EAB 3764: Applied Behavior Analysis

Course Syllabus, Fall, 2007

General

Section: 4014Instructor: Sarah E. Bloom

Class: M,W,F period 2 (8:30-9:20) Psych Bldg Room #329

Larson Rm. 239 Office hrs: W 9:30-11:30, Th 2-3

Email:

Phone: (352) 682-6726

Course website: plaza.ufl.edu/sebloom

Description

This is an introductory course in applied behavior analysis ("ABA"). Topics to be covered include:

• Basic principles of learning

• ABA research methods and techniques

• Applications of ABA across a wide range of populations, settings, and behaviors.

Objectives

The goal of this course is to introduce students to the methodology and philosophy of applied behavior analysis. Students will have opportunities to learn about basic principles of learning as they apply to socially-relevant problems via readings from the course textbook as well as research published in peer-reviewed journals. Lectures and discussions will provide additional opportunities for students to explore the ways in which ABA has been applied across diverse populations, settings, and behaviors. Quizzes and tests will allow students to practice effective use of new vocabulary and sharpen their responses with respect to course material.

Text

1. Miltenberger, R.G. (2008). Behavior modification: Principles and procedures. (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Thomson Wadsworth.

2. Vollmer, T.R., Iwata, B.A., Cuvo, A.J., Heward, W.L., Miltenberger, R.G., & Neef, N.A. (Eds.). (2000). Behavior analysis: Applications and extensions. Lawrence, KS: Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.

Note: Readings may be obtained by purchasing text: Behavior Analysis: Applications and extensions or by downloading articles via “Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis” website: at or can be obtained using the Electronic Reserve system (Ares) at Library West

Format and Schedule

A lecture/discussion format will be used. Chapters and readings will be assigned for each class (see schedule). Lectures will supplement the reading material or will present new information related to but not contained in the readings. Lecture notes will be posted on course website one day in advance of class. Note: Schedule deviations may occur and will be announced in class and posted on the bulletin board outside of Room # 329 and/or on the course website. Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation. All properly requested accommodations will be respectfully and discreetly granted.

Quizzes and Tests

Quizzes: A one-question quiz will be given at the beginning of each class on the material assigned for that day. If a text chapter (or part of a chapter) was assigned, the question will be based on the summary and study questions at the end. If a reading was assigned, the question will be based on the accompanying study objectives. Each quiz will be worth 5 points and will be graded as 5 (correct), 3 (partially correct), 1 (incorrect), or 0 (absent).

Tests: See the class schedule for test dates. Questions will consist of short-answer, true/false, and matching items, and will be drawn from material covered in the text, readings, and lectures. Each test will be worth 50 points. Students may qualify to “exempt” certain tests based on their previous test and quiz grades.

Misc.: Grades will be posted using the e-learning system and students will be able to access their own grades only. You should consult e-learning weekly to determine your status in the course. Missed quizzes or tests cannot be made up. There are two opportunities for students to recover points lost due to missed quizzes/tests or bad grades.

  1. A 15-pt "allowance" is built into the formula for determining final grades (see below).
  2. There will be two versions of the last test (Test #6). Form "A" will be similar to other tests, worth 50 pts and covering material since the previous test. Form "B" will be an optional comprehensive covering all material in the course and will be worth 100 pts. If you elect to take Form "B," your lowest grade on previous tests will be thrown out.

GradingFinal GradePoints %

Tests: 6 @ 50 pts = 300A408(92%)

Quizzes: 33 @ 5 pts =165B+387(87%)

Total: 465B365(82%)

Allowance- 15C+343(77%)

REVISED TOTAL:450C320(72%)

D289(65%)

General

All students can expect to be treated with respect by the Instructor and by other students. Every effort will be made to show consideration to all students and to create a classroom environment in which every student is made to feel that their contribution is valued. Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation. All properly requested accommodations will be respectfully and discreetly granted.

Date / Topic / Date / Topic
8-24 / Course Overview / 10-15
10-17
10-19 / Ch 6 & 18: Punishment
Linscheid et al. (1990)
Ch 17: Time out (389-398)
Porterfield et al. (1976)
8-27
8-29
8-31 / Ch1: Introduction to behavior modification
Baer et al. (1968)
Ch 2: Measurement & Reliability / 10-22
10-24
10-26 / Ch 17: Response Cost (399-end)
McSweeney (1978)
Group contingencies:
Marholin & Gray (1976)
TEST #4
9-3
9-5
9-7 / Labor Day No class
Ch 3: Graphing & Experimental design
TEST #1 / 10-29
10-31
11-2 / Ch 22: Token economy
Phillips et al. (1971)
Ch 23: Behavioral contracts (521-526)
Mann (1972)
Homecoming, no class
9-10
9-12
9-14 / Ch 4: Reinforcement (73-86)
Miller & Miller (1970)
Ch 4: Schedules of reinforcement (86-end)
DeLuca & Holborn (1992)
Ch 5: Extinction
France & Hudson (1990) / 11-5
11-7
11-9 / Ch 20: Self management
Wallace & Pear (1977)
Developmental disabilities (Azrin & Foxx, 1971)
TEST #5
9-17
9-19
9-21 / Ch 7: Stimulus control
O’Neill et al. (1980)
TEST #2 / 11-12
11-14
11-16 / Veteran’s Day, no class
Ch 24: Fear and anxiety reduction
Leitenberg et al. (1968)
Behavioral medicine: Iwata & Becksfort (1981)
9-24
9-26
9-28 / Ch 8: Respondent conditioning
Whitehead et al. (1976)
Ch 9: Shaping (185-196)
Smeets et al. (1985)
Graduate School & Careers (Brian A. Iwata) / 11-19
11-21
11-23 / Organizational behavior: Johnson & Fawcett (1994)
Community applications: Van Houten et al. (1985)
Thanksgiving no class
10-1
10-3
10-5 / Ch11: Chaining
Neef et al. (1989)
Ch19: Generalization (433-445)
Poche et al. (1981)
Ch13: Functional analysis
Iwata, Dorsey, et al. (1994) / 11-26
11-28
11-30 / Gerontology: Bourgeois (1990)
Sports: McKenzie & Rushall (1974)
Substance abuse: Stitzer et al. (1982)

Grade Review & Course Evaluation

10-8
10-10
10-12 / Ch 15: Differential reinforcement (327-344)
Liberman et al. (1973)
Ch 16: Antecedent control
Vollmer et al. (1993)
TEST # 3 / 12-3
12-5 / In-class Review
TEST #6

Course Articles:

*Note, all articles are available for electronic download at the University of Florida Ares Course Reserves System

Azrin, N.H., & Foxx, R.M. (1971). A rapid method of toilet training the institutionalized retarded. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 4, 2, 89-99.

Baer, D.M., Wolf, M.M., & Risley, T.R. (1968). Some current dimensions of applied

behavior analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1, 1, 91-97.

Bourgeois, M. S. (1990). Enhancing conversation skills in patients with Alzheimer's

disease using a prosthetic memory aid. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,

23, 1,29-42.

DeLuca, R. V. & S. W. Holborn (1992). Effects of a variable-ratio reinforcement

schedule with changing criteria on exercise in obese and non-obese boys.

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 25, 3, 671-679.

France, K. G., & Hudson, S. M. (1990). Behavior management of infant sleep

disturbance. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 23, 1, 91-98.

Iwata, B. A. & C. M. Becksfort (1981). Behavioral research in preventive dentistry:

Educational and contingency management approaches to the problem of patient

compliance. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 14, 2,111-120.

Iwata, B. A., M. F. Dorsey, et al. (1994). Toward a functional analysis of self-injury.

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 2, 197-209.

Johnson, M. D. & S. B. Fawcett (1994). Courteous service: Its assessment and

modification in a human service organization. Journal of Applied Behavior

Analysis, 27,1, 145-152.

Leitenberg, H., W. S. Agras, et al. (1968). Feedback in behavior modification: An

experimental analysis in two phobic cases. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,

1, 2, 131-137.

Liberman, R. P., J. Teigen, et al. (1973). Reducing delusional speech in chronic paranoid

schizophrenics. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 6, 1, 57-64.

Linscheid, T. R., B. A. Iwata, et al. (1990). Clinical evaluation of the Self-Injurious

Behavior Inhibiting System (SIBIS). Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 23, 1,

53-78.

Mann, R. A. (1972). The behavior-therapeutic use of contingency contracting to control

an adult behavior problem: Weight control. Journal of Applied Behavior

Analysis, 5, 2, 99-109.

Marholin II, D. & D. Gray (1976). Effects of group response-cost procedures on cash

shortages in a small business. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 9, 1, 25-30.

McKenzie, T. L. & B. S. Rushall (1974). Effects of self-recording on attendance and

performance in a competitive swimming training environment. Journal of

Applied Behavior Analysis, 7, 2,199-206.

McSweeny, A.J. (1978). Effects of response cost on the behavior of a million persons: Charging for directory assistance in Cincinnati. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 11, 1, 47-51.

Miller, L. K. & O. L. Miller (1970). Reinforcing self-help group activities of welfare

recipients. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 3, 1, 57-64.

Neef, N. A., J. M. Parrish, et al. (1989). Teaching self-catheterization skills to children

with neurogenic bladder complications. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis

22: 3, 237-243.

O'Neill, G. W., L. S. Blanck, et al. (1980). The use of stimulus control over littering in a

natural setting. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 13, 2, 379-381.

Phillips, E. L., E. A. Phillips, et al. (1971). Achievement place: Modification of the

behaviors of pre-delinquent boys within a token economy. Journal of Applied

Behavior Analysis 4: 1, 45-59.

Poche, C., R. Brouwer, et al. (1981). Teaching self-protection to young children.

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 14, 2, 169-176.

Porterfield, J. K., E. Herbert-Jackson, et al. (1976). Contingent observation: An effective

and acceptable procedure for reducing disruptive behavior of young children in a

group setting. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 9, 1, 55-64.

Smeets, P. M., G. E. Lancioni, et al. (1985). Shaping self-initiated toileting in infants."

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 18, 4,303-308.

Stitzer, M. L., G. E. Bigelow, et al. (1982). Contingent reinforcement for

benzodiazepine-free urines: Evaluation of a drug abuse treatment intervention.

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 15, 4, 493-503.

Van Houten, R., L. Malenfant, et al. (1985). Increasing driver yielding and pedestrian

signaling with prompting, feedback, and enforcement. Journal of Applied

Behavior Analysis, 18, 2, 103-110.

Vollmer, T. R., B. A. Iwata, et al. (1993). The role of attention in the treatment of

attention-maintained self-injurious behavior: Noncontingent reinforcement and

differential reinforcement of other behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior

Analysis, 26, 1, 9-21.

Wallace, I. & J. J. Pear (1977). Self-control techniques of famous novelists. Journal

of Applied Behavior Analysis, 10, 3, 515-525.

Whitehead, W. E., E. Lurie, et al. (1976). Classical conditioning of decreases in human

systolic blood pressure. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 9, 2, 153-157.