This course aims to develop students’ research competence for scientifically understanding human cognition and behavior in
interaction with technology, grounded in cognitive psychology. To this end, students will learn fundamental knowledge about
human characteristics as well as core research methods and analytical principles, and will acquire the skills necessary to
conduct research through critical reading of empirical papers on human behavior, experimental design, and hands-on practice
in measurement and data analysis.
Modern humans interact closely with advanced and complex technologies; however, the appropriate design, evaluation, and improvement
of such technologies require scientific understanding and measurement knowledge concerning human cognition and behavior. Grounded
in theories from cognitive psychology (e.g., perception, attention, memory, and decision-making), this course covers how to
read and interpret empirical research on human behavior, experimental design, and measurement and analytical methods (including
experimental planning, statistical hypothesis testing, and effect sizes). The course centers on literature reading as well
as hands-on exercises in data collection through demonstration experiments and subsequent data analysis, with the goal of
enabling students to develop an interdisciplinary and practice-oriented research perspective.
- Students will be able to explain major theories in cognitive psychology and the research methods used to study them.
- Students will be able to accurately interpret academic papers and present them clearly to others.
- Students will be able to carry out the full research workflow, from collecting behavioral data (experimental design and measurement) to analysis based on statistical hypothesis testing and reporting the results.
| Quizzes | Reports | Presentations | Total. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 20% | 10% | 10% | 40% |
| 2. | 20% | 20% | ||
| 3. | 10% | 20% | 10% | 40% |
| Total. | 30% | 30% | 40% | - |
| Class schedule | HW assignments (Including preparation and review of the class.) | Amount of Time Required | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1． | Introduction: What is cognitive and behavioral science? Confirming students’ interests | Review the course materials in advance and organize key terms and concepts. | 90minutes |
| Revisit the materials to review the content and deepen understanding. | 90minutes | ||
| 2． | Experimental Design for Human Studies 1: Independent/dependent variables and factorial designs | Review the course materials in advance and organize key terms and concepts. | 90minutes |
| Revisit the materials to review the content and deepen understanding. | 90minutes | ||
| 3． | Experimental Design for Human Studies 2: Confounds, order effects, and counterbalancing | Review the course materials in advance and organize key terms and concepts. | 90minutes |
| Revisit the materials to review the content and deepen understanding. | 90minutes | ||
| 4． | Data Analysis for Human Studies 1: Fundamentals of statistical hypothesis testing | Review the course materials in advance and organize key terms and concepts. | 90minutes |
| Revisit the materials to review the content and deepen understanding. | 90minutes | ||
| 5． | Data Analysis for Human Studies 2: Tests of mean differences | Review the course materials in advance and organize key terms and concepts. | 90minutes |
| Revisit the materials to review the content and deepen understanding. | 90minutes | ||
| 6． | Data Analysis for Human Studies 3: Effect sizes | Review the course materials in advance and organize key terms and concepts. | 90minutes |
| Revisit the materials to review the content and deepen understanding. | 90minutes | ||
| 7． | Practical Analysis 1: Data collection and hands-on data analysis | Review the course materials in advance and organize key terms and concepts. | 90minutes |
| Revisit the materials to review the content and deepen understanding. | 88minutes | ||
| 90minutes | |||
| 8． | Practical Analysis 2: Data collection, hands-on data analysis, and reporting results | Review the course materials in advance and organize key terms and concepts. | 90minutes |
| Revisit the materials to review the content and deepen understanding. | 90minutes | ||
| 9． | How to Read Research Papers: Critical reading, reproducibility, and validity | Review the course materials in advance and organize key terms and concepts. | 90minutes |
| Revisit the materials to review the content and deepen understanding. | 88minutes | ||
| 10． | Student Paper Presentations: Paper presentation, Q&A, and discussion | Review the course materials in advance and organize key terms and concepts. | 90minutes |
| Revisit the materials to review the content and deepen understanding. | 90minutes | ||
| 11． | Student Paper Presentations: Paper presentation, Q&A, and discussion | Review the course materials in advance and organize key terms and concepts. | 90minutes |
| Revisit the materials to review the content and deepen understanding. | 90minutes | ||
| 12． | Student Paper Presentations: Paper presentation, Q&A, and discussion | Review the course materials in advance and organize key terms and concepts. | 90minutes |
| Revisit the materials to review the content and deepen understanding. | 90minutes | ||
| 13． | Research Proposal Development: Proposing an experiment based on the literature, Q&A, and discussion | Review the course materials in advance and organize key terms and concepts. | 90minutes |
| Revisit the materials to review the content and deepen understanding. | 90minutes | ||
| 14． | Research Proposal Development: Proposing an experiment based on the literature, Q&A, and discussion | Review the course materials in advance and organize key terms and concepts. | 90minutes |
| Revisit the materials to review the content and deepen understanding. | 90minutes | ||
| Total. | - | - | 2606minutes |
- Quizzes on course content: 30% (3 quizzes × 10 points each)
- Report: 30% (analyzing the in-class demonstration experiment data and reporting the results)
- Paper presentation: 40%
Students who are absent four times or more will not be eligible to receive course credit.
Passing criteria for the report and paper presentation (60% total) are as follows:
-Students can perform the analysis correctly and describe the results accurately.
-Students can correctly understand the experimental design and statistical results of the paper and deliver an appropriate presentation to others.
- Report: 30% (analyzing the in-class demonstration experiment data and reporting the results)
- Paper presentation: 40%
Students who are absent four times or more will not be eligible to receive course credit.
Passing criteria for the report and paper presentation (60% total) are as follows:
-Students can perform the analysis correctly and describe the results accurately.
-Students can correctly understand the experimental design and statistical results of the paper and deliver an appropriate presentation to others.
| ways of feedback | specific contents about "Other" |
|---|---|
| Feedback in/outside the class. |
Read the syllabus carefully in advance to understand the purpose and overview of the course.
- Wednesday during the lunch break, in my office. Please contact me by email in advance.
| Work experience | Work experience and relevance to the course content if applicable |
|---|---|
| N/A | N/A |
Last modified : Sat Mar 14 14:13:22 JST 2026