Lowell Groninger,PhD.
Associate Professor

Degree: Ph.D. University of Illinois, Psychology, 1968

Area: Cognitive psychology

Office: MP 421 x (410) 455-2413
Lab: MP 407 x (410) 455-2934
Fax: (410) 455-1055

E-mail: groninge@umbc.edu

Website: not supplied by instructor

Research Interests

I am interested in cognitive processes particularly in components of cognition that relate to human memory. I am currently studying retrieval processes for information in general and peoples' names in particular. My current specialized interest is in what is known as the "tip-of-the-tongue" phenomenon. This phenomenon involves the knowledge that one is certain of the name of a person without being able to verbally generate the name. Questions about this topic from students are welcome and opportunities exist in my laboratory for undergraduate student involvement. Please contact me by email.

Selected Publications

Groninger, L. D. (2000). Face-name mediated learning and long-term retention: the role of images and imagery processes. American Journal of Psychology, 113, 199-219.

Groninger, L. D., Groninger, D. H., and Steins, J. (1995). Learning the names of people: the role of image mediators. Memory, 3,147_167.

Groninger, L. D. & Murray, K. (In press) Reminiscence, forgetting, and hypermnesia: isolating the effects using recall and recognition memory measures. Memory.

Groninger, L. D. (2000). Searching for Names: When Trying to Hard Doesn't Pay off. Paper presented at the meetings of the Psychonomic Society. New Orleans, Louisiana, October 15-17.

Graduate Student Mentees

not provided by instructor

Courses Taught

Psyc 331: Experimental Psychology: Design and Analysis I
Psyc 332: Experimental Psychology: Design and Analysis II
Psyc 317: Cognitive Psychology
Psyc 415: Seminar in Cognitive Psychology

To learn more about Psyc 331: Experimental Psychology, Design and Analysis I, please read below.

Course objective: The major objective of the course is to teach you how to appreciate, evaluate, and do research. Research involves data, data analysis, and data interpretation. Within psychology, data analytic procedures often involve statistics. Therefore, a large portion of the course will involve the teaching of statistics and the integration of statistics into a research context. We will focus on the twin goals of understanding basic statistical concepts and properly doing statistical procedures.

Expectations: To do well, most students will need to spend at least 10 hours a week on the course. Our job is to help make your learning experience as efficient and enjoyable as possible. The material in this course builds upon itself making it a necessity for you to keep up with the course. Concepts that are developed early in the course are utilized in the development of later concepts. Do yourself a big favor and plan a schedule that will allow you to keep up with the course.

Course structure: For the most part, we will cover one chapter a week. Typically, I will lecture on the material in a chapter and assign homework on that chapter that will be due the following period. We will amplify on the chapter and discuss homework during the following class period. At the beginning at the next period we will have a quiz on that chapter. This procedure will be repeated for the next chapter and so forth. You will also be assigned a teaching assistant who will be responsible for helping you in discussion sections and during office hours.

Grades: Your grade will be determined as follows: 10 percent homework, 25 percent quizzes, 25 percent midterm, 40 percent comprehensive final exam, half of which will be open book. Your two worst quizzes will be discarded as will your worst homework. You will not be able to make up missed work without an excused absence that can be documented. Work turned in late will receive a 20 percent penalty. Homework is due at 10 a.m. on the appropriate days.

Conduct: During exams and quizzes you are expected to look only at your paper. Cheating is cause for failure in the course and possible dismissal from the University. You are responsible for all information given in class whether or not you attend. Please be courteous enough not to whisper with classmates during class. If you feel that you can learn the material on your own without attending class that is your decision. However, if you do attend lecture you are expected to obey all rules of etiquette. This includes refraining from eating or drinking in class.