2021-2022 / PSYC5885-1

Introduction to artificial intelligence for psychologists

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

 Master in psychology (120 ECTS)3 crédits 

Lecturer

Daniel Defays, Jacques Sougné

Coordinator

Jacques Sougné

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The course is an introduction to artificial intelligence (AI) for psychologists. The main topics are: AI history, networks (semantic, slipnet), modeling of intellectual fluidity, theoretical framework of neural networks, the challenges facing connectionist approaches and their correspondents in the organization of the mind, deep networks, representation of forms and their matching, artificial life (genetic algorithms). The different concepts will be presented with examples and matlab applications.

More details (powerpoint presentations, course videos, matlab programs and various notes) can be found in the 2020-2021 course website

Why an introduction to AI for psychologists?






  • AI has become a societal phenomenon and is a source of for psychologists. The discipline is becoming increasingly important in the intellectual and economic life, it impacts or will impact more and more professional life, training  and tutorials.
  • AI, just like mathematics and computer science, provides a toolkit for generating and testing models; it is likely to be in the future for psychologists as useful as statistics are today.
  • Some familiarity with AI and programming is a definite advantage in the job market whether for the development of intelligent systems, or for their training and assessment of their human-like behavior.
  • With AI, a new kind of thought is emerging. The psychologist who is, among others, a specialist in scientific approaches to mental phenomena cannot ignore it.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

The course must provide to the student a series of basic concepts used in the study of cognitive phenomena and give her useful elements for the formalization of a number of intellectual processes. 

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Basic mathematical concepts (graph, function, basic operations on matrix) - General cognitive Psychology

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course takes different forms: lectures, programming exercises with matlab.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Additional information:

Face-to-face, using smartboard. Video versions of the courses (audio and presentation screens) will also be available. 

Recommended or required readings

Copies of slides, notes on specific topics and an optional reading list are provided.

Assessment methods and criteria

Exam(s) in session

May-June exam session

- In-person

oral exam

August-September exam session

- In-person

oral exam

Written work / report


Additional information:

Participation in computer labs, presentation of a personal work and oral exam with prior written preparation on the subjects covered in the course.   Students will be judged on their ability to identify appropriate quantitative approaches to the study of the mind, to perceive their limits and to apply accurately and rigorously the methods presented in the course.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

Contacts

D.Defays (ddefays@uliege.be)
J.Sougné (jsougne@ulg.ac.be)