07276 - Computer Science

Learning outcomes

At the end of the training activity, the student is able to: use Ms Word to write texts according to APA standards,
create and manage mental chronometry experiments with Psychopy, use Ms Excel for data analysis and processing.

Course contents

The course aims to introduce the student to an understanding of some issues of current importance in computer science applied to experimental psychology research. The final aim of the course is to provide the student with the basic computer skills necessary for

• write scientific documents and articles according to APA (American Psychiatric Association) standards using Ms Word;
• create and manage mental chronometry experiments with Psychopy;
• analysing databases with Ms Excel.

A fundamental part of the course are the computer lab exercises, developed through tutorials, which allow the student, with the help of the lecturer, to experiment with the different didactic activities presented during the course.

Course programme:

• Techniques of scientific article writing and formatting according to APA standards using Ms Word;
• Theoretical elements of mental chronometry, introduction to the PsychoPy programme, elements of Pyton programming and creation of mental chronometry experiments;
• Analysis and processing of data using the main formulas in the Ms Excel spreadsheet.
  

A fundamental requirement for following the lessons in the laboratory and taking part in the exam is the activation of one's university credentials (for information and assistance, please consult the staff of the Psychology IT Office).

Readings/Bibliography

Notes and exercises issued by the lecturer during the course and published on the platform virtuale.unibo.it

Teaching methods

The course will use the resources of the computer labs of the Department of Psychology, Cesena campus (Piazzale Aldo Moro, 90). The lessons will be carried out in an interactive way, encouraging the active participation of the students.

Assessment methods

The examination is conducted online via the EOL platform and Microsoft Teams. The examination is divided into two phases:

• Module 2 assessment (Prof. Simone Romagnoli): multiple-choice test consisting of 10 questions to be completed in 20 minutes on the topics presented in the lecture and contained in the handouts.
• Modules 1 and 3 assessment (Prof. Giuseppe Cusimano, Prof. Sebartoli Alessandro): development of a word/excel paper on the outline provided by the teacher.
  

In order to obtain the qualification, the candidate must achieve a score in the multiple-choice test of at least 6 correct questions out of 10 and correctly complete at least 60% of the word/excel paper provided by the teacher.
The exam allows the candidate to obtain a total of 6 credits.

Teaching tools

Students will have the following teaching aids at their disposal:

• possibility of accessing the handouts on the course programme through the platform virtuale.unibo.it;
• possibility of booking, via e-mail, reception sessions with the lecturer.
  
  

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Sebartoli

See the website of Simone Romagnoli

See the website of Giuseppe Cusimano