CogSoc - Cognitive and Social Science in Human-Computer Interaction
Requirements
90 hp Computer and Systems Sciences with at least:
- 7,5 hp HMI
- 7,5 hp Scientific Methodology and Communication
Aim
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this course the student:
Knowledge and understanding regarding:
- Be able to account for basic assumptions that are made regarding human action within a traditional cognitive science (for instance within cognitive psychology)
- Be able to account for critique that is directed towards a classic cognitive science and the assumptions that are made regarding human action.
- Be able to account for analytically and socially oriented perspectives on human action (for instance Activity Theory and Distributed Cognition).
- Be able to account for analytically and socially oriented methodologies tailored at design and evaluation of interactive systems.
- Be able to describe different foci- and levels of analysis in the design and evaluation of interactive systems.
Skills and capacities to:
- Reflect on and analyze cognitive and social perspectives of action and their applicability in different contexts.
- Choose and apply an appropriate theoretical framework given a certain problem.
- Choose and apply appropriate methodology to investigate a certain problem.
- Analyze, choose and apply appropriate foci- and levels of analysis given a chosen theoretical framework, methodology and problem.
- Formulate, plan and conduct a study tailored at investigating interactive and communicative phenomena.
- Write and report a study scientifically.
Values and attitudes, to be able to:
- Value and judge the relevance of cognitive and socially oriented perspectives on human action to the area of human- machine interaction.
- Value ethical aspects that are relevant to research within human-machine interaction research.
Syllabus
A brief description of course contents
The aim of this course is to give the student a theoretical and methodological base for designing and evaluating interactive systems. The course introduces concepts and methodologies both from socially oriented perspectives (e.g. sociology) and from individual perspectives (e.g. cognitive psychology) on human action. By introducing different viewpoints on human action students will learn to understand the different levels of analysis (group vs. individual) required for the understanding the design and evaluation of interactive systems.
Outline
Forms of teaching
An overarching goal with the course is that students shall be able to use analytically and socially oriented perspectives on action and methodologies in the context of design and evaluation of interactive systems. Teaching consists of lectures and seminars. Outside of ordinary scheduled teaching the student will also participate in a group task consisting of formulating-, planning, conducting- and reporting of a study tailored at investigating interactive and communicative phenomena.
As a student on the course you will take part in:
- Teacher led lectures
- Group work outside of ordinary scheduled teaching
- Teacher led seminars in which the student will get a hands-on experience from analyzing data from different theoretical/methodological perspectives
- Teacher led seminars where we collectively review, discuss and critique plans for conducting the group task
- Teacher led seminars where we collectively review, discuss and critique studies that are conducted in the group task during the course