Important: I understand that this course has been paritally revised for the 2011 presentation, so these notes may no longer reflect the content now being taught.
Open University DD303 – Revision Notes Index (2010)
DD303 notes – Chapter 1 – Foundations of cognitive psychology (02-01-2010)
Part 1 – Perceptual processes
DD303 notes – Chapter 2 – Attention (13-01-2010; revised 02-10-2010)
DD303 notes – Chapter 3 – Perception (22-01-2010; revised 02-10-2010)
DD303 notes – Chapter 4 – Recognition (27-02-2010; revised 03-10-2010) and Bruce and Young’s model of face recognition (03-10-2010)
Part 2 – Concepts and language
DD303 notes – Chapter 5 – Concepts (10-03-2010; revised 02-10-2010)
DD303 notes – Chapter 6 – Language processing and DRC Model (22-03-2010)
DD303 notes – Chapter 7 – Language in action and Language Production System (05-04-2010)
Part 3 – Memory
DD303 notes – Chapter 8 – Long-term memory: encoding to retrieval (01-05-2010)
DD303 notes – Chapter 9 – Working memory and the phonological loop (14-05-2010)
Part 4 – Thinking
DD303 notes – Chapter 10 – Problem solving (12-06-2010; revised 02-10-2010)
DD303 notes – Chapter 11 – Judgement and decision making (19-06-2010)
DD303 notes – Chapter 12 – Reasoning (26-06-2010)
Part 5 – Challenges, themes and issues
Chapter 13 – Cognition and emotion
Chapter 14 – Autobiographical memory and the working self
DD303 notes – Chapter 15 – Consciousness (06-09-2010)
DD303 notes – Chapter 16- Cognitive modelling and cognitive architectures (07-09-2010) and condensed notes on ACT-R (02-10-2010)
Chapter 17 – Theoretical issues in cognitive psychology
Methods Book
DD303 notes – Chapter 2 – Connectionsim (31-05-2010; revised 02-10-2010)
Blog posts
All of my blog posts relating to the 2010 presentation of DD303 can be found here: http://www.tenpencepiece.net/blog/tag/dd303/
Hi Tim,
I’m finishing DSE212 and doing ED209 and SD226 at the moment. Yeah it’s quite a slog but I’m keeping up and doing OK. Your ED209 notes are fantastic, is there any chance you could post your DSE212 notes? For ED209 I have started reading chapter learning outcomes, reading your notes, making my notes as I work through the chapters and then re-reading both sets of notes at the end (making one blend of notes) and the amount of stuff I actually remember now is great. I need to economise with so much work to do. I do have a job too!!!
Anyway, thank you for your blogging it’s nice to get a feel for how people are getting on as distance learning is a struggle sometimes.
Regards
Cam
Hi Cameron,
Thanks for the comments – 150 points taken at around the same time is quite something – especially as you’re working too! 60 points is definitely my limit in any single year.
My DSE212 notes wouldn’t be much, if any use at all to you I’m afraid as I took the course in 2007, before it was updated. (For example, the final book of what was DSE212 is now the basis of the separate DSE232 course and the rest of DSE212 was revised – I don’t think there’s a chapter on consciousness any more?)
Tim.
Hi Tim,
Thanks for this. I spent yesterday having a really good look at the exam structure for DSE212 and I think I have a plan that will give me my best chance of a decent result.
Good luck with your course!
Cam
Hi Tim
I’m wading through Thinking chapters and feeling apprehensive about ch 12 since everyone on the forum hates it so much. Even though I find it impossible to really understand the material unless I read it many times and do my own notes, it is still useful to read someone else’s. So thanks for your postings, its very generous.
Judy
Hi Judy,
I’m working my way through chapter 12 now. I wouldn’t say I hate it (yet) … but it’s certainly taking lots of effort to get a handle on it. (I’ve been reading the forums too!!)
I’m going to keep going on it for now until the end of the week and then I’m going to have a go at the TMA04 essay over the weekend – not sure which option to tackle just yet though.
Thanks for the kind comments – and all the best for the rest of the course … especially the infamous chapter 12!
Tim.
I’ve currently doing a TMA for ED209 and came across your site by accident. The notes are definitely going to help for revision and you’ve done a great job.
Hi
I like your notes.
Thanks a lot
If your going to warick revison will you record the lectures? I’m desperate to go but cant make it…
I wasn’t planning to – at most I’d intended to ‘review’ the weekend … assuming I have got a place on it, that is. Anything more extensive than that would probably infringe OUPS intellectual property rights, I think.
Hi Tim
I didnt manage to go to the revision… Was wondering for tma 06 how does one reference I keep losing marks for referenceing badly
Hi there,
The best advice on referencing is to have a good look at section 15 of the assignment booklet – pages 35-39 – it covers what’s required in reasonable detail. You might also find this article: http://doingdd101.wordpress.com/2010/09/referencing-woes/ useful too.
Tim.
I’ve just signed up for DD303 after doing DSE212. I’m endeavouring to get a little ahead of the game before going back to work. Your notes are most useful.
Thanks
Jane
Hi Tim,
Just downloaded your notes for DD303, just as I did for ED209. Like during ED209 I wont have time to read them, but there is something comforting in familiarity and habit. Thanks mate and keep up the good work.
chris
Hi Chris,
Good to hear from you again – you’re very welcome! Hope you enjoy DD303 this year. It can be a bit of a slog at times, but it does all come together – eventually!
Hi Tim,
Im currently doing dd303 and Im really enjoying it at the moment.. Alot of learning required ! starting week 2 study calender I am finding material a bit scattered as Im dipping in and out of tma01 and trying to follow study guide at the same time. Im finding your notes to be of great help.. Well done and Thank you very much..
Best wishes to you for the future
Michelle
Hi Michelle,
Thanks for the comment – and all the best with the course. Be aware that some of it is different this year to last (some chapters have been dropped; others have been revised and I assume there’s some new material there as well) – so use the notes carefully!
Tim.
Hi Tim
Have just downloaded D303 notes and couldn’t leave without saying thank you for your generosity in sharing your work.
I’ve taken on board the course has changed, but all reference points are useful. This is my last course in my psychology degree and I’m hoping I’ve saved the best til last. I did DD307 last year and hated it with a passion, I’m just too sciencey (I know that’s not a word, but you know what I mean!) Disturbingly (for me) DD307 has got into my brain and I now question everything, but I guess that’s what it was supposed to do! One bit of advice I’d give people doing DD307 is that it’s all about the approach not the facts. I thought I’d be learning about social psychology facts but you are learning about social psycology methods. Once I realised that it made sense!
Good luck with your courses – your doing my most and least favourites and thanks again,
Sue
Hi Sue,
You’re very welcome. Hope you enjoy dd303 – it sounds from what you say that you probably will!
Tim
Hi Tim
You’ve probably answered this question before but I was wondering if you had notes for Chapter 14 – Autobiographical memory and the working self (which is now chapter 7 in 2011)?
Thanks again for your great notes so far – they have been very helpful.
Jane
Hi Jane,
No – I don’t I’m afraid. I think the final TMA last year was an essay on either chapter 13 or 14 so I didn’t bother making notes on either chapter. And for the life of me, I can’t remember what I wrote that final essay on – I think it may have been on cognition and emotion as I generally found all of the memory chapters really hard going!
Hiya, your notes for DD303 are fantastic. Was wondering (being a student of this myself this year) if I could leave out any chapters/parts of the book for the exam? there’s no way am gonna be successful if I aim to do all 16 chapters? Can I leave out a few? Also, could you advise us if leaving chapters covered in TMAs is a good idea?
thx in advance and again, super notes!!!!
Hi Zia,
The short answer is I don’t know. The course format has changed since last year and while it was certainly possible to revise strategically for the exam in previous years along the lines you suggest, I don’t believe that it’s quite so straightforward now. If I were you, I’d ask that question in the course forum and see what current students / tutors advise. The DD303 revision weekend at Warwick in September – see the OUPS website is worthwhile attending if you can.
Tim.
Hi Tim
I clicked on the above link for notes to chapter 2 of the method book (Connectionism) and it took me to chapter 10 (problem solving). Tried it a few times.
Is it me?
Jane
Hi Jane,
No – it was my error! thanks for pointing it out. The link should now go to the correct document.
Tim.
Many thanks.
Jane
hi, could anyone provide me with photocopies or scans of the dd303 assignment booklet , I know that a experiment needs to be done and I wanted to prepare before I start the course.
Hi,
The best thing to do is to contact your regional centre as they should have a copy of previous years’ assignment booklets. I don’t have one I’m afraid and copyright rules would prevent unauthorised distribution, so best to go through formal channels I think.
Tim.
Hi Tim
Came across your website by accident when I did online search on research papers for my seen question for ED209. Brilliant notes I must say!! how did you find the time to do all those whilst studying. Bad enough for me to do the TMAs and reading the books! lol
I am doing DD303 next year and DD307 the following year, shame DD303 material was revised for 2011 presentation though.
Keep up the good work and thanks again
Lesty
Just wanted to say thank you – a fantastic resource. As usual I’ve left revision to the last minute and your notes are brilliant. A very generous gesture – you may have seen others are selling theirs!
You’re welcome – all the best for the exam!
Tim.
Dear Tim
You were of great help for many of us. Your notes are fantastic and is helping me a lot.
I want to thank you for sharing it with us.
All the best
Cris
Hi Tim,
Many, many thanks for all your notes, where would I be without them. Doing DD303 exam shortly and finding your notes most useful. Will be downloading your notes on DD307 when the exam is over and done, ready for next year.
Thanks again and wish you all the best after you have passed DD307, no doubt with a brilliant grade.
Regards,
Serena.
Hi Serena,
Thanks! The only thing that’s certain about my DD307 grade is that it won’t be as good as my DD303 one unfortunately, as I’ve really struggled with the TMAs. But I’m hoping I’ll be all right on the exam in a couple of days time – my head feels it’s about to explode!
All the best for DD303 and DD307 next year.
Tim.
Hi Tim,
How about helping out an equally exploding head and giving yours a couple of minutes rest. I checked out all of your notes, fab to say the least and better than most of the tutors produce. however, really wanted to download your autobiographical one but the computer says no. Any chance of putting it in again???
Would be sooooo much appreciated.
Much in anticipation.
Kindest Regards,
Serena.
Hi Serena,
That’s because I didn’t create any notes on autobiographical memory and working memory I’m afraid! It was always going to be either consciousness or cognitive architectures for that section of the exam for me.
Tim.
Hey Tim,
I think I made a mistake and now can’t remember what set of notes I couldn’t download. But please, please don’t worry about it, I realise from your front page your exam is tomorrow.
What can I say but the best of luck, keeping fingers (makes typing difficult) and toes (walking isn’t too good either)crossed for you. I have no doubt you will do well.
Let us all know how you get on, no doubt there will be a few beers consumed afterward, just make sure you don’t lose your socks – not too safe on the ears!!!
Kindest Regards,
Serena.
Hi Tim
Thanks so much for sharing these online! You deserve your First just for your generosity of spirit!
I hope that you get your PostGrad options sorted soon. Must be so annoying for you. Maybe it gives you a chance to have a little breather though?!
Best of luck with your next path choice!
Kerry
Hi Tim
Thank you so much for sharing these! You deserve your First just for your generosity of spirit!
I hope that you get your PostGrad options sorted out soon. Must be frustrating for you, but maybe you’re enjoying your first break from study in a little while?!
Congrats again on your First and thanks for your fantastic notes.
Kerry
LOL! First attempt froze on me, so the 2nd was me writing the gist of what I’d written before as I thought the first one was ‘lost’! Ha ha!
Hi Kerry,
All 3 comments got through! I hope you enjoy DD303 this year.
Tim.
Thank you Tim for sharing your wonderful notes. They help me to stay focused since I have this awful habit of writing far too much, almost writing the damn book! Sadly though I may not be continuing with DD303 because of my exam score on DD307 despite the fact I wrote what I really considered two decent essays, and one not so good. I had 14% for the project. I expected a pass 3 at least, maybe a 2 with lots of luck. Pass 4, and in actual fact, I had failed the exam at 38%, but they must have passed me on my pass 2 course work, though I would have prefered to do the whole course again. This now means I have to get a pass 1 in all course work and in the exam to get a 2.2 and that sadly with dyslexia/dyscalculia is not possible. A 3 means I cannot get any work, or graduate basis with the BPS. Or get into any university for postgrad courses, or a masters. I think sadly the game is up.
Good luck to you with your new university!! Well done on your degree classification 1.
Elizabeth.
Hi Elizabeth,
Very sorry to hear about your DD307 exam – it must be really disappointing. Are you sure that only a pass1 on DD303 will secure you a 2:2? It would be worth double-checking this with the OU directly I think before making any final decisions on DD303. It will also depend on your level 2 results as well. It seems so unfair that if they had given you a bare fail you’d be entitled to a resit, whereas because you have a pass4 you can’t try to improve it.
Thanks for your comment about the blog – it’s nice to know that you’ve found it helpful. I’ve still not decided what (if anything) to do about an MSc – some of it depends on if I can manage to persuade my employer to fund at least part of the cost.
All the best for the future, whatever you decide to do.
Tim.
Hi Tim,
With all pass fours in all the courses bar the DXR222 project, which was a pass 3, I have to get a pass 1 in dd303 on the course and exam to get a 2.2. I did the classification predictor, and it says I have to get a pass 1 in the exam and course work just for a 2.2, which frankly these days is pretty worthless now as well. So if I get a pass four again, I get a 3, which I would not accept. I see no future sadly.
I could not do a post grad unless I could secure funding in total given I live on £67.50 a week. Good luck in getting your employer to fund some costs!!
Hi Elizabeth,
Ah – I understand. It’s still worthwhile having a chat with the learning support people though I think. And don’t do yourself down!! Having an OU degree of any kind shows your commitment and tenacity to potential employees. And there are organisations out there that value such qualities – I really hope you can find one.
Tim.
Hi Tim
Just starting on DD303, and as I can’t take notes to save my life, I will be relying on your amazing revision notes again.
Thank you so much for your generosity in sharing them, you have helped me in every exam to a decent pass (DD307 was a dismal mark, but despite having your notes and an excellent course tutor, that course just made absolutely no sense to me at all).
Have you thought about running revision courses? I would sign up today.
Best wishes
Viv
Hi Tim, sadly I cannot get graduate basis with the BPS, so psychology is out, and there is not much else I can do, or want to do. I have a degree in psychology and I can do little with. I am afraid that commitment and tenacity does not cut it with the BPS or teaching, or pretty much a lot of jobs. Gove saw to it that I will not be teaching in schools. Frankly, I would be too embarrassed to say I had a 3.
Hi Tim- about to embark on DD303, wish me luck…
Was just going to say regarding Eli’s above post- commitment and tenacity *can* cut it with teaching, never think that all is lost for good- my good friend gained a 3rd. Sometimes the subject you opt to study does not fairly reflect your capabilities- my friend took the wrong degree for her- French and business- the French side she was great at but hopeless at the business element. She was devastated at the time, but on deciding to change career she gained experience through volunteering in schools, listening to children read etc, being active and involved. She then spoke directly to teacher training organisations and got on the course at Goldsmiths. She’s been working with great success as a primary teacher for 5 years now. You can do it. Just wanted to pass that on.
It has nothing to do with the subject not reflecting my abilities or taking the wrong degree. It has to do with having a damanged brain, that was completelly rewired, i.e. plasticity, but memory and retention affected. If there were other ways to test my knowledge other than an exam, I would be getting a very good degree. What is not fair, are exams since they are a test of memory.
It might not be lost for good, because what teaching I can do is very limited, as I will never be able to teach in schools, and there are many jobs who will not take you even with a 2.2. With so many people to chose from, they will always plump for the better degree. I do not want to be a teacher, I want to be a psychologist. Everything else will be a lousy second best. If you are suggesting I can gain experience in schools, think again. You are now not allowed to teach children in school with a 3rd. Gove has seen to that. He sees a third as the ass end of a degree and so you are a bad teacher. Your friend was lucky to get in when she did. She would not be able to now.