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"

Competence

The student can

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

Campus-based lectures, exercises, discussions and oral presentations 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. Feedback is used on written assignments.

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

• None

Knowledge of linear dynamic systems is important in many applications, including electronics, signal processing, communications, biomedical engineering, robotics and control systems. The course deals with analysis of linear dynamic systems in the time domain and the frequency domain. The course also is an introduction to modeling of systems as differential equations and solving them by application of the Laplace transform. The systems are analyzed by their transfer function and frequency response. The frequency response also reveals the filter characteristics of the system and how it affects the frequency content of a signal.

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 general competence:

Knowledge

The student has knowledge of:

• Modelling first and second order physical systems (e.g., mechanical, electrical, thermal, and fluid systems) as ordinary differential equations
• Unilateral Laplace transformation and its main properties (including calculations of Laplace transformation of functions such as impulse, step, ramp, exponential, sinusoidal)

• Inverse Laplace transform using partial fraction expansion to find the systems time response
• Stability analysis of transfer functions
• Frequency response analysis of stable systems
• The Fourier transform and its main properties
• Concepts of basic filter design (such as low-pass, band-pass, and high-pass) and how a signals changes after filtering (both time domain and frequency domain aspects)

• Properties of first order and second order systems (such as time constant, rise-time, overshoot, settling time)

Skills

The student is capable of:

• Setting up mathematical models of simple physical systems

• Solving ordinary differential equations with the use of the unilateral Laplace transform
• Finding the time response of linear time invariant systems (such as impulse response and step response)
• Finding the frequency content of a signal by using the Fourier transform
• Designing filters and finding their frequency response
• Identifying first-order and second-order systems based on their response in time and frequency domain

• Using MatLab to solve relevant problems

General competence

The student is capable of:

• Setting up a mathematical model of a physical system in form of differential equations and solving them by application of the Laplace transform
• Analyse linear systems both in the frequency and time domain

• Design filters to limit the frequency content of a signal

The teaching consists of lectures combined with exercises, laboratory work and a small project.