seminar |
Student Presentations Student presentations and interactive discussion |
Week 4 (17 Mar - 23 Mar) |
Seminar |
Student Presentations Student presentations and interactive discussion |
Week 5 (24 Mar - 30 Mar) |
Seminar |
Student Presentations Student presentations and interactive discussion |
Week 6 (31 Mar - 06 Apr) |
Seminar |
Student Presentations Student presentations and interactive discussion |
Week 7 (07 Apr - 13 Apr) |
Seminar |
Student Presentations Student presentations and interactive discussion |
Week 8 (14 Apr - 20 Apr) |
Seminar |
Student Presentations Student presentations and interactive discussion |
Mid-sem break (21 Apr - 27 Apr) |
No student involvement (Breaks, information) |
Mid-semester Break |
Week 10 (05 May - 11 May) |
Seminar |
Student Presentations Student presentations and interactive discussion |
Week 11 (12 May - 18 May) |
Seminar |
Student Presentations Student presentations and interactive discussion |
Week 12 (19 May - 25 May) |
Seminar |
Student Presentations Student presentations and interactive discussion |
Week 13 (26 May - 01 Jun) |
Seminar |
Student Presentations Student presentations and interactive discussion |
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:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
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: