VERB2300 Applied Behavior Analysis Course description

The course focuses on planning, documentation and evaluation of interventions based on applied behaviour analysis. The primary focus is to promote mastery of functional skills, independence and improved quality of life for service recipients. Students are expected to integrate knowledge from previous courses and explain their choice of assessment tools, target behaviours, mearsurement techniques, experimental designs, and interventions. Social validity must be assessed, and the choices must be in accordance with the applicable rights and legislation. In this course, students will put several of the theoretical principles from VERB2200 into practice. The course is taught over ten weeks.

Completed VERB2200

Passed the first year of the programme

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

Knowledge

The student

• can describe the responsibilities of different parties and professions in a professionally sound target selection process
• can explain how to facilitate supported decision-making, participation and self-determination in a lifespan perspective
• can explain how skills can be established and maintained in a lifespan perspective
• can outline how to facilitate maintenance and change of behaviour at individual level through assessment and testing, description of interventions and evaluation of results
• can describe functional assessments
• can describe interventions based on behaviour analytic principles to prevent and reduce challenging behaviour
• can describe how to implement behaviour analytic principles in staff training
• can describe lawful and professionally sound case processing for individual decisions concerning services pursuant to the Health and Care Services Act

Skills

The student

• can apply selected assessment methods to prepare interventions based on behaviour analytic principles
• can carry out, in cooperation with others, a satisfactory planning and target selection process with an emphasis on the service recipient's wishes and self-determination
• can formulate goals at different levels in interventions based on behavior analytic principles
• can determine appropriate methods for collecting data and selecting a design, and present data from interventions
• can apply up-to-date knowledge of the health and welfare system, legislation, regulations and guidelines in their practice to ensure that service recipients receive equal and professionally sound services
• can apply up-to-date knowledge of laws and relevant guides in relation to coercive measures and use of force
• can provide behaviour-specific feedback to fellow students in connection with oral presentations

General competence

The student

• can discuss academic, ethical and legal issues associated with interventions based on behaviour analytic principles
• can communicate academic subject matter orally and in writing
• can explain methods for systematically obtaining information about the experience and knowledge from different parties

The thesis project consists of the following:

• A written Master thesis (Length: 15,000-30000 words, using one of the available document templates)
• Individual oral presentation (30 minutes
• Any physical or digital artefact that has been developed by the student as part of the research project. If the student wishes to submit an artefact, the mode of submission must be approved by the supervisor beforehand and the artefact must be made available in such a way to be inspected by the examiners. In the case of a physical artefact, video and images may be used to document the properties of it, eliminating the need for a physical inspection.

The master's thesis is assessed on the basis of the following criteria:

• The originality and / or relevance of the issues or research questions to the field of study.
• Clarity in the development of issues or research questions being addressed.
• Documentation and use of relevant theory and research, as well as systematic;use of sources.
• Clarity in the relationship between issues / research questions being addressed, the method choices / methodologies employed and the resulting discussions / conclusions.
• Ability to collect, systematize, interpret / deconstruct and present knowledge in a clear way.
• Reflection on ethical issues in the research process.
• Written presentation (clear table of contents, accurate literature references, bibliography and appendices).

Theses are written in Norwegian or English. The oral exam can be taken in Norwegian or English, regardless of which language the thesis was written in.

All exams must be passed in order to pass the course.;

Students can appeal against the grade set for the written part of the exam. If the grade is changed after an appeal against the grade, and the oral exam has already been held, the oral exam must be retaken.

New/postponed exam

In case of failed exam or legal absence, the student may apply for a new or postponed exam. New or postponed exams are offered within a reasonable time span following the regular exam. The student is responsible for applying for a new/postponed exam within the time limits set by OsloMet. The Regulations for new or postponed examinations are available in Regulations relating to studies and examinations at OsloMet.

All aids are permitted.

Individual written home examination over five days, up to 3,200 words

All material allowed.

Two external examiners will be used for the assessment.

Each answer paper is assessed by an external and an internal examiner.

5 credits overlap with VERN2110/VERND2110/VERNL2110

10 credits overlap with VERNL2400/VERND2400/VERN2400