ED X315 - Philosophical Underpinnings, Concepts, and Principles

Course Description

This course focuses on the philosophical underpinnings, and key concepts & principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA). Specifically, this course focuses on the definition, characteristics, principles, processes, and concepts of and ethical issues pertaining to applied behavior analysis and their application to clinical practice and research in the area of severe developmental disabilities. Additional topics covered in this course include behavior and response classes, advanced issues related to reinforcement and punishment, stimulus control, establishing operations, functional relations, generalization, teaching contingency-shaped behavior, antecedent- and consequence-based intervention procedures. At the end of the course, students will be able to: (1) identify the goals of behavior analysis as a science (i.e., description, prediction, control) and  (2) explain the philosophical assumptions underlying the science of behavior analysis (e.g.,selectionism, determinism, empiricism, parsimony, pragmatism).

Course Outline

Course Requirements: Students attend weekly lectures, complete weekly quizzes, contribute to class discussions, and conduct an individual research project. As part of this course, students are also expected to read, evaluate, and interpret current behavioral research articles on topics related to their research interests.

Learner Outcomes

1. Understand the history of ABA
2. Describe and define the dimensions of applied behavior analysis
3. Describe and explain behavior from the perspective of radical behaviorism
4. Distinguish among behaviorism, the experimental analysis of behavior, applied behavior analysis, and professional practice guided by the science of behavior analysis.
5. Define and provide examples of behavior, response, and response class.
6. Define and provide examples of stimulus and stimulus class.
7. Define and provide examples of the respondent and operant conditioning.
8. Define and provide examples of positive and negative reinforcement contingencies
9. Define and provide examples of schedules of reinforcement.
10. Define and provide examples of unconditioned, conditioned, and generalized reinforcers and punishers.
11. Define and provide examples of stimulus control.
12. Define and provide examples of discrimination, generalization, and maintenance.
13. Define and provide examples of motivating operations.
14. Define and provide examples of rule-governed and contingency-shaped behavior.
15. Define and provide examples of verbal operant.

Applies Towards the Following Certificates

• Assistant Behavior Analyst : BCaBA BOARD CERTIFIED ASSISTANT BEHAVIOR ANALYST
• International Qualified Autism Specialist : Required Courses