During this course, students will demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the philosophical underpinnings of Applied Behavior Analysis. Topics covered will include the goals and philosophical assumptions of behaviour analysis, the domains of behaviour analysis science and practice, and radical and methodological behaviourism. Students will employ advanced, highly developed cognitive skills to analyse interventions using the seven dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis (i.e., applied, behavioral, analytic, technological, conceptually systematic, effective and generality) to determine whether or not they are behavior analytic in nature. Furthermore, students will develop advanced, specialised knowledge and critical understanding of the basic concepts and principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (e.g., stimulus control, positive and negative reinforcement, positive and negative punishment, operant extinction). This verified course is one of the required courses designed to meet the coursework requirements for Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA) and Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) certification; additional requirements must be met for certification.
Week 1
Required reading:
Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 1. Definition and Characteristics of Applied Behavior Analysis
Required websites: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/journals/309/
Week 2
Required reading:
Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 1. Definition and Characteristics of Applied Behavior Analysis Chapter 2. Basic Concepts and Principles
Week 3
Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 1. Definition and Characteristics of Applied Behavior Analysis Chapter 1. Definition and Characteristics of Applied Behavior Analysis
Week 4
Required readings:
Baer, D.M., Wolf, M.M., & Risley, T.R. (1968). Some current dimensions of applied behavior analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1, 91-97.
Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 1. Definition and Characteristics of Applied Behavior Analysis Chapter 1. Definition and Characteristics of Applied Behavior Analysis
Recommended reading:
Sidman, M. (2007). The analysis of behavior: What’s in it for us? Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 87, 309-316.
Week 5
Required reading:
Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 2. Basic Concepts and Principles
Week 6
Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc. Chapter 2. Basic Concepts and Principles
Week 7
Required reading:
Chapter 2. Basic Concepts and Principles
Chapter 11. Positive Reinforcement
Chapter 12. Negative Reinforcement
Chapter 13. Schedules of Reinforcement
Week 8
Required reading:
Chapter 2. Basic Concepts and Principles
Chapter 14. Positive Punishment
Chapter 15. Negative Punishment
Week 9
Required reading:
Chapter 11. Positive Reinforcement
Chapter 24. Extinction
Week 10
Required readings:
Chapter 17. Stimulus Control
Halle, J. W., & Holt, B. (1991). Assessing stimulus control in natural settings: An analysis of stimuli that acquire control during training. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 24, 579-589.
Week 11
Required reading:
Chapter 17. Stimulus Control
Week 12
Required readings:
Chapter 30. Generalization and Maintenance of Behavior Change
Kohler, F. W., & Greenwood, C. R. (1986). Toward a technology of generalization: The identification of natural contingencies of reinforcement. The Behavior Analyst, 9, 19-26.
Week 13
Required reading:
Chapter 16. Motivating Operations
Week 14
Required reading:
Chapter 18. Verbal Behavior
Baer, D.M., Wolf, M.M., & Risley, T.R. (1968). Some current dimensions of applied behavior analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1, 91-97.
Sidman, M. (2007). The analysis of behavior: What’s in it for us? Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 87, 309-316.
Halle, J. W., & Holt, B. (1991). Assessing stimulus control in natural settings: An analysis of stimuli that acquire control during training. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 24, 579-589.
Kohler, F. W., & Greenwood, C. R. (1986). Toward a technology of generalization: The identification of natural contingencies of reinforcement. The Behavior Analyst, 9, 19-26.