Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30 - 10:45am
This course examines the theoretical principles underlying classical and operant conditioning and observational learning. Students will also study how these principles can be applied to modifying target behaviors in animals and humans. This course is particularly helpful for students pursuing careers in human services such as mental health, law enforcement, and education, as well as business and training.
PSYC 1813 - Must be completed prior to taking this course.
Faculty Contact Information
I am here to support you on your educational journey in the classroom and beyond. I generally come to class early and stay a little later to address any questions or concerns students might want to ask outside of class. I am also available to respond to questions or concerns by email, phone, Zoom, or in person appointment.
My Planned Office Hours
Tues/Thurs 9:00 – 9:30am and 1:00 – 2:00pm
If you’d like to schedule an appointment for a call, Zoom, or in my office (L325), the best way to reach me is by email (cstevenson@kcc.edu).
Course Information
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- 1. Explain fundamental procedures, principles, and theories in classical conditioning.
- 2. Explain fundamental procedures, principles, and theories in operant conditioning.
- 3. Apply theories of choice behavior to real world contingencies.
- 4. Describe the phenomena involved in stimulus control, including generalization and discrimination learning.
- 5. Apply behavioral theory to modify target behaviors.
- 6. Evaluate ethical considerations in behavioral modification.
- 7. Evaluate research methods as applied to human and animal learning and behavior.
Unit 1. Introduction to behavioral psychology
- History of the field/Main schools in Behaviorism
- Research methods
Unit 2. Classical Conditioning
- Fundamental concepts (respondent conditioning, habituation, sensitization, extinction)
- Classic studies (Pavlov, Watson)
- Practical applications
Unit 3. Operant Conditioning
- Fundamental concepts (antecedents, consequences, contingencies, schedules of reinforcement, shaping, extinction, stimulus control, concurrent schedules)
- Classic Studies (Thorndike, Skinner, Hernnstein)
- Practical applications
Unit 4. Observational Learning
- Fundamental concepts (imitation, social learning)
- Class studies (Bandura)
- Practical applications
Unit 5. Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis
- Practical applications
- Basic principles
- Ethical considerations
Powell, R., Honey, P. & Symbaluk, D. G. (2009). Introduction to learning and behavior (3rd ed.). Cengage Learning Custom Publishing.
Grading Scale
A 90% 405 points
B 80% 360 points
C 70% 315 points
D 60% 270 points
F < 60%
Graded Criteria
Participation 50 points
Exams (30 points) 150 points
Fieldwork Reports (35 points) 175 points
SAFMED Project 75 points
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450 points
Description of each criterion.
Participation (50 points): Participation and in-class activities (25 points): This grade will be determined by participation in class, attendance in class as well as participation in in-class activities. Please note that if you are texting in class you will be counted as absent for part or all of that day.
Participation in class: Although a part of participation does mean speaking in class, if you are uncomfortable with speaking in front of the group, there are other ways to ensure that you maintain a high participation grade. First, part of participation means that you come to class prepared having done the reading. Second, participation is also gauged by whether or not you are engaged in active listening as well as taking notes. This means that you are awake and alert and seem to be engaged in the material. Third, participation also includes contributing to small group work in class.
Exams (150 points): Five exams including multiple choice, matching, and short answer will be given through the course of the semester. Though most of the exam will focus on the chapters covered during that point of the term, due to the cumulative nature of course, some questions may draw upon information learned earlier in the course. Late exams will receive half credit unless arrangements have been made prior to the due date or you have a documented emergency.
Exams must be taken using Respondus Lockdown Browser and Monitor. This will require you to download the app (which I recommend doing during the first week in case you have any issues) as well as have a working camera. If you do not have a camera, you may be able to check one out at the KCC library. Alternatively, you can schedule an exam in the KCC Testing Center. Please be sure to provide a few days notice so that I can send the exam to the TC.
*If you require additional time due to an accommodation through the Office of Disability Services, please contact me at the beginning of the semester so that I can make alternative testing arrangements.
Fieldwork Reports (175 points): Five labs will be given to provide hands-on practice applying concepts to real-world experiences. A template and instructions will be provided within each unit. Fieldwork reports will be due the week following an exam. Late fieldwork reports will receive a deduction of one-letter grade if received within a week of the due date. Fieldwork reports received after the grace period will receive half credit.
SAFMEDS (75 points): This flashcard activity is a common practice in ABA programs. In addition to reinforcing new vocabulary terms, this activity will offer a means to collect and graph behavioral data. Students will show proficiency through a verbal demonstration. Students can earn up to 10 points within each unit for the SAFMEDS demonstration, and up to 5 points per unit for the behavioral graph. A 10% late penalty will be applied if students fail to arrange a make-up session prior to the due date if they are unable to attend the assessment day.
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Dean, Jennifer Huggins; 815-802-8484; R310; jhuggins@kcc.edu; Division Office- W102; 815-802-8700
Plagiarism
Plagiarism, is defined in section 16.2 of the Code of Conduct: “Representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own. Plagiarism includes claiming credit for assignments completed by someone else.” All instances of intentional plagiarism on any major assignment for this course will lead to the immediate failure of the course with no opportunity for the student to withdraw. The instance of plagiarism will be reported to the Dean of Student Development. If the student has a second instance of plagiarism reported to the Dean of Student Development, the student may be suspended from the institution.
Academic Integrity: Students are expected to submit honest, original work. Examples of cheating include copying another students’ work, using another’s work (including artificial intelligence) without appropriate references, or submitting your own work that has already been used in another class. The college regards cheating as a very serious offense and may result in failure of the class and dismissal from the college.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI programs can serve as helpful tools in the learning process. However, they cannot be used as a substitute for writing. Acceptable uses of AI for this course include assistance with grammar, spelling, and writing mechanics. However, using AI to generate content for a paper, assignment, or discussion post is considered plagiarism and is not appropriate use. Such use will result in, at minimum, a zero for the assignment without opportunity for resubmission, and may result in failure of the course.
Any use of AI should be properly referenced in the References. This source can provide guidance: https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/how-to-cite-chatgpt
Additionally, the chat input and output must be included in an Appendix.
Attendance:
Regular attendance is expected in accordance with college policy. If at midterm, you are not making satisfactory progress toward completing this course, then you may be administratively withdrawn from the course.
Late Assignments: All assignments and papers are expected on the due date assigned. Should unusual circumstances arise that delay your work, you may turn in your assignment up to one week late with a deduction of a full letter grade for that assignment. After one week, the assignment may not be accepted unless unusual and unavoidable circumstances warrant an additional exemption. Only two assignments may be submitted late. All late assignments must be submitted prior to the week of finals; no late work will be accepted during finals week.
Makeup Exams: You are expected to be in class for the scheduled exams. In the event of an emergency or illness, you must contact me the day of the exam to arrange for a make-up exam. Makeup exams should be completed in the Testing as soon as possible. Late exams that were not pre-arranged will receive half credit unless you have a documented emergency that prevented appropriate arrangements
Writing style: The official writing style for the course is APA Style. See Purdue Owl for a helpful resource.
All coursework must be typed. Abbreviations such as those used when texting (i.e., “u” instead of “you”) are NOT appropriate and work containing such abbreviations will not be graded. Instead, it would be returned to you for corrections, and you will immediately lose one letter grade for that assignment. Once you have made corrections, you may turn in the assignment for grading. You will lose an additional letter grade for each week the assignment is late.
Contacting the instructor: E-mail is the best way to contact me. I usually check my e-mail several times a day and strive to get back to messages within 24 hours. However the response time is lengthened to 48-72 hours over the weekend. Please use your KCC email account to email me as any other account might be flagged as spam and not delivered.
If you have read to this point of the syllabus and would like extra credit, use your KCC student email to send me a picture of your favorite animal to cstevenson@kcc.edu no later than by beginning of the second class. Please be sure to include which class the class number (PSYC 2623 010) in the subject line.
Week 1 (01/12– 01/18) Welcome/Getting Acclimated
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Tuesday in Class Class Introduction To prepare for next class:
| Thursday in Class Getting acclimated What is behaviorism? To do after class:
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Week 2 (01/19 – 01/25) Unit 1: Intro to Behavioral Psychology
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Tuesday in Class
| Thursday in Class Continue 5 Schools of Behaviorism
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Week 3 (01/26 – 02/01) Unit 1: Defining and Measuring Behavior
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| Week 4 (02/02 – 02/08) Unit 1: Research Methods | |
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Week 5 (02/09 – 02/15) Wrapping Up Unit 1
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Tuesday
To do after class: | Thursday Unit 1 Exam To do after class: Complete Fieldwork Report by Thur, Feb 20th
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| Week 6 (02/16 – 02/22) Unit 2: Classical Conditioning – Ch 3 | |
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Week 7 (02/23 – 03/01) Unit 2: Classical Conditioning – Ch 4
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Tuesday Advanced Classical Conditioning! To do after class:
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Week 8 (03/02 – 03/07) Unit 2: Classical Conditioning – Ch 5
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| ***Spring Break*** Enjoy your time off! | |
Week 9 (03/16 – 03/22) Unit 3: Operant Conditioning – Ch 6
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| Week 10 (03/23 – 03/29) Unit 3: Operant Conditioning (Reinforcement) – Ch 7 | |
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Week 11 (03/30 – 04/05) Unit 3: OC (Reinforcement) cont’d
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Week 12 (04/06 – 04/12) Unit 4: OC (Extinction)
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Week 13 (04/13 – 04/19) Unit 4: OC (Avoidance and Punishment)
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Week 14 (04/20 – 04/26) Unit 4: OC (Choice)
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Thursday Unit 4 Exam To do after class: |
Week 15 (04/27 – 05/03) Unit 5: Observational Learning
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Week 16 (05/04 – 05/10) Unit 5: Observational Learning
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Thursday Unit 5 Exam To do after class: |
College Policies, Resources and Supports
For information related to the Student Code of Conduct Policy, Withdrawal Policy, Email Policy, and Non- Attendance/Non-Participation Policy, please review the college’s Code of Campus Affairs and Regulations webpage, which can be found at catalog.kcc.edu under the Academic Regulations & Conduct Guide.
KCC offers various academic and personal resources for all students. Many services are offered virtually, as well as in person. Please visit Student Resources - Kankakee Community College to access student resources services such as:
- Clubs and organizations
- Counseling and referral services
- Office of disability services
- Student complaint policy
- Transfer services
- Tutoring services, etc.
The materials on this course are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course. Further information regarding KCC's copyright policy is available at https://kcc.libguides.com/copyright.
|Course syllabus/calendar is subject to change.