Computer programming – 2025 Spring

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

Venue Izu 206 402 (first class)

Aims The aim of the course is to learn the basics of computer programming. The course assumes no previous 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)

    • 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 TBA date 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 TBA date 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

    • Python and Matlab materials

  • Experiment control with a computer

    • General considerations (slides)

    • OpenSesame (slides)

    • PsychoPy (slides)

  • Data analysis in Python (slides)

Requirements

• • Read the Python tutorials

    • Discussion at https://github.com/modszerek/ELTE-cognitive-programming-course (send me your GitHub account to have access to the group)

  • Python homeworks

  • Choose one of the options seen below.

    • (Deadline to choose the topic: 11 April.)

    • 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 for the works: Experiment, analysis, or simulation: May 16.

Recommended reading

Documentations and tutorials on the language and software used.