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Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title Experimental Analysis of Behaviour
Module Code PSYC203 (ITS) / PSY1026 (Banner)
Faculty Science & Health School Psychology
Module Co-ordinatorEmma Delemere
Module TeachersSinead Smyth
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 5
Pre-requisite Not Available
Co-requisite Not Available
Compatibles Not Available
Incompatibles Not Available
None
Description

Module Aims: To explore the key concepts and issues in behavioural psychology, with a particular focus on learning and human language and cognition. To explore the contribution that behaviour analysis can make to the whole field of psychology.

Learning Outcomes

1. outline the main features of conceptual framework of behaviour analysis as an a approach to psychology
2. describe key methods of investigation in behaviour analysis
3. explain the key principles of behaviour analysis
4. critically analyse experimental studies in behaviour analysis
5. identify reinforcing consequences that will change behaviour in experimental and applied settings.
6. use behaviour principles to interpret psychological processes



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture22In person lecture
Tutorial10A combination of seminars, tutorials and practical exercises delivered synchronously
Online activity10A number of additional activities including practical and online exercises.
Assignment Completion50Completion of the assignments associated with the module
Independent Study33Reading core text, studying for end of semester exam, other independent study
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Experimental analysis of behaviour is a scientific approach to the study of human behaviour and psychology.
It differs from a range of other contemporary approaches to the same issues in that it identifies the crucial process as the interaction between the person and their social and physical environment. This module covers the main areas of behaviour analysis with a particular focus on human language and cognition:

Philosophy and concepts

Classical conditioning

Reinforcement

Operant Conditioning,

Stimulus control

Conditional discrimination

Stimulus Equivalence

Transfer of functions

Verbal behaviour

Recent advances

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment50% Examination Weight50%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Report(s)Students will complete a number of practical exercises and write these up as a report.50%n/a
EssayStudents will complete an essay. Essays titles will be provided by the lecturer.50%n/a
Indicative Reading List

  • Leslie, J. C.: 2002, Essential behaviour analysis., Arnold., London,
  • Leslie, J. C.: 1996, Principles of behavioral analysis., Psychology Press, Hove,
  • Hayes, S.C., Barnes-Holmes, D. & Roche, B. (Eds.).: 2001, Relational frame theory: A post-Skinnerian account of language and cognition., Plenum Press, New York,
  • Niklas, M.D. Torneke,: 0, Learning Rft: An Introduction to Relational Frame Theory and Its Clinical Applications, 1572249064
  • Hayes, S. C.: 2004, Rule-Governed Behavior, New Harbinger Publications, CA, 1878978489
  • Murray Sidman: 1994, Equivalence relations and behavior, Authors Cooperative, Boston, MA, 0962331163
Other Resources

None

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