PSY424 Social Cognition
PSY424 Social Cognition
Syllabus | International University of Sarajevo - Last Update on Oct 10, 2025
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Psychology
Selvira Draganović
Course Lecturer
Course Objectives
To provide students with the understanding how our cognition influences our social life and behavior, as well as to become able to understand patterns of behavior and emotion observed in different individuals, as well as to understand how out mind may play tricks with us when making decisions and perceptions about social settings.
Learning Outcomes
After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:
Course Materials
Required Textbook
Fiske, T. Susan and Taylor, E. Shelley (2017) Social Cognition-From brains to cultures, 3rd edition, SAGE Publications Ltd Moskowitz, Gordon B. (2005) Social cognition-Understanding self and others, 2nd edition, The Guilford Press New
Additional Literature
Vilarroya, O. and Argimon Forn Frances (2017) Social Brain Matters-Stances on the neurobiology of Social cognition, Rodopi B.V. Amsterdam-New York NY Donald C.Pennington (2000), Social cognition, Routledge LondonTeaching Methods
Weekly lectures with class discussions and active student engagement, in class activities and projects to relevant topics
Evaluations through assignments, activities, midterm and final exam
Weekly Topics
| Week | Topic | Readings / References |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Course overview | Handout material |
| 2 | An introduction to social cognition-Definition and Dual models | Selected readings |
| 3 | Attribution | Selected readings |
| 4 | Shortcuts and heueristics | Selected readings |
| 5 | Quiz and practical class | Handout material |
| 6 | Social perception and impression formation | Selected readings |
| 7 | Preparation for the midterm exam | Selected material |
| 8 | Midterm exam | Relevant chapters |
| 9 | Priming and person bias | Selected readings |
| 10 | Practical class | Handout material |
| 11 | Stereotypes and prejudices | Selected readings |
| 12 | Practical class | Handout material |
| 13 | From social cognition to affect | Selected readings |
| 14 | From social cognition to behavior | Selected readings |
| 15 | Preparation for the final exam | Relevant chapters |
Course Schedule (All Sections)
| Section | Type | Day 1 | Venue 1 | Day 2 | Venue 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSY424.1 | Course | Thursday 12:00 - 14:50 | A F1.25 | - | - |
Office Hours & Room
Assessment Methods and Criteria
Assessment Components
Final Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Assignments
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Midterm Exam
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Class activity
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
Quiz
AI: Not AllowedAlignment with Learning Outcomes :
IUS Grading System
| Grading Scale | IUS Grading System | IUS Coeff. | Letter (B&H) | Numerical (B&H) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 - 44 | F | 0 | F | 5 |
| 45 - 54 | E | 1 | ||
| 55 - 64 | C | 2 | E | 6 |
| 65 - 69 | C+ | 2.3 | D | 7 |
| 70 -74 | B- | 2.7 | ||
| 75 - 79 | B | 3 | C | 8 |
| 80 - 84 | B+ | 3.3 | ||
| 85 - 94 | A- | 3.7 | B | 9 |
| 95 - 100 | A | 4 | A | 10 |
Late Work Policy
Information about late submission policies will be shared during class and posted in this section. Please check back for official guidelines.
ECTS Credit Calculation
📚 Student Workload
This 6 ECTS credit course corresponds to 150 hours of total student workload, distributed as follows:
Lecture
42 hours ⏳ (14 week × 3 h)
Assignments
26 hours ⏳ (13 week × 2 h)
Home study
12 hours ⏳ (12 week × 1 h)
Midterm Exam
35 hours ⏳ (7 week × 5 h)
Final Exam
35 hours ⏳ (7 week × 5 h)
150 Total Workload Hours
6 ECTS Credits
Course Policies
Academic Integrity
All work submitted must be your own. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action according to university policies. When in doubt about citation practices, consult the instructor.
Attendance Policy
Students are expected to adhere to the attendance requirements as outlined in the International University of Sarajevo Study Rules and Regulations. Excessive absences, whether excused or unexcused, may impact academic performance and eligibility for assessment. Mandatory sessions (e.g., labs, workshops) require attendance unless formally exempted. For detailed policies on absences, documentation, and penalties, please refer to the official university regulations.
Technology & AI Policy
Laptops/tablets may be used for note-taking only during lectures. Phones should be silenced and put away during all class sessions. Audio/video recording requires prior permission from the instructor.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage: The use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini) varies by assessment component. Please refer to the AI usage indicator next to each assessment item in the Assessment Methods and Criteria section above. Submitting AI-generated content as your own work, where AI is not explicitly allowed, constitutes an academic integrity violation.
Communication Policy
All course-related communication should occur through official university channels (institutional email or SIS). Emails should include [PSY424] in the subject line.
Academic Quality Assurance Policy
Course Academic Quality Assurance is achieved through Semester Student Survey. At the end of each academic year, the institution of higher education is obliged to evaluate work of the academic staff, or the success of realization of the curricula.
Learning Tips
Be prepared to contribute thoughtfully during class discussions, labs, or collaborative work. Active participation deepens understanding and encourages critical thinking.
Complete assigned readings or prep materials before class. Take notes, highlight key ideas, and jot down questions. Aim to grasp core concepts and their applications—not just facts.
Use course frameworks or methodologies to analyze problems, case studies, or projects. Begin early to allow time for reflection and refinement. Seek feedback to improve your work.
Don’t hesitate to reach out when something is unclear. Use office hours, discussion boards, or peer networks to clarify concepts and stay on track.
Syllabus Last Updated on Oct 10, 2025 | International University of Sarajevo
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Referencing Curricula Print this page
| Course Code | Course Title | Weekly Hours* | ECTS | Weekly Class Schedule | ||||||
| T | P | |||||||||
| PSY424 | Social Cognition | 2 | 1 | 6 | ||||||
| Prerequisite | PSY305 | It is a prerequisite to | - | |||||||
| Lecturer | Selvira Draganović | Office Hours / Room / Phone | Monday: 9:00-12:00 Tuesday: 9:00-12:00 Wednesday: 9:00-11:00 Friday: 10:00-12:00 |
|||||||
| sdraganovic@ius.edu.ba | ||||||||||
| Assistant | Assistant E-mail | |||||||||
| Course Objectives | To provide students with the understanding how our cognition influences our social life and behavior, as well as to become able to understand patterns of behavior and emotion observed in different individuals, as well as to understand how out mind may play tricks with us when making decisions and perceptions about social settings. | |||||||||
| Textbook | Fiske, T. Susan and Taylor, E. Shelley (2017) Social Cognition-From brains to cultures, 3rd edition, SAGE Publications Ltd Moskowitz, Gordon B. (2005) Social cognition-Understanding self and others, 2nd edition, The Guilford Press New | |||||||||
| Additional Literature |
|
|||||||||
| Learning Outcomes | After successful completion of the course, the student will be able to: | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
| Teaching Methods | Weekly lectures with class discussions and active student engagement, in class activities and projects to relevant topics. Evaluations through assignments, activities, midterm and final exam. | |||||||||
| Teaching Method Delivery | Face-to-face | Teaching Method Delivery Notes | ||||||||
| WEEK | TOPIC | REFERENCE | ||||||||
| Week 1 | Course overview | Handout material | ||||||||
| Week 2 | An introduction to social cognition-Definition and Dual models | Selected readings | ||||||||
| Week 3 | Attribution | Selected readings | ||||||||
| Week 4 | Shortcuts and heueristics | Selected readings | ||||||||
| Week 5 | Quiz and practical class | Handout material | ||||||||
| Week 6 | Social perception and impression formation | Selected readings | ||||||||
| Week 7 | Preparation for the midterm exam | Selected material | ||||||||
| Week 8 | Midterm exam | Relevant chapters | ||||||||
| Week 9 | Priming and person bias | Selected readings | ||||||||
| Week 10 | Practical class | Handout material | ||||||||
| Week 11 | Stereotypes and prejudices | Selected readings | ||||||||
| Week 12 | Practical class | Handout material | ||||||||
| Week 13 | From social cognition to affect | Selected readings | ||||||||
| Week 14 | From social cognition to behavior | Selected readings | ||||||||
| Week 15 | Preparation for the final exam | Relevant chapters | ||||||||
| Assessment Methods and Criteria | Evaluation Tool | Quantity | Weight | Alignment with LOs | AI Usage |
| Final Exam | 1 | 30 | Not Allowed | ||
| Semester Evaluation Components | |||||
| Assignments | 3 | 20 | Not Allowed | ||
| Midterm Exam | 1 | 30 | Not Allowed | ||
| Class activity | 1 | 5 | Not Allowed | ||
| Quiz | 1 | 15 | Not Allowed | ||
| *** ECTS Credit Calculation *** | |||||
| Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | Activity | Hours | Weeks | Student Workload Hours | |||
| Lecture | 3 | 14 | 42 | Assignments | 2 | 13 | 26 | |||
| Home study | 1 | 12 | 12 | Midterm Exam | 5 | 7 | 35 | |||
| Final Exam | 5 | 7 | 35 | |||||||
| Total Workload Hours = | 150 | |||||||||
| *T= Teaching, P= Practice | ECTS Credit = | 6 | ||||||||
| Course Academic Quality Assurance: Semester Student Survey | Last Update Date: 23/10/2025 | |||||||||