MALK4000-403 Behavior Analysis and Radical Behaviorism Course description

Behavior analysis rests on two basic assumptions: a natural science of human behavior is possible, and such a science is desirable. Behavior analysis is the science of regularities in the relations between individual behavior and events in the individual’s environment. An important part of behavior analysis is developing a conceptual framework and a scientific methodology that allow the behavior analyst to precisely describe, correctly predict, and experimentally control behavior, given certain types of information about the history of the individual and the species. This methodology is demonstrably useful in promoting planned desired changes in behavior. The course places the behavior analytic approach in a context of history and philosophy of science, and introduces core topics that are relevant for complex human behavior.

Admission to the study program.

On successful completion of the course, the student has the following learning outcomes classified as knowledge:

Knowledge

The student can

• discuss the arguments for and against a natural-science approach to human behavior
• explain a scientific position where the goals are description, prediction and control
• place behavioral analysis in a historical context
• explain the relationship between behavior analysis, evolutionary biology, and social anthropology
• describe the relation between a behavior-analytic approach and key philosophies of science, including positivism, empiricism and contextualism
• account for selection as explanation of behavior at the phylogenetic, ontogenetic and cultural level
• define the concept of category errors and discuss such errors in explaining behavior
• explain a functional account of verbal behavior, including discussing the role of consequences in establishing and maintaining verbal behavior; various elements of a verbal episode; the distinction between the terms communication, language and verbal behavior, and a behavior-analytic understanding of the "meaning" of verbal behavior
• give an account of methodological and radical behaviorism and the distinction between them
• discuss the ethics of intentionally influencing the behavior of others by altering environmental events

In the BSCA specialisation, campus-based lectures and seminars are the main teaching methods. The lectures will partly be based on Interteaching sequences using readings from the curriculum. Texts used for Interteaching are announced in the digital learning platform of the university.Students read selected texts in advance for each day of class, and everyone is expected to participate in class through questions and through joining in discussion. In the BSII specialisation, the main teaching method is digital course sequences, and feedback on details of course content, and supervised discussion groups will be available during pre-determined time periods. Feedback on written assignments is used in both specialisations.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• 2 individual written assignments submitted digitally, each with a maximum length of 6000 characters, including spaces. References are to be included in the 6000 characters.
• Complete an online instructional sequence consisting of 8 modules containing videos, texts, quizzes, and short essay questions (up to 750 characters, including spaces).

Individual home examination, 5 hours. Exam questions are in English. Students may submit their exams in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

The language is normally English. For Norwegian students, the topic of health management is taught in Norwegian.;

This common course is developed for all the bachelor’s degree programmes taught at the Faculty of Health Sciences that are covered by the National Curriculum Regulations for Norwegian Health and Welfare Education (RETHOS).;;

The course deals with public health and health management. Public health emphasises the distribution of health challenges in the population based on causal connections and risk factors relating to health, education, work and living conditions, international guidelines and conditions with a bearing on illness, health and quality of life in the population at individual, group and society level, including the sustainability goals.;;Health management emphasis a fundamental understanding of how the health service is organised, relevant legislation, strategies and goals for preventive and health promoting work in Norway.;;For international students, the focus will be on the Nordic welfare model.;

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

Knowledge

The student;

• can describe and explain factors that affect disease, health and quality of life in groups or the population as a whole
• can describe the epidemiological and demographical foundation for public health work
• can describe social inequality in relation to health, and is familiar with the national and global consequences of inequality
• can describe the purpose, organisation and coordination of health and social care services
• is familiar with relevant laws and regulations relating to the health and social care services
• can describe the relationship between work, education, social participation, inclusion and the experience of health
• can describe the goals for sustainable development and their significance for public health

Skills

The student can

• reflect on ethical challenges related to public health work that aims to change behaviours
• find, assess and refer to health promoting and preventive strategies, organisation and measures in light of the goals for sustainable development
• reflect on how and why the status of Sami as indigenous peoples affects the development of the health and social care services

The teaching and learning methods include digital textbooks and digital supervised seminars. The course is organized as flipped classroom. Digital textbooks will be made available to students in advance.