Availabilities:

Location Domestic International
Coffs Harbour Session 2 Session 2
Online Session 2 N/A

Unit Summary

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

7

Level of learning

Intermediate

Unit aim

Provides an overview of the principles of behaviour analysis, and an opportunity for students to explore their application in their own area(s) of practice interest. The conceptual bases of behaviour analysis are described, as well as procedure for their implementation and evaluation. Examples of successful implementation in a wide range of environments at individual, organisational, and cultural levels are provided. Students will engage in deeper research by considering how behaviour analytic techniques could be employed to solve a specified problem in an area of their own interest. A discussion of the philosophical and ethical questions which underpin the use of behaviour change principles will also be provided.

Unit content

  1. The conceptual bases of behaviour analysis
  2. Principles of behaviour change
  3. Functional analysis
  4. Designing a behaviour change program
  5. Evaluating a behaviour change program
  6. Problem solving around behaviour change
  7. Behaviour change, education and disability
  8. Behaviour change in health
  9. Changing organisations, societies, and cultures
  10. Information technology and behaviour change
  11. Verbal behaviour
  12. Ethics and philosophy of behaviour analysis

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 describe the principles underlying behaviour analysis
2 employ knowledge of procedures for the design and evaluation of behaviour change programs to critically analyse existing programs
3 design an effective behaviour change program and illustrate how it would be evaluated
4 critically evaluate philosophical and ethical questions relating to the bases and practice of behaviour analysis
5 monitor and implement changes to one's own behaviour using behavioural principles

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. describe the principles underlying behaviour analysis
    • GA4:
  2. employ knowledge of procedures for the design and evaluation of behaviour change programs to critically analyse existing programs
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  3. design an effective behaviour change program and illustrate how it would be evaluated
    • GA2:
    • GA5:
  4. critically evaluate philosophical and ethical questions relating to the bases and practice of behaviour analysis
    • GA4:
    • GA5:
  5. monitor and implement changes to one's own behaviour using behavioural principles
    • GA5:

Prescribed texts

  • Cooper, JO, Heron, TE & Heward, WL, 2014, Applied Behavior Analysis, 2nd edn, Pearson Education Limited, Edinburgh Gate, UK. ISBN: 978-1-292-02321-2.
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.