Class Times: Tues: 10:40 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. (Pd. 4)
Thurs: 10:40 a.m. – 12:35 p.m. (Pd. 4 & 5)
Class Venue: PSY130
Instructor:
Lindsay R. Mehrkam, M.S.
Office: PSY327
Office Hours: Mon 11-12 p.m. &
Wed 1 -2 p.m.
Email:
[email protected]
Overview
EAB 3002 is an introduction to the scientific study of learning, behavior, and the field of behavior analysis. The goals of this course are to 1) introduce you to the basic principles of behavior analysis and learning, 2) acquaint you with single-subject and (as contrasted with group-average) research designs, and 3) to present the study of behavior as a natural science, as contrasted with social science. We will cover a wide range of topics beginning with the history of behavior analysis and then moving on to an overview of the basic assumptions, principles, methods, and research that define the field today. We will discuss both theoretical and practical questions related to behavior analysis, and read scientific articles on these topics. Students will not only learn about behavior, but will have the opportunity to talk about and apply basic behavioral principles directly by the end of this course.
Course Requirements
In this class you will be expected to:
1). Attend every class prepared to discuss the reading. That is, attendance is mandatory. Attending lectures will improve your understanding of course material, help prepare you for exams, and allow you to earn points toward your grade. Reading assignments should be completed before the class period they appear next to on the course schedule, you will be asked to participate in
discussions and answer questions based on this material in class. On any given day, attendance may be taken and in-class assignments, labs, or other graded activities are possible. Simply put, you will not do well in this course if you are not committed to coming to class regularly. 2). Take 3 in-class exams (there will be no cumulative final exam)
3). Complete in-class assignments, projects, mini-labs, and quizzes as they are given (see page 2). These may be either announced or unannounced, depending on the point value of each task.
TAs:
Gorana Gonzalez
Nicolle Michaels
Cassandra Vazquez
E-mail:
[email protected]
Texts
The following texts are required for the course:
Behavior Analysis & Learning
ISBN: 9781848726154 Authors: Pierce & Cheney Edition: 5th (2013)
Publisher: Psychology Press
Don't Shoot the Dog!
ISBN: 0553380397 Author: Pryor
Edition: Revised (1999) Publisher: Bantam Books
Both texts have been ordered to the UF bookstore. New and used copies are also sold through online stores (e.g. Amazon.com).
Other required materials:
1. A training notebook (an inexpensive spiral notebook will do) 2. A training clicker (you can obtain one for about $1 at Petsmart)
Examinable material
In addition to both the assigned textbook chapters and lecture material, assigned articles and key aspects of class discussions could appear on an exam. It is your responsibility to attend class to make sure you have the relevant material and are up to date on any changes made to the course schedule.
Assessment
1). 3 in-class exams worth 50 points each (67% of final grade) 2). 12 quizzes worth 2 points each (11% of final grade)
3). Shaping project worth 50 points (22% of final grade). Details will be posted on Sakai 4). 10 in-class assignments worth 2 points each (applied as extra credit)
Instructions for completing assignments and essays will be discussed in class. For out-of-class assignments basic instructions will also be posted on Sakai. Due dates are listed on the syllabus. Late assignments will not be accepted.
If you are unable to attend an exam or a class (especially in which a quiz or in-class assignment was given) for a reason beyond your control1 you will need to make contact with me before or within 24
hours of the missed exam/class by emailing me at [email protected] so I may see documentary evidence for your incapacity (this is usually a note from your physician or the dean of your college). If appropriate, we will then arrange a makeup test or assignment. You do not need to contact me for a missed lecture, but it is your responsibility to obtain the notes or material from classes you miss. This is true even if your absence is excused.
1 It is ‘beyond your control’ if you are sick, have an accident, or a member of your family is taken seriously ill and you have to
rush home. It is not ‘beyond your control’ if you oversleep, forget, or just have something more attractive to do.
Students representing the university in sporting or cultural events may also request permission to makeup an exam or assignment if the event clashes with a regularly assigned date (requires week advanced notice and documentation from event’s coach or director on appropriate letterhead).
Grading
I will calculate your grades by taking the total number of points you earned, divided by the total number of points possible (224), and multiplying by 100. The resulting percentage will be your numerical grade (left column) and will be assigned the corresponding letter grade (right column):
Percentiles Grade 92.5 or above A 89.5-92.4 A-86.5-89.4 B+ 82.5-86.4 B 79.5-82.4 B-76.5-79.4 C+ 72.5-76.74 C 69.5-72.4 C-66.5-69.4 D+ 62.5-66.4 D 59.5-62.4 D-59.4 or below E (Fail)
The good news is that these grades are firm – everybody in the class can get an A (and I hope you do)! The bad news is that these grades are firm – if you score just one point below the cutoff then you will get the lower grade.
It is your responsibility to check your grades on Sakai often (logging on to Sakai at least twice a week will allow you to keep up with your grades and class announcements and is strongly recommended). If you believe an error has been made or if you are missing a score for an assignment, test, or participation day once grades have been posted, let me know of the situation by email as soon as possible (within a week). Requests to review grades for assignments posted prior to the most recent exam may not be granted.
Students with Special Needs
Students requesting classroom or testing accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office (http://www.dso.ufl.edu/drc/). The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to me when requesting accommodation. If these instructions are followed, I am very willing to honor any requests.
Honor Code
I am not willing to give a passing grade to those do not abide by the UF honor code. Any student who cheats or helps another student cheat will receive an E (Fail) for the course. This includes plagiarism. You cannot use another’s material word-for-word or reuse another’s ideas in any written assignment without specifically acknowledging that you are quoting or referencing the work of a specific author. Excessive quotes are typically considered inappropriate and could result in point loss (so put the knowledge you gain into your own words when possible). An important rule of thumb: If you got an idea from a source, even if you use your own wording, you still need to reference the source.
COURSE SCHEDULE (last updated August 26, 2013) **
Date Topic Reading
Thurs 8/22 Welcome to EAB 3002
Bring syllabus (printed or on computer) to class
Tues 8/27 History, Background & Assumptions of a Science of Behavior
P & C (Pierce & Cheney) Ch. 1 (pp. 1-25)
Thurs 8/29 Biology, Behavior, and Culture Three levels of selection:
P & C Ch. 14 (pp. 439-461) Sakai: Selection by Consequences
(Skinner, 1960)
Tues 9/3 Behavior & Single-Subject ResearchThe Experimental Analysis of
P & C Ch. 2 (pp. 29-46) Sakai: Single-subject research in zoos
(Saudargras & Dummer, 1996)
Thurs 9/5 Reflexive Behavior and Respondent Conditioning
P & C Ch. 3
Sakai: Imprinting article (Peterson, 1960)
Tues 9/10
Reflexive Behavior and Respondent Conditioning:
(Guest Lecture by Nathan Hall) P & C Ch. 3 (Skim)
Thurs 9/12
Reinforcement and Extinction of Operant (Purposive) Behavior;
Exam 1 Review (5th period)
Lecture: P & C 4
Review: Covers P&C 1-3 & 14, assigned articles, and lecture notes
Tues 9/17 Exam 1
Covers P&C 1-3, assigned articles, and lecture notes
Thurs 9/19 Operant Behavior & Schedules of Reinforcement P&C Ch. 4 (Skim) & Ch. 5
Tues 9/24 Schedules of Reinforcement (continued) P & C Ch. 5
Thurs 9/26 (Guest Lecture by: Vanessa Minervini)Schedules of Reinforcement P & C Ch. 9 (Matching law P. 198-208)
Tues 10/1
Conditioning Lab **Bring Training Clicker & Notebook
to class**
DSTD (Don’t Shoot the Dog) Read: Forward-P. 26
Tues 10/8
Stimulus Control (cont.): Generalization & “Errorless”
Discrimination
P&C: Ch. 8 (p. 233-251)
Thurs 10/10 Choice & Preference
P&C Ch. 9
Conditioning Assignment: Shaping Plan
Due in Class (Bring 2 hard copies, stapled together)
Tues 10/15 Choice & Preference (cont.) & Exam 2 Review P & C Chapters 4, 5, 8 & 9
Thurs 10/17 Exam 2
(No regularly scheduled office hours today. Come Monday or By Appointment)
Tues 10/22 Conditioning Assignment Workshop (In-Class)
TAs will be present in class to help advise students
Thurs 10/24 Conditioning Assignment Workshop (Out of Class) No Class
Tues 10/29
Aversive Control
Shaping plans returned P & C Ch. 6
Thurs 10/31
Aversive Control & Alternatives (Extinction, Differential
Reinforcement) DSTD Read: Ch. 4
Tues 11/5 Operant-Respondent Interrelationships & Biological Context P & C Ch. 7
Thurs 11/7 Conditioned Reinforcement P & C Ch. 10
Tues 11/12
Effects of Nicotine on Operant Responding for Alcohol (Guest Lecture by Philip Erb)
Assigned Articles (can be found on Sakai
under Resources)
Thurs 11/14 Complex and Rule-Governed Behavior P & C Ch. 11
Tues 11/19 Verbal Behavior P & C Ch. 12
Tues 11/26 EXAM 3 Review
P&C: Chapters 6, 7, 10-13
Shaping Assignment: Essay & Revised
Shaping Plan Due (see instructions on Sakai)
Thurs 11/28 No Class (Happy Thanksgiving!)
Tues 12/3 EXAM 3
