Module PY4011-KP04

Duration

1 Semester

Turnus of offer

irregularly

Credit points

4

Course of studies, specific fields and terms:

• Bachelor Psychology 2027, optional subject, psychology
• Bachelor Psychology 2020, optional subject, psychology
• Bachelor Psychology 2016, optional subject, psychology
• Master Psychology 2016, optional subject, psychology

Classes and lectures:

• PY4011-W: Statistical Cognition – Recognizing and avoiding common statistical traps (seminar, 2 SWS)

Workload:

• 30 hours in-classroom work
• 90 hours private studies

Contents of teaching:

• Common errors in the statistical analysis of empirical data
• Logical fallacies in the interpretation of research findings
• Deficiencies in human patterns of thought
• Discrepancies of intuitive and formal logic
• Simple data simulation in MatLab

Qualification-goals/Competencies:

• Students are able to recognize formal errors and logical fallacies in research results
• You are familiar with experimental design and statistical analysis techniques to avoid typical pitfalls
• You are able to independently implement data simulations in order to uncover statistical and logical errors and their implications.
• You can critically reflect on logical conclusions and statistical analysis methods.

Grading through:

• written homework

Responsible for this module:

• Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Jonas Obleser

Teacher:

• Department of Psychology
• PD Dr. phil. Sarah Tune

Literature:

• Beck-Bornholdt & Dubben : Der Hund, der Eier legt. Erkennen von Fehlinformationen durch Querdenken 7. Auflage, 2005. Rowohlt, Hamburg
• Kahnemann : Thinking, Fast and Slow 2011. Penguin books, United Kingdom

Language:

• offered only in German

Notes:

Last Updated:

12.11.2025