Themen für Bachelor- und Masterarbeiten
Bachelor and Master theses must be written in english.
Students interested in writing a Bachelor’s or a Master’s thesis with the Computational Modeling Lab should contact Dr. Ven Popov by email (vpopov@psychologie.uzh.ch) to arrange an initial meeting.
The specific thesis topic will be determined during an initial conversation with the student. As a thesis supervisor, I aim to find a topic that combines the student’s interests with a focused and well-scoped research question appropriate for a Bachelor’s or a Master’s thesis.
Potential topics will lie at the intersection of computational and quantitative methods, psychological measurement, philosophy of science, philosophy of mind, history of psychology, or cognitive science.
## Example topics completed in previous years
If you are unsure whether the Computational Modeling lab is a good fit for you, here are a small selection of theses completed in previous years. These should give you a good idea of the general topic directions that make for a good match with the lab.
**Title**: Measuring Consciousness (BSc)
**Abstract**: Consciousness remains one of the most elusive phenomena in psychology and neuroscience, with ongoing debates regarding its definition and empirical measurability. This thesis critically examines leading theories of consciousness, including the global neuronal workspace theory, higher-order theories, recurrent processing theory, integrated information theory, and the self comes to mind theory. By contrasting access consciousness with phenomenal consciousness and analyzing the operationalization of consciousness in empirical research, the work highlights significant conceptual and methodological challenges. Special attention is given to issues surrounding the use of behavioral indices such as verbal report, the quantification of consciousness, and the ambiguity inherent in theoretical constructs. The discussion extends to the ethical implications of consciousness measurement in medical and artificial intelligence contexts, questioning the practical and philosophical relevance of current approaches. Ultimately, the thesis argues that progress in the science of consciousness requires greater clarity in definitions and measurement strategies, as well as a critical reflection on the assumptions underlying both scientific and intuitive conceptions of consciousness.
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**Title**: The Jeffreys-Lindley paradox (BSc)
**Abstract**: The Jeffreys-Lindley Paradox highlights a fundamental divergence between frequentist and Bayesian approaches to statistical inference, particularly in the context of p-values or posterior distributions and Bayes factors. This paper analyses the paradox and explores how these different statistical concepts can lead to contradictory conclusions in hypothesis testing. The paradox is first explained theoretically, with an emphasis on the underlying assumptions and mathematical formulations. Subsequently, various solutions and methodological adjustments proposed to resolve this divergence are discussed, including adjustments to significance thresholds and changes to the hypotheses. Additionally, the practical implications of these theoretical approaches are examined, particularly in the field of psychology, where the paradox has been notably influential. Finally, the paper reflects on the broader implications of the paradox for scientific practice, emphasizing the importance of integrating methods in a way that respects their foundational principles. This work aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of how statistical paradigms can shape the interpretation of empirical data and influence decision-making in research.
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**Title**: Is the Ego Depletion effect real? (BSc)
**Abstract**: Self-control allows us to stay focused on a task when our minds would rather wander. In 1998, Baumeister and Colleagues proposed that self-control operates on a limited resource which is partially depleted after exertion. This state, where subsequent performance on self-control tasks is decreased, is called ego depletion. Currently, contradicting results can be found on this topic and alternative explanations for the effect have been proposed. The present bachelor’s thesis aims to answer: (1) Is the ego depletion effect real and in what circumstances? (2) Which theoretical explanation is best supported? and (3) What questions remain to be answered? As it is tested typically, ego depletion only seems to be reliably found with certain parings of manipulation and outcome tasks.
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**Title:** Disentangling Declarative Memory: A Theoretical and Computational Approach to Semanticization
**Abstract**: This thesis explores the process of semanticization, the transformation of episodic memory into semantic knowledge, through the lens of consolidation theories and computational models. Using an exploratory literature review, it examines how Standard Consolidation Theory, Multiple Trace Theory, and Complementary Learning Systems conceptualize memory transformation. Semanticization is applied as a heuristic to integrate various unidirectional mechanisms underlying the shift from context-rich episodic traces to abstracted semantic structures. Marr’s levels of analysis (computational, algorithmic, and implementational) guide the comparison across theoretical frameworks and computational models, including retrieval-based and distributional semantic approaches. The review highlights common principles such as the role of repeated experience and neural reactivation, while noting variations in how models address the preservation or abstraction of episodic detail. Together, these findings offer an integrative overview of how semantic memory may emerge from episodic origins across cognitive and computational levels.
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**Title:** What is a cognitive resource? (BSc)
**Abstract**: This thesis presents existing theories involving cognitive resources and summarises their commonalities and differences. The theories were found through references in other papers and through searches in [ebscohost.com](ebscohost.com). The 21 identified theories are described here in their usage of their limited resource, along with neural substrates and a measurement of the resource, if provided. Four different types of resource limitations were found: attentional resource, cost models, limited processing, and limited storage. The theories differ mostly in the type of resource, what the resource is used for, and how it is distributed. The consensus of a what a cognitive resource is is identified in three parts: (1) a resource limited through some process where (2) the amount allocated influences processes and with (3) a guided allocation.
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**Title**: Quantifying Knowledge Accumulation in Scientific Psychology (MSc)
**Abstract**: Psychology is frequently described as theoretically fragmented, yet the field lacks scalable tools for quantifying whether theories consolidate or remain contested over time. This master thesis introduces a discourse-based approach that tracks theory reception by classifying how published articles position themselves relative to a target theory whether they explicitly support it, oppose it, rely on it tacitly, or engage ambiguously. Using structured literature retrieval and full-text processing, we apply this approach at scale with the aid of a large language model (LLM) used as an annotation support tool, while anchoring all classifications in expert-defined stance categories. As a case study, we analyze 472 articles engaging with memory-decay theory published between 1958 and 2023. LLM-assisted stance classifications show strong agreement with expert judgments using only the article abstracts (Cohen’s κ ≈ .80–.83). Across six decades of publications, stance distributions exhibit no systematic increase in tacit acceptance, n o sustained decline in opposition, and no consistent drift toward consensus , suggesting theoretical stagnation. Taken together, this work provides a reusable workflow for tracking theory reception over time using features of scientific discourse. All materials required to reproduce and adapt the pipeline—including code, search strategies, screening criteria, and article-level stance labels—are openly available.