Laboratory in Visual Cognition
MIT's 9.63 covers experimental methods in human perception and cognition, including study design and statistical analysis. The course pairs lectures with hands-on experimental exercises, working through three team-based experiments that each require written reports and oral presentations. A fourth experiment is conducted individually, starting with a proposal, moving through revision, and ending in a final written and oral report. Some programming background is recommended before starting. Materials on MIT OpenCourseWare include the syllabus, assignments, and course structure used in MIT's Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences. The course is built around critiquing and conducting original cognitive science research rather than passive lecture-watching, with emphasis on developing scientific writing and presentation skills alongside statistical and experimental design competence.