RLA25 Religion in Cognitive/Psychological Perspectives

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2021
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 4 credit(s) (plus 2 credits for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. et Mgr. Radek Kundt, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. et Mgr. Eva Kundtová Klocová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Radim Chvaja, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Dan Řezníček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Kateřina Koppová (lecturer)
Mgr. Jana Nenadalová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Jana Valtrová, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Ivona Vrzalová
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Wed 14:00–15:40 G03
Prerequisites (in Czech)
RLA13 Introduction to Research || RLKA13 Introduction to Research
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 50 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/50, only registered: 0/50
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
In addition to basic theoretical training, the course provides a practical introduction to experimental research of religion, which is characterized by combining methods of disciplines such as evolutionary psychology, human behavioural ecology, experimental psychology, experimental social psychology, and experimental anthropology. Theoretical part will include a summary of the current state of experimental research of religion with the brief background of the classics. These will include, in particular, the origin, nature and transmission of religious ideas. As far as practical skills are concerned, the students will learn experimental logic, prepare a proposal of replication, and a research report in the standard IMRAD style. Furthermore, students will propose an original research idea, submit it on a separate form and present it using presentation software (e.g., PowerPoint).
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course students will be able to:
- reproduce basic contemporary topics addressed by experimental research of religion;
- define and distinguish basic elements of experiments such as hypotheses (predictions, including zero hypotheses), dependent and independent variables, etc.;
- understand specific operationalization issues in experimental social science research;
- address sensitive ethical issues related to research conducted on living participants (including the necessary documentation requirements for the Institutional Review Board);
- propose a replication of published experimental research with a procedure adapted to the needs of studying religion, possibly improving measurements;
- read and write studies presented in the IMRAD style (Introduction, Methods, Results And Discussion);
- design an original research (focused on hypothesis testing), present it using presentation software and defend it.
Syllabus
  • - Introduction to the Cognitive Science of Religion
  • - Cognitive research of ritual
  • - Transfer of religious ideas
  • - Replication
  • - Experimental approach in the study of religion
  • - Replication testing
  • - IMRAD
Literature
    recommended literature
  • ATRAN, Scott. In gods we trust : the evolutionary landscape of religion. 1st issued as an Oxford Univ. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004, xvi, 348. ISBN 9780195178036. info
  • PYYSIÄINEN, Ilkka. How religion works : towards a new cognitive science of religion. Leiden: Brill, 2003, xi, 272. ISBN 9004132732. info
  • BOYER, Pascal. Religion explained : the human insticts that fashion gods, spirits and ancestors. London: Vintage Books, 2002, x, 430. ISBN 9780099282761. info
Teaching methods
lectures, group projects, laboratory testing
Assessment methods
Oral exam:
- group submission of the design of the "replication" and reaching the minimal-point treshold;
- group testing two student colleagues in "replication" and reaching the minimal-point treshold;
- group submission of IMRAD-style study (experimental report) and reaching the minimal-point treshold;
- individual submission of original research (not necessarily experimental, but focused on hypotheses testing), its presentation in presentation software and defense and reaching the minimal-point threshold.

There is a specific thematic reading for each lecture and seminar, its home study is a prerequisite for attending seminars.

Students can get a maximum of 280 points/100 percent (80 points/28.6 percent for the "replication" proposal + 80 points/28.6 percent for testing + 80 points/28.6 percent for the experimental report + 40 points/14.2 percent for the submission, presentation and defense of their own research). At least 60 percent of points must be reached for each of these activities (i.e., 48 + 48 + 48 + 24). A mark awarded as a final mark is derived from the fulfillment of the above conditions and from the sum of the points.

A = 100-95% 280-266
B = 94,9-85% 265-238
C = 84,9-75% 237-210
D = 74,9-65% 209-182
E = 64,9-60% 181-168
F < 59,9% 167-0
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Information on completion of the course: Posluchači religionistiky povinně ukončují zkouškou.
The course is taught annually.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2021, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2021/RLA25