PY 241 - Introduction to Behavior Analysis

Description
This course provides an overview of the concepts, principles, and applications of behavior analysis. It examines the theoretical foundations and underpinnings of behavioral psychology as it relates to respondent and operant conditioning, contingency analyses, and the critical examination of empirical data. The course also introduces students to the applications of behavior analysis in areas such as self-management, child management, autism, developmental disabilities, behavioral gerontology, business and industry, community behavior analysis, animal training, ethics, and psychological disorders.

Credit Hours: 3
Contact Hours: 3

School: School of STEM
Department: Psychology
Discipline: PY

Major Course Revisions: Prerequisite
Last Revision Date Effective: 20240209T17:40:59
Course Review & Revision Year: 2028-2029

Course Type:
Elective- Offering designed to expand learning opportunities for degree seeking students. May or may not be required for students in a specific GRCC program.
Course Format:
Lecture - 1:1

General Education Requirement: None
General Education Learner Outcomes (GELO):
NA

Course Learning Outcomes:

Identify the core assumptions and theoretical underpinnings of the behavioral perspective.
Describe the basic principles and procedures associated with different types of conditioning.
Summarize best practices associated with antecedent based interventions.
Select appropriate methods for the analysis of behavior.
Describe considerations in the development and selection of behavioral programs.
Understand historical and ethical issues related to the field of behavioral analysis.
Describe considerations in the development and selection of behavioral therapy.
Evaluate information to identify limitations and biases.
Create a written summary of the main ideas extracted from information gathered.

Approved for Online Delivery?: No

Course Outline:
I. THE BEHAVIORAL PERSPECTIVE

A. Identify core assumptions and philosophical underpinnings.

B. Identify areas of application.

II. BASIC BEHAVIORAL PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES

A. Identify the principles and procedures associated with respondent conditioning.

B. Identify the principles and procedures associated with operant conditioning.

C. Distinguish between unconditioned and conditioned consequences.

D. Identify the principles and procedures associated with operant extinction.

E. Describe the considerations involved with stimulus control and generality.

III. PROCEDURES ASSOCIATED WITH ANTECEDENT VARIABLES

A. Summarize strategies for using rules and goals.

B. Describe factors that influence the effectiveness of modeling, guidance, and inducement.

C. Describe the behavioral view of motivation.

IV. DATA ANALYSIS

A. Explain the relevant considerations for behavioral assessment.

B. Outline research designs commonly used within behavioral research.

V. THE DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE BEHAVIOR PROGRAMS

A. Describe considerations in the design of programs for behavioral problems.

B. Summarize steps to ensure successful implementation of behavioral programs.

VI. BEHAVIOR THERAPY

A. Critically evaluate current research on behavioral and cognitive-behavioral therapies.

B. Describe common behavioral treatments for various psychological disorders.

VII. HISTORICAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES

A. Be able to outline the early history of behavioral analysis.

B. Explain a behavioral view of ethics.

C. Evaluate arguments for and against the control of behavior.

Mandatory CLO Competency Assessment Measures:
None

Name of Industry Recognize Credentials: NA

Instructional Strategies:
Lecture: 40-70%
Group/Lab Work: 10-40%
Mediated Instruction: 5-25%
Evidence Based Writing: 5-25%
Academic Service Learning: 0-10%

Mandatory Course Components:
Evidence based writing Experiential lab component

Academic Program Prerequisite: None
Prerequisites/Other Requirements: None
English Prerequisite(s): None
Math Prerequisite(s): None
Course Corerequisite(s): None
Course-Specific Placement Test: None
Course Aligned with IRW: N/A
Consent to Enroll in Course: No Department Consent Required

Total Lecture Hours Per Week: 3
Faculty Credential Requirements:
18 graduate credit hours in discipline being taught (HLC Requirement), Master’s Degree (GRCC general requirement)
Faculty Credential Requirement Details: Requirements to teach this course are a Master’s degree in Psychology.

Maximum Course Enrollment: 36
Equivalent Courses: None
Dual Enrollment Allowed?: No
Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Credit Accepted: None
AP Min. Score: NA
Number of Times Course can be taken for credit: 1
Programs Where This Courses is a Requirement:
None
People Soft Course ID Number: 104646
Course CIP Code: 42.01