MALKA211 Introduction to Behavior Analysis Course description

Thesis. Submission of master’s thesis according to program specifications, consisting of a project report. Technical standards according to the current APA manual. Submitting dates each year: June 15th  and November 15th.

Thesis format

The Master’s thesis consists of a project report. The format of the project report should conform to the publishing conventions of the science of behavior analysis, and the length should be appropriate for the work that is reported. The project report must include an executive summary for the Best Practice project bank. The project report is written according to the current APA Publishing Manual Standard; double spaced Times New Roman size 12 with standard margins for MS Office Word. Examiner’s guidelines are provided.

Ethics and data protection

An account of ethical considerations is required if the thesis includes empirical data on humans or nonhuman animals. A risk -and vulnerability analysis (ROS-vurdering) should normally be conducted, and a case number should be included in the title page of the thesis article. If data on humans are included in the thesis, an account of data protection issues is typically required. The description of ethical and data protection considerations can be included in the main body of the thesis. If the decision is made that such an account is not appropriate in the main body of the thesis, a reflection note on this topic should be attached to the thesis. A reflection note is a short description of ethical and data protection considerations, maximum 6000 characters, including spaces. For theses that do not include empirical data, research ethics relevant to the thesis should be discussed, either in the main body of the text or a reflection note. 

Some Master projects may require consideration or approval from external bodies, such as Norwegian Centre for Research Data (NSD), the Regional Committee for Medicine and Health Sciences Research Ethics (REK), National Committee for Research Ethics in the Social Sciences and the Humanities (NESH), and/or internal or external data protection officials. It is ultimately the responsibility of the main supervisor to ensure that the relevant bodies are consulted. If external bodies are consulted, a case number should be included in the title page of the thesis article. If a decision is made that there is no need to consult external bodies regarding ethics or data protection, a description of the deliberations preceding this decision is required, either in the main body of the thesis or in the reflection note. If the thesis is an empirical work, the main supervisor must state in writing that the research is conducted in accordance with current laws and regulations before the thesis can be submitted.

All

One internal and one external examiner will assess all exams.

Campus-based lectures and seminars are the main teaching methods, in addition to digital simulation exercises, study questions, and student presentations. 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. Feedback is used on written assignments.

The course provides an introduction to fundamental concepts and aspects of health, safety and the environment (HSE) that are relevant for laboratory work in the Biotechnology and Applied Chemistry programme.

In this course, the students will gain knowledge of risks associated with laboratory work, and the measures that must be taken to reduce the risk of accidents and ensure own and others' safety in the laboratories. Through the course, the students will learn how to use the substance index and safety data sheets.

The course is mandatory for all students on the Biotechnology and Applied Chemistry programme. The students must have passed the course in order to take part in the laboratory courses on the programme.

No requirements over and above the admission requirements.

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

• has knowledge of his or her own responsibility and duties, and is familiar with the general division of responsibility when conducting work in the laboratories
• is familiar with laws and regulations that are relevant for work in laboratories and with chemicals
• is familiar with the substance index and safety data sheets
• is familiar with security and personal protective equipment available in the laboratories
• is familiar with the system and procedures for reporting HSE non-conformities, accidents and near-accidents
• is familiar with the laboratories’ contingency plans
• is familiar with rules for order and conduct in the laboratories

Skills

The student

• is capable of obtaining information about chemicals from safety data sheets
• is capable of applying relevant parts of the CLP Regulation in order to classify dilutions of chemicals and chemical solutions
• can assess security measures and use of protective equipment to ensure that work conducted in the laboratory is safe

General competence

The student

• is capable of conducting HSE evaluations in order to handle chemicals in accordance with regulations
• is capable of acting in accordance with rules and procedures for safe work in the laboratories
• is aware of HSE to safeguard own and other people’s safety in the laboratories

The following coursework is compulsory and must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• Completed digital course modules with passed tests (in total 30-50 questions)
• Participation in compulsory lectures and exercises (in total 6 hours)
• Signed and submitted responsibility statement

The digital course modules include electronic multiple-choice tests that the students must pass. The tests can be taken as many times as necessary until the approved number of points have been reached.

Portfolio assessment

 The portfolio must include:

• Multiple-choice tests
• Responsibility statement