03109 - Psycholinguistics

Learning outcomes

The learning outcome of the first half of the lecture is to provide the student with an overview of the main research themes related to the contemporary research on human language comprehension and production. The second half is aimed at deepening the research on language mechanisms in relation to pragmatics and communication.

Course contents

The lecture will introduce research methods in psychology, will examine how we produce and understand spoken/written language from a psychological perspective. The lecture will also focus on language origins, language development in infancy and childhood, and the relationship between language, thought and action. Finally, the lecture will offer an overview of the main experimental paradigms and specific research topics/lab experiences.

 

The lectures will be held in the 1st semester of the academic year.

Lessons:

* I period (from September 25 to October 25)

• on Tuesday, on Wednesday and on Thursday, 17-19, laboratory 2, via Zamboni 34.

* IV period (from October 30 to November 29):

• on Tuesday, on Wednesday and on Thursday, 17-19, laboratory 2, via Zamboni 34.

The lecture is split in two halves:

> First half (30 h): for students of both PSICOLINGUISTICA (1) - 6 cfu, and PSICOLINGUISTICA - 12 cfu.

> Second half (30+30 h): only for students of PSICOLINGUISTICA - 12 cfu.

Readings/Bibliography

> For attending and non-attending students, of both 6 cfu and 12 cfu classes:

• Handbook: Cacciari, C. (2011). Psicologia del linguaggio (seconda edizione). Bologna: Il Mulino
• Paper: Borghi, A.M., Scorolli, C., Caligiore, D., Baldassarre, G. & Tummolini, L. (2013). The embodied mind extended: Using words as social tools. Frontiers in Psychology. 4:214 (available online)

Possible further/different handbooks and papers can be discussed and chosen with the Professor (particularly for foreign students who feel more comfortable with English handbooks).

> For attending and non-attending students of 12 cfu class:

• (in addition:) five further papers published in scientific journals. Databases: http://www2.sba.unibo.it/cgi-bin/bdati/banchedati.pl?keys=Psicologia (e.g. PsycINFO; Pubmed; Scopus; Web of science). Suggested Italian Journal: Giornale Italiano di Psicologia: https://www.rivisteweb.it/issn/0390-5349
  

> For attending students slides will be made available.

> Non-attending students, particularly those who have not previously attended Cognitive Psychology lecture, are suggested to integrate the preparation with the handbook I Processi Cognitivi, R. Nicoletti e R. Rumiati, Il Mulino: chapter II (optionally also the chapters I, VII and VIII).

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons, with power point presentations, and discussions.

Assessment methods

The (oral) exam will be aimed at verifying the achievement of a critical vision of the topics addressed during the lecture.

Evaluations:

Excellence for

• excellent knowledge of the acquired contents;
• critical remarks on those contents;
• congruity of the used terminology;
• acquisition of a consistent-organic vision;
• ability to orientate between different theoretical and methodological views.

Average for

• a mnemonic knowledge of the subject;
• synthesis and analysis articulated with a correct language, but not always appropriate.

Insufficient in case of

• knowledge gaps and / or inappropriate language;
• poor mastering of bibliographic materials provided during the course.

 

Teaching tools

Lectures with power point presentations.

Office hours

See the website of Claudia Scorolli