Computer programming – 2023 Spring

2023 Spring

Dates Biweekly, on Friday, 14:00-17:00. First class is on 3 March

Venue Izu 422

Aims The aim of the course is to learn the bases of computer programming. The course assumes no former knowledge of computer programming. By the end of the semester, one should be able to understand and modify simple scripts controlling experiments, analyzing data, or running simulations. The course will also provide a firm background to learn additional topics after the semester.

The course is for Psychology and Cognitive Science students. Contact me if you're interested in the course, but you're learning something else.

Topics

(Some of the links or slides are in Hungarian. The translation is in progress.)

• • Introduction to computer programming (slides, additional materials)

    • AlgoTaurus

    • Scratch

  • Introduction to programming in Python (and Matlab) languages (slides and slides)

    • https://www.pythontutorial.net/ Read the chosen chapters by the class, and we discuss the critical details

      • Read the following chapters by the 14 April class: Getting started (VS Code is optional), from Python Basics read 1. Fundamentals, 2. Operators, 3. Control flow, 5. List (excluding Iterate over a list, iterables, map(), filter(), reduce(), and list comprehension)

      • Read the following chapters by the 28 April class: from Python Basics read 4. Functions, 5. List (rest of the sections), 6. Dictionaries, 7. Sets, 11. Modules and Packages, 12 Working with files, 13 Working with directories, 15. Strings

      • Additional recommended reading: Rest of the Python Basics, and Advanced Python

    • Primer on computer programming

    • Python and Matlab materials

  • Experiment control with a computer – link for the video call

    • General considerations

    • OpenSesame

    • PsychoPy

  • Data analysis in Python (slides)

Requirements

• • Read the Python tutorials

    • Discussion at https://github.com/modszerek/ELTE-2023-programming-course/discussions

  • Choose one of the options seen below

    • (Deadline to choose the topic for students with computer programming experience: March 17. Deadline for beginners: April 28.)

    • Write your experiment, preferably in PsychoPy (the script should be written by you and not generated by the Builder view). (Let me know if you'd use another system.)

    • Analyze your research data with Python. (Let me know if you'd use another language.)

    • Run your own cognitive/statistical simulation in Python. (Let me know if you'd use another language.)

Deadline:

• • Experiment, analysis, or simulation: May 26. Deadline for the beginner group: June 2.

Recommended reading

Documentations and tutorials of the used language and software.