PSYK1420 Behavior Analysis 1 - General Principles of Behavior Analysis Course description

Knowing how behaviour is influenced by conditions in the surroundings is essential and this knowledge can be used to plan and carry out different change and training measures. Special terminology is used to conduct precise analyses of behaviour and environmental influences.

Admission to the programme.

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 the basic assumptions of behaviour analysis

• is familiar with the place of behaviour analysis in psychology

• is familiar with research methods used in behaviour analysis

• has knowledge of reinforcement conditions

• has knowledge of how behaviour is established, transferred and maintained

Skills 

The student is capable of

• applying basic behaviour analysis concepts

• defining and using methods to observe and register behaviour

Competence 

The student is capable of

• describing behaviour analysis strategies

• conducting and reflecting on their own presentation technique

• conducting and reflecting on discrete trials training

• describing, conducting and reflecting on precision teaching

Work and teaching methods used in the course are lectures, self-study and student-initiated group work. Seminars will also be held where the students present subject matter. Participation in these seminars is compulsory. Tests will be held during the course and students will also present assignments related to the syllabus. The assignments will be set by the lecturer.

The students’ learning outcomes will be documented through presentations, tests and the exam.

Students must

• Present three given topics to fellow students

• Identify an area of presentation technique with room for improvement and evaluate this in the students’ own presentations

• Evaluate three presentations by fellow students (both academic content and presentation technique)

• Teach fellow students topics from the syllabus using flash cards (discrete trials training) and establish flow (precision teaching).

The required coursework must be approved before the students can take the supervised written exam.

Portfolio exam comprising four tests and a digital, supervised written exam lasting four hours. All four tests must be approved before the student can take the digital, supervised written exam. All the components must be awarded a pass grade before the exam as a whole can be passed.

If the student fails one test, the student can retake this test. Resit/rescheduled attempts at the four tests can be taken once before the ordinary, digital, supervised written exam. Before the resit/rescheduled digital, supervised written exam, students will be given a third and final attempt at one or more of the tests.

None

A–F. A grade will be awarded on the basis of the tests taken during the course (60%) and the result of the final written exam (40%). The student has a right to appeal the overall exam grade for the whole portfolio.

Two internal examiners

10 ECTs overlap with the course PSYK1410 (15 ECTs).