Project Planning and Preparation

Goal: This week you will spend some time thinking about your final project, gathering ideas for materials or the materials themselves, and lining it all up to prepare you for the paper. Follow the specific steps below.

Step 1: Decide on the method you'd like to use

In the final paper guidelines, there is a list of tools and ideas from class. Spend a bit of time thinking about this, and choose the one you'd like to use for your final project, if you haven't already chosen. If you do not yet know for sure, just pick the one that you think would be most interesting to you. Feel free to talk to your neighbor about what they are using, and why.

Step 2: Gather ideas and materials

LSA: If your project will use LSA, think of and gather the words or texts that you'd like to use for your project. Even if you cannot get all the materials for today, get a few anyway.

LIWC: If your project will use LIWC, think of and gather the texts that you'd like to use for your project. Even if you cannot get all the materials for today, get a few anyway.

Neurosynth: For Neurosynth, think of the terms or brain areas that you are interested in. Start assembling a list of these key ideas (process terms or brain areas) that you will have to make sure you can find on Neurosynth.

RT Experiment: If you are going to do a reaction-time experiment, think of the groups of words you are going to use for your experiment.

Culturomics / Ngram: Come up with a list of key terms or phrases you will compare and contrast using Ngram.

Thought experiment: Use Google Scholar to find papers on philosophy of mind or other cognitive science topics relevant to your interests and the area that your thought experiment might apply to.

Important: Put some of these ideas or items in a Word file with your answers (see below). There is no specific requirement here. Just put down what you can -- but it should be something.

Step 3: Discuss your project idea with your neighbor

Explaining out loud about what you are going to do helps a lot. It can help you find out what is really clear in your mind or, when it doesn't come out right, what is not clear in your mind. Talk to your neighbor about your project first. Your TAs will gladly provide some additional feedback. Make sure you are clear on the following parts: How will the project be conducted in the short time you have? What analysis, if any, will you do? What might you find out after your project is completed?

Step 4: Write a brief response (and include some items / ideas from above)

Write an answer to these 3 questions that is at least 200 words:

(1) What method are you going to use, and why does it interest you (career, fun, etc.)?
(2) What materials will you need for your project, and where will you get them?
(3) What might you find out at the end of your study?

That's it! Please submit your narrative based on these 3 questions on CROPS.