MALKA211 Introduction to Behavior Analysis Course description

The course introduces Behavior Analysis as a research discipline and presents the basic concepts of behavior analysis, mainly from experimental work and findings. Experimental analysis of behavior is a natural science with ontology and epistemology distinct from other behavioral sciences, and these distinctions are emphasized. Dimensions of Behavior Analysis, respondent and operant conditioning, recording and measurement, and single-case designs, are core topics. In addition, ethical concerns regarding changing other people’s behavior, are discussed. This includes introducing the concept of social validity.

Coursework requirements from MALK4100 must be approved to participate and submit coursework requirements in MALKA211.

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

Knowledge

The student can

• describe and discuss characteristics of behavior analysis as a science
• explain core concepts and relations in classical and operant conditioning
• discuss how prediction and control can be demonstrated in single-case designs
• describe and exemplify different measures of reliability
• discuss different methods of observation and recording of behavior
• describe core elements of behavior chains and different ways in which such chains can be established
• describe and exemplify verbal operants and their controlling events
• describe core ethical principles and discuss how the core ethical principles relate to behavior analysis
• discuss how social aversive contingencies may influence behavior
• describe and discuss ethical concerns related to changing the behavior of others

Skills

The student can

• select the appropriate behavioral dimensions and methods for reliable measurement
• describe how a behavior chain can be established
• identify examples of the operant paradigm
• identify examples of respondent conditioning
• interpret data from line and bar graphs

Competence

The student can

• provide practical examples of respondent behavior
• provide practical examples of operant conditioning
• use and explain core concepts in behavior analysis to professionals from different backgrounds

Campus-based lectures and seminars are the main teaching methods, in addition to digital simulation exercises, study questions, and student presentations. The lectures will partly be based on Interteaching sequences using readings from the curriculum. Texts used for Interteaching are announced in the digital learning platform of the university. Feedback is used on written assignments.

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

• 2 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 school examination, 3 hours, with combination of essay assignments and multiple choice/digital tests. Exam questions are in English. Students may submit their exams in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Authorized materials: Norwegian-English dictionary

Grade scale A-F

Essay assignments: All answers are assessed by one examiner.

An external examiner is used regularly, at a minimum of every third completion of the course. When selecting answers for external evaluation, a minimum of 10 percent of the answers shall be included, with no fewer than 5 answers. The external examiner’s assessment of the selected answers shall benefit all students.

Multiple choice/digital test: quality assured by an examiner and automatically assessed.