Computation and Cognition: the Probabilistic Approach

Class Info Calendar

Project instructions

Your final project is an opportunity to get in-depth experience applying the techniques we've discussed in class to a question that interests you. In choosing a project, you should draw on your own background, interests and strengths. You do not have to work on a project that relates directly to the topics covered in the classes and readings: other topics in that pursue the general idea of probabilistic models of cognition are fine, and you should try to work on a project that captures your interests within that fairly broad scope. Working on existing research projects is okay, if they relate to the themes of the class.

You are encouraged to do projects in small groups of two or three people.

Possible types of projects:

Project proposal

Your proposal should be no more than one page long (single spaced). Make sure that you cover the background, question, and methods of your project. The background should include the topic and the context of your project, including other research you have found in this area. The specific question you are planning to ask through your project should be clearly stated. You should briefly describe the methods you plan to use, including potentially: an overview of your experimental design, your modeling approach, your data analysis, or your algorithm (as appropriate to your project).
Email your proposal to the instructor as a PDF file by midnight on Feb. 16, 2012.

Project presentation

Project presentations will be March 13 and 15. Each person or team will have ten minutes to present their project. We will go in alphabetical order. The presentations should describe your question, methods, and results at a high level.

Project writeup

Your final project should be described in the format of a conference paper. It should follow the guidelines of paper submissions to the Cognitive Science Society conference: see here. In particular it should be no more than six pages long (and can be shorter if you can clearly communicate everything in less space). Your paper should cover the background behind your project, the questions you are asking, your methods and results, and your interpretation of these results.
Email your paper to the instructor as a PDF file by midnight on March 18, 2012.