PSYK2200 Behavior Analysis 2 - Applied Behavior Analysis Course description

This course presents the use of behaviour analysis in different fields. Learning and coping are two main concepts related to supporting and further developing an individual's personal competency. This will also increase their possibilities to influence their surroundings and to gain control of their own life. Different methods building on applied behaviour analysis and empirically supported approaches will be examined in the course.

Passed the course PSYK1420.

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 characteristics of applied behaviour analysis
• has knowledge of contingency-based versus rule-based behaviour
• has knowledge of basic and complex verbal behaviour
• has knowledge of treatments used for challenging behaviour
• has knowledge of requirements relating to empirically-supported forms of treatment

• is familiar with empirically-supported approaches in:

  • cognitive behaviour therapy and treatment of psychological disorders
  • teaching children with autism
  • interventions for children and young people
  • school interventions
  • training with animals
• has knowledge of behaviour analysis in organisations

Skills

The student is capable of

• describing basic learning principles
• describing how to facilitate his/her own learning
• verbally describing and giving practical demonstrations of functional analyses
• giving practical demonstrations of different training methods for promoting behaviour through applied behaviour analysis training methods
• identifying basic verbal operants
• verbally describing ethically sound application of behaviour analysis and professional skills

Competence

The student

• has insight into and understands applied behaviour analysis as a field of research
• has insight into behaviour analysis’ areas of application
• is capable of describing ethical and responsible use of behaviour analysis
• is capable of describing professional skills

Work and teaching methods used in the course are lectures, self-study, seminars, workshops and group work. The students’ learning outcomes will be documented through presentations, demonstration of practical skills, written papers and the exam.

• Participation in compulsory teaching activities (80%)
• Participation at seminars and workshops (80%)
• Submission of four answer papers by the given deadline (assessed as approved/not approved) max. 900 words.

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

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 developmental psychology and modern development theories
• knowledge of behaviour analytic approaches to developmental psychology and modern development theories
• knowledge of development in the prenatal/birth/postnatal periods

Skills

The student is capable of

• giving an account of and reflecting on key developmental theories related to cognitive development, communication, personality, social and emotional development
• giving an account of and reflecting on the development of antisocial behaviour and behavioural disorders

Competence

The student is capable of:

• describing 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, seminar presentations and coursework related to teaching parts of the syllabus to fellow students. The seminar presentations will be assessed according to given criteria. Participation in these seminars is compulsory.

Students must

• Present three seminar assignments
• Identify an area with room for improvement in presentation techniques 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.