Module: Experimental Analysis of Behaviour

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Experimental Analysis of Behaviour
Module Code	PSY1026 (ITS: PSYC203)
Faculty	Psychology	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

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 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

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	22	In person lecture
Tutorial	10	A combination of seminars, tutorials and practical exercises delivered synchronously
Online activity	10	A number of additional activities including practical and online exercises.
Assignment Completion	50	Completion of the assignments associated with the module
Independent Study	33	Reading core text, studying for end of semester exam, other independent study
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11471	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Aisling Mannion	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Report(s)	Students will complete a number of practical exercises and write these up as a report.	50%	n/a
Formal Examination	Students will complete a formal exam at the end of the module	50%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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

Indicative Reading List

Books:

John O. Cooper,Timothy E. Heron,William L. Heward: 2020, Applied Behavior Analysis, Global Edition, Pearson Higher Ed, 946, 9781292341057
Niklas TÃ¶rneke: 2010, Learning RFT, New Harbinger Publications, 267, 1572249064
Erin B Rasmussen,Casey J Clay,W David Pierce,Carl D Cheney: 2023, Behavior Analysis and Learning, 7th (2022), Routledge, 0, 1032065141
Leslie, J. C.: 2002, Essential behaviour analysis., Arnold., London,
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,
Hayes, S. C.: 2004, Rule-Governed Behavior, New Harbinger Publications, CA, 1878978489
Murray Sidman: 1994, Equivalence relations and behavior, Authors Cooperative, Boston, MA, 0962331163

Articles:

0: Articles will be recommended by the Module Co-ordinator,

Other Resources

None