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PSYCH538-23B (HAM)
Applications of Behaviour Analysis
15 Points
Staff
Convenor(s)
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Tania Blackmore
8082
J.1.25
tania.blackmore@waikato.ac.nz
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Librarian(s)
You can contact staff by:
- Calling +64 7 838 4466 select option 1, then enter the extension.
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Extensions starting with 4, 5, 9 or 3 can also be direct dialled:
- For extensions starting with 4: dial +64 7 838 extension.
- For extensions starting with 5: dial +64 7 858 extension.
- For extensions starting with 9: dial +64 7 837 extension.
- For extensions starting with 3: dial +64 7 2620 + the last 3 digits of the extension e.g. 3123 = +64 7 262 0123.
What this paper is about
This course covers the application of behavioural principles in a variety of settings. The objective is to examine and critique recent applications of the methods and theories of behaviour analysis as they apply to a range of settings to both prevent and change problem behaviours. Practical skills are emphasised and are addressed in the practical component. The course forms part of the University of Waikato course sequences verified by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI).
How this paper will be taught
All lectures will be delivered online in FLEXI mode. There will be face to face lectures for in-depth and interactive discussions of the content. The practical component of this course aims to allow students to gain some of the practical skills required for the application of behaviour reduction, teaching new behaviours, and increasing desired behaviours. Practical sessions will be face to face on campus. Students taking this paper in Hamilton are encouraged to attend the practical sessions on campus.
Required Readings
The textbook for this course is:
Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied Behavior Analysis, 3rd ed. Hoboken.
It will be available as an e-book via the library. The library also holds previous editions in hard copy.
There are other texts that are useful, for example:
Malott, R.W. & Suarez, E.T. (2004). Principles of behaviour. BF319.5.O6M34 2004
Martin & Pear (2007). Behavior modification: What it is and how to do it (8th ed.)
Miltenberger (2008). Behavior modification: principles and procedures. BF637.B4M535 2008
Sulzer-Azaroff, B. & Mayer, G. R. (2019). Behavior analysis for lasting change. Sloan Publishing.
Some readings will be online in Moodle. If you are intending to continue to professional work in this area it is recommended that you start building your resources (e.g., manuals, books, websites, forms etc).
Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete the course should be able to:
Assessments
How you will be assessed
For this course you are required to submit all assignments online in Moodle. Your final grade will be comprised of your final test mark and your coursework marks as described below. Your coursework and your final test are worth 50% and 50% respectively.
Practicals and Practical Exercises. You must participate in (by attending or by submitting evidence of your participation online) all 10 of the practicals and submit all 9 practical exercises, worth 50% of the total marks. Details and due dates of the practical assignments are on Moodle.
If you are a HAM student you may complete any missed on-campus practicals by doing the on-line practical. If you are a NET student and are able to be in Hamilton you may attend the on-campus practicals. Please let us know before for each practical if you choose to do either of these as we will be preparing material for the on-campus practical sessions and need to know how many students to prepare for.
Final test. To pass this course, you must sit the final test. You will receive an IC if you do not sit this. The final test will be for 3 hours during the examination period and will cover the content from the entire semester. The test format is a mixture of multi-choice, short answer and short essay questions and will cover the entire lecture content and aspects of the readings that are covered in class. You will be able to access it via Moodle. The test will be available on Moodle for a 24 hour period. Once you begin the test you will have to complete it within the 3 hour time window. The test will automatically close 3 hours after you have started it. Multi-choice questions are set to 'shuffle' which means that the way the response options appear to you may be different to how they appear to someone else, so while the correct answer to question 1- may be 'C' for you, it could be 'D' for another student. You will be able to access the test from any location with reliable internet access and it is essentially an open book test. It may be best to do this on campus if you are not sure about the quality of the internet access elsewhere.
The internal assessment/exam ratio (as stated in the University Calendar) is 100:0. There is no final exam.