PSYK1420 Behavior Analysis 1 - General Principles of Behavior Analysis Course description

Knowing how behaviour is influenced by conditions in the surroundings is essential and this knowledge can be used to plan and carry out different change and training measures. Special terminology is used to conduct precise analyses of behaviour and environmental influences.

Admission to the programme.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge 

The student can

• explain the basic assumptions of behaviour analysis
• explain the place of behaviour analysis in psychology
• explain the research methods used in behaviour analysis
• explain reinforcement conditions 
• explain how behaviour is established, transferred and maintained

Skills 

The student can

• apply basic behaviour analysis concepts
• apply methods to observe and record behaviour
• conduct discrete trials training
• conduct precision teaching

Competence 

The student can

• describe behaviour analysis strategies
• conduct and reflect on their own presentation technique

Work and teaching methods used in the course are seminars, self-study and student-initiated group work. Students will present subject matter at the seminars. Participation in these seminars is compulsory. Tests will be held during the course and students will also present assignments related to the syllabus. The assignments will be set by the person with course responsibility. The students’ learning outcomes will be documented through presentations, tests and the exam.

In order to sign up for the final exam the following has to be approved:

• Presence throughout the day at 3 seminars. The seminars include:

• Present individually 1-3 given topics to fellow students
• Evaluate 1-3 presentations by fellow students (both academic content and presentation technique)
• Attendance for 2 days with instructions for flash card training in "discrete trials" and precision training, respectively
• Submission documenting training of a fellow student in the syllabus with flashcards ("discrete trials" training) and establishing fluency (precision training)

Supervised individual written exam, four hours.

None

Grade scale A-F.  

All answers are assessed by one examiner.

An external examiner is used regularly, at a minimum of every third completion of the course. When selecting answers for external evaluation, a minimum of 10 percent of the answers shall be included, with no fewer than 5 answers. The external examiner’s assessment of the selected answers shall benefit all students.

10 ECTs overlap with the course PSYK1410 (15 ECTS).