MALKA218 Ethical Considerations in the Application of Behavior Analysis Course description

The science of applied behavior analysis (ABA) provides its practitioners with powerful tools for promoting behavior change. Applied behavior analysis is not reserved for specific target groups, yet we see that there are individuals with special needs who benefit from the methods of ABA. Frequently, those individuals are in vulnerable positions because of physical disabilities and learning difficulties, and dependent on the care and assistance of others. Applying behavior analytic methods and procedures in the service of such individuals requires ethically conscious, well-informed practitioners - service providers, care providers, and teachers - who are able to systematically weigh their decisions about arranging conditions and specific interventions in ways that benefit the individual in need of care or assistance, and that meet the standards for high quality of life. The course is designed to promote knowledge of normative ethical theories and of regulations and guidelines with relevance to responsible and ethical practices, and to encourage reflection and discussion on matters of ethics, including matters of social validity.

Admission to the study program

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

Knowledge

The student can

• present ethical dilemmas and discuss different ethical perspectives from moral philosophy
• discuss normative ethics considerations in applied behavior analytic treatment
• discuss the BACB "Professional and Ethical Compliance Code for Behavior Analysts" https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/BACB-Compliance-Code-english_190318.pdf

Competence

The student can

• discuss the ethical considerations described above in relation to commonly used Applied Behavior Analytic interventions

Admission to the study program

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

Knowledge

The student can

• describe the common elements of Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention, and discuss the pros and cons of different service delivery models
• discuss the outcomes reported in the literature, and the quality of the evidence for Early Intensive Behavioral Interventions and other interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorders.
• explain important predictors of outcome and describe quality control measures
• discuss the validity of the most commonly employed outcome measures
• describe commonly used assessment instruments
• describe the difference between standardized and non-standardized assessments

Skills

The student can

• demonstrate and monitor Discrete Trial Teaching, Precision Teaching, shaping, chaining, and preference assessments

Competence

The student can

• discuss the application of intervention protocols for teaching listener responding
• discuss the application of Sufficient Exemplar Training
• discuss advanced considerations when teaching vocal imitation, assessments, target selection and procedures for teaching
• apply knowledge of single-case experimental designs in clinical settings, and give examples on how to achieve experimental control

In the BSCA specialisation, campus-based lectures and seminars are the main teaching methods. 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:

• 3 individual written assignments submitted digitally, each with a maximum length of 6000 characters, including spaces. References are to be included in the 6000 characters.

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

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