Interaction Laboratory

The aim of the Interaction Laboratory established in 2019 is to examine the role of human-human and human-smart tool interactions in the ontogenesis of the human mind from cultural and evolutionary perspectives.

The director of the laboratory is Tolga Yıldız (Ph.D.). Click here for Dr. Yıldız's CV.

The laboratory recommends two courses for the third- and fourth-year students of the Istanbul University Psychology Department. The contents and terms of the courses are explained below.

Interaction Laboratory: Seminar (Elective, Fall Semester) PSKL3067

This elective course aims to provide an in-depth theoretical background with a developmental perspective on social interaction, human-computer interaction, human evolution, and culture, to successful undergraduate students aiming specifically at academic graduate education. A student who completes the course will be familiar with current and classical debates on these issues.

The requirement to choose the course is to pass the course, Biological and Cognitive Development Through The Lifespan, with a grade of BA and above. If more than quota students apply, the students are ranked according to their grades, and the students are accepted to the class until the quota. The course is open to third- and fourth-year students. Since the course is based on the literature review, the students are required to know at least the intermediate level of English.

The course is organized in the form of weekly seminars. Each week, a few students make short presentations about the articles that are the subject of that week and the class discusses that subject. Each student has to deliver a response paper in the range of 400-600 words that s/he discusses the sources of the week at the beginning of the lesson.

The condition of passing the course is that the students successfully perform their presentations and submit their weekly papers at the beginning of each lesson.

Interaction Laboratory: Research (Elective, Spring Semester) PSKL3139

This elective course aims to provide a research experience with a developmental perspective on social interaction, human-computer interaction, human evolution, and culture, to successful undergraduate students aiming specifically at academic graduate education. A student who completes the course will directly contribute to an academic publication at the end of the semester.

This course is only open to students who have passed the course, Interaction Laboratory: Seminar, with a grade of BB and above.

The course is organized in the form of weekly laboratory meetings. Students work actively in one of the research in the laboratory. The principal investigator sets weekly goals for each student and evaluates them.

The condition of passing the course is that the student contributes to an article that is under review in an academic journal. The level of contribution to the publication will determine the grade of the student.

**No students will be admitted in the 2022-2023 academic year.**

The quota of the courses:

2022-2023 Academic Year
Application date:
Announcement of accepted students:
On the date of application, you must send your transcript and your letter of intent (doesn't matter in Turkish or English) with a maximum length of 500 words to oykucu@gmail.com.

Graduate Students

Hatice Şeyma Kara (MA student at Boğaziçi University)
Neslihan Oğuz (MA student at Boğaziçi University)

Students who successfully pass both courses of the Interaction Laboratory are supported with a letter of recommendation by Dr. Yıldız during their application to national or international graduate programs.

For all your questions and suggestions, you can contact Dr. Yıldız at oykucu@gmail.com. If you would like to have a face-to-face meeting, please make an appointment with the same e-mail address. Students who fail in these courses are directed to take another elective course in the following year.