PHBA8200 The philosophical and conceptual basis of radical behaviorism and behavior analysis Course description

This course presents radical behaviorism as a philosophical system and provides an advanced insight into the ontology and epistemology this system entails.

General admission requirements for the Ph.D. Degree in Health Sciences.

The course can also be offered to students who have been admitted to the "Health Science Research Programme, 60 ECTS", by prior approval from the supervisor and based on given guidelines for the research programme.

On completion of the course, the PhD candidate will have achieved the following learning outcomes, defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

Knowledge

The Phd candidate can

• place radical behaviorism and behavior analysis in a relevant historical context
• place radical behaviorism in the context of aligned and divergent views in the philosophy of science
• describe the scope and ambition of the research field of behavior analysis
• understand how essential concepts and research methods in behavior analysis is related to radical behaviorism as a philosophy of science
• critically assess how philosophy of science influences the practice of scientific research, theoretical development, and the application of principles for practical behavior change in the field of behavior analysis

Skills

The Phd candidate can

• formulate novel research question on conceptual issues in behavior analysis
• present complex issues in radical behaviorism and the philosophy of science to an international audience orally and in written form

General competency

The Phd candidate can

• describe and discuss radical behaviorism as the philosophical and conceptual basis of behavior analysis at an advanced level

The course includes 6 days of seminars with lectures and student-led activities. Students will during the course of these 6 days produce several reaction papers (3 - 4 pages double spaced), and a final presentation of one central theme from the course. Themes for reaction papers and presentations are assigned by the course teachers. The final seminar consists of a discussion of the presentations, which are distributed in advance as papers not to exceed 10 pages double spaced and introduced by each candidate in a short session. Course teachers mediate the discussions.

• attendance in at least 80 % of the seminars, and
• approved paper presentation in final seminar.

Portfolio.

Portfolio requirements: 4 reaction papers

All

Pass / Fail

One internal examiner