Program Overview

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Course Overview

Course Description

The course focuses on processes of statistical inference that can support deciding what happens in the world, motivation in the form of reward and effort sensitivity, to decide whether to act, and reinforcement learning, to decide what action to take.

Course Details

Course Content

The processes of statistical inference to be examined are Bayes' theorem, signal detection theory, and sequential sampling models. Motivation to perform discrete actions will be examined in the form of sensitivity to effort and reward. The marginal value theorem is more suitable when actions and outcomes are continuously variable.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

• Students will become familiar with processes of statistical inference that can support decision-making.
• Students can build quantitative models of behaviour.
• Students know how to apply quantitative models to both organisms and artificial systems.

Skills

• Students will be able to assess the strengths and limitations of decision-making algorithms
• Students are able to use decision-making algorithms to explain the behaviour of organisms.
• Students are able to translate equations into graphs and numerical models of behavior.

General Competence

• Students will understand the role of quantitative models in the study of behavior.
• Students will be able to evaluate each other's work and give constructive feedback.
• Students will be able to predict the behavior of simple artificial systems based on learning rules.

Course Structure

Learning Methods and Activities

Lectures, group work

Compulsory Assignments

• Submission of two essays
• Provide feedback on another student's essay.

Evaluation

Further on Evaluation

Students shall submit two obligatory essays before they can proceed to an oral exam. The oral exam will be based on two separate topics in the same exam, one chosen by the student and one by the lecturer.

Admission and Requirements

Specific Conditions

Admission to a programme of study is required: Psychology (MPSY)

Recommended Previous Knowledge

PSY2102

Required Previous Knowledge

Requires admission to the study program: Psychology (MPSY) - study direction in Psychological Science and Technology

Course Information

Subject Areas

• Psychology

Course Details

• Credits: 7.5
• Level: Second degree level
• Course start: Spring 2026
• Duration: 1 semester
• Language of instruction: English
• Location: Trondheim
• Examination arrangement: Oral exam