Extended Campus

Department of Distance Learning

ASCI 660 Sensation and Perception

Credit Hours: 3

Course Syllabus

Contents

Course Materials

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Required Materials:

-Sekuler, Robert & Blake, Randolph (2002). Perception. (4th. Ed.) New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
-Course video set, lectures for Modules 1-13.

Suggested Supplemental Materials:

-ERAU graduate research papers are generally prepared in American Psychological Association (APA) format, as supplemented by the Embry-Riddle Guide for the Graduate Capstone Project. Therefore, these sources are recommended additions to graduate courses:
-American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th ed.) -ERAU Guide to the Graduate Capstone Project, 6th edition, ERAU Press These publications are required for ASCI/MGMT 605.


NOTE ON LIBRARY USE: The Jack R. Hunt Library, located on the Daytona Beach Campus is one of the most complete collections of aviation related material and is the primary library for all Extended Campus students. In addition to books, complete (full text) periodical articles, government reports, industry statistics, and other useful information can be found. The library also provides web links to aviation, aerospace, and business resources.

General Library Information and Support: Web: http://amelia.db.erau.edu

Extended Campus Library Services
Mon. - Fri. 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Eastern Time (voice mail after hours)
1-800-678-9428 or 386-226-6947 outside the US
eclib@erau.edu

Reference Services
Monday - Friday 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Eastern Time (voice mail after hours)
1-800-678-9428 / 386-226-7656 outside the US
eclib@erau.edu

Relevant Periodicals/Acceptable Primary Literature Sources

The following periodicals offer topics and news reports that pertain to this course and to your assignments. Please note that you are NOT limited to using only these publications; you may consult other REPUTABLE publications, as you deem appropriate.

Course Description

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This course examines how the human senses transform stimulus patterns of physical energy into the neural codes that become our perceptions of the world. Topics include: vision, audition, smell, taste, touch, balance; and phenomena common to all sensory modalities: feature enhancement, inhibition, adaptation, and stages of neural coding. Prerequisite: Demonstrated knowledge of basic psychology, or completion of an undergraduate course in psychology.

Course Goals

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This course is a requirement for the Master of Aeronautical Science (MAS) degree program with a Human Factors in Aviation Systems specialization. The purpose of the course is to familiarize the student with the theoretical, empirical, and methodological foundations of our specialized sensory/perceptual systems. This course will provide a basis for the understanding of the perceptual capabilities and limitations of human as components in aviation/aerospace systems.

Learning Outcomes

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1. Develop a command use of the language of the perceptual psychology literature.
2. Perform basic research of the professional experimental perceptual psychology literature to identify data that is of value to solving design and operational problems.
3. Apply the data from the professional experimental perceptual psychology literature to solving aviation/aerospace problems.
4. Write a professional level research report that relates the professional experimental perceptual psychology literature to human factors engineering problems.
5. Make a professional quality presentation addressing sensation/perception issues based on appropriately reported empirical data.

Grading

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This grading criteria is suggested, but the faculty member may exercise academic freedom and adjust or change this criteria prior to the start of the term.

Directions for Evaluation Items

Explanations of graded criteria are as follows. If you have any questions you should contact your instructor immediately.

The Final Examination for this course is an online exam, you will have three hours to complete.

You will write two graduate-level research papers providing an in-depth analysis of a mentor-approved topic of your choice in an area relating to, dealing with, or having applied relevance to sensation and perception. Each paper will report on your research and will focus on knowledge available form the primary professional literature. Papers will be unacceptable if primary sources from the behavioral science literature are not referenced. Papers will be of a length to adequately address the topic. Each paper will be worth 25% of your final grade. Papers are due during Modules 6 and 12.

Since many of you may not have had an undergraduate course in sensation or perception, you are going to have to work extra hard to get caught up. My advice is that you begin your research by reading the appropriate chapters in introductory sensation and perception texts or other related textbooks that you can find in a local university library. Learn the general concepts in the area before you go digging into the details. Besides, if the texts are recent, they will significantly aid your search effort for journal articles!

Each research paper must include the requisite research in the primary behavioral science literature; that is, papers written by the behavioral science researchers who did the research. Textbooks are NOT primary literature!!! Please read textbooks to get the big picture and reference their use, BUT your basic effort needs to be in the primary literature in the behavioral sciences! See the list provided in the section labeled "Relevant Periodicals/Acceptable Primary Literature Sources."

You will be responsible for preparing a "lecture" presentation for one class. You will summarize the material in the text and other published reports from the primary perception literature on the topic assigned for that class. The presentation will be developed in a professional manner with the use of visual aids. There are a variety of presentation software programs available (for example, Microsoft PowerPoint). Each presentation slide contains an area for your visual presentation and an area for your accompanying text. A slide with only visuals is not acceptable; your text and the visuals should work together. An electronic copy of the presentation with all backup material must be submitted to your instructor for grading.

NOTE: If you have the resources available to produce a videotape of your presentation, you may do so, but an electronic copy of your presentation materials must be submitted with your videotape.

Your presentation and subsequent materials are worth 15% of your final grade.

You will be required to complete an online examination. The examination will cover ALL the information in your text, and will be given near the end of the term. This examination is worth 25% of your final grade.

Course Policies

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Policy Regarding Plagiarism

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is committed to maintaining and upholding intellectual integrity. The faculty, departments, divisions, or campuses of the University may impose sanctions on students who commit the following academic integrity violations: cheating, plagiarism, forgery of transcripts, and other related acts. Sanctions may include a failing grade on the assignment, a failing grade for the course, suspension, or dismissal from the University. (For the full text of the policy on academic integrity, see Academic Regulations and Procedures in your Embry-Riddle Undergraduate Catalog.)
Plagiarism, which is the uncredited use of another's words or ideas, includes the act of submitting a paper that you didn t write. To avoid plagiarism, follow these guidelines:

If you use someone else s words, put quotation marks around them and credit the source.
If you paraphrase someone else s words or use their ideas in your own words, credit the source.
If you re stuck or suffering from writer s block, please contact your instructor for help!

This course was developed for Distance Learning by Dr. Dennis Vincenzi.
last updated and modified by David Roberts
on 12/16/02

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