Methodology Rotations

One unique aspect of our program is the required two Methodology Rotations. The Cognitive Science PhD program requires students to spend time in a laboratory or other research venue in two participating disciplines for one term per rotation. This idea is borrowed from the ‘rotations’ through different specializations that medical students encounter as part of their training. For us, the two rotations are a recognition that a discipline consists of methods as well as results, and that knowledge of the results of research frequently gives little insight into the methods used to obtain these results. 

These rotations will not make students experts in the wide variety of methods used by the different cognitive disciplines, but they will give students sufficient background to be able to use work in the areas of their rotations in their own research.

For further requirements and regulations and for the official version of matters covered above, please consult the Graduate Calendar. Review the section concerning the cognitive science program.

Students are expected to complete their rotations by the end of their 7th term. 

The methodology rotation consists of two parts. Students spend one term in each of two laboratories or other research venues using two different methods for studying cognition (behavioural, linguistic-theoretic, computational, conceptual, neuroscientific).

The purpose of the methodology rotation is to give students sufficient background in two different approaches to cognition to allow the student to use work from these approaches in his or her own research.

Assignments will be as specified by each rotation supervisor. Each rotation will be graded separately by the rotation supervisor as either Satisfactory(S)/Unsatisfactory(U). In the event of a grade of U the student may repeat a rotation only once.

There is an agreement form that must be filled out prior to doing the rotation.