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.

All

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.