EAB 4714-C (7984): Laboratory in Applied Behavior Analysis

Syllabus, Spring, 2008

General

Meetings: Mondays, 6:00-8:30 pmLarsen 239

Instructor: Brian Iwata ()Psychology Bldg, Rm# 329, tel: 392-0601, ext. 281

Graduate Assistants: Meagan Gregory (), Griffin Rooker ()

Description

This is a course on research methods and applications in behavior analysis. It is designed around an actual working laboratory so that advanced undergraduate students can experience conditions similar to those they will encounter in graduate school. Thus, course content changes somewhat from term to term based on current research in progress. General topics to be covered include: observation of human behavior in applied settings, assessment of interobserver agreement, data graphing and analysis, reinforcer assessment, functional analysis of behavior disorders, and intervention strategies. Although most of the assigned readings and lab work focus on specialized topics (assessment and treatment of learning and behavior disorders), the skills taught are general in nature and provide students with a strong empirical background for graduate study in a number of different areas (e.g., medicine, psychology, public health, special education).

Text

All reading materials needed for the course will be sent vial email (or website) or distributed in class.

Lab Meetings

The weekly lab meeting will be held on Mondays from 6:00 until about 8:30 pm. The first half of the meeting consists of a review of ongoing research projects; the second half consists of a lecture/discussion session for undergraduate students. Attendance at these meetings is mandatory.

Lab Activities

a)You will spend six (6) lab hours per week at either the Alachua Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC) or Sidney Lanier School. The lab schedule will be finalized in class, and your lab hours should conform to scheduled times. Permission must be obtained to make up missed hours in a timely fashion. The Lab will be open for approximately 15 weeks this term, so you will accumulate about 90 hours at the lab (Note: The distribution of holidays may require minor adjustments). There is no final exam, but lab hours will run through the last day of exams. Schedule deviations that may occur during the term will be communicated to you either in class or at the lab.

b)Weekly reading assignments are listed on the class schedule. Initial assignments consist of articles on aspects of assessment and treatment. Later assignments consist of a combination of current research protocols plus background articles. Each week you will turn in a written critique for one of the assigned articles (see example), which will be graded on a 10-point basis. In addition, a one-question quiz will be given at the beginning of each class on the other article(s).

c)You will turn in “lab logs” each week summarizing the progress of two clients you follow throughout the term (see initial due date).

Grading

Written assignments will be given point values, and lab performance will be evaluated by graduate students who supervise your work. Students wanting to earn an “A” in the course will also submit a research proposal at the end of the term. Final grades will be determined as follows:

GradeLab HrsStudy QuestionsLogs & AssignmentsEvaluationResearch Proposal

A/B+ 90On time, 9 ptsOn time, completeAll S/S+B+ or A

B 90On time, 8 ptsOn time, completeAll SB

C 87On time, 7 ptsOn time, completeAll SN/A

D 87Any late or 6 ptsAny late or UAny UN/A

E <87Any late or 5 ptsChronic absence and/or poor performance (L/U work)

Class Schedule: Spring, 2008

DateTopicAssignment

1.07 / Introduction /
  1. Introduction, data calculation and reliability
  2. Turn in data calc./reliability homework by end of week

1.14 / No class and lab closed on Monday
only (M.L.King Day)
1.21 / Applied Behavior Analysis
Careers & Graduate School /
  1. Turn in answers to questions for Baer et al. (1968)
  2. Begin lab logs (turn in during class)

1.28 / Preference Assessment /
  1. Pace et al. (1985)
  2. Fisher et al. (1992)
  3. Roscoe et al. (1999)

2.04 / Functional Analysis & Treatment /
  1. Iwata, Dorsey, et al. (1994/1982)
  2. Iwata & Worsdell (2005)

2.11 / Function-Based Interventions /
  1. Vollmer et al. (1993)
  2. Iwata et al., 1990
  3. Roscoe et al., 1998

2.18 / Protocols 1
Methodological Issues / 1.Conners et al. (2000)
2.Hammond (FA sequence)
3.Shirley et al. (1999)
4.Rooker protocol (false tangible)
2.25 / Protocols 2
Social Avoidance, Precursor Behavior / 1.Taylor & Carr (1992)
2.Harper protocol (social avoidance)
3.Goh et al. (2000)
4. Fritz protocol (precursor behavior)
3.03 / Protocols 3
Escape-Maintained behavior /
  1. Zarcone et al. (1994)
  2. Rolider protocol (antecedent interventions for Sr-)
  3. Hoch et al. (2002)
  4. Hammond protocol (competing Sr-)

3.10 / Spring Break / No class or lab hours his week
3.17 / Protocols 4
Compliance with Medical Regimens / 1.Conyers et al. (2004)
2.Rooker (avoidance of dental procedures)
3.Epstein & Masek (1978)
4.Rooker (medication compliance)
3.24 / Protocols 5
Social Interaction /
  1. Wallace et al. (2006)
  2. Bloom protocol (mands)
  3. Kifer et al. (1974)
  4. Fahmie protocol (arguments)

3.31 / Protocols 6
Prader Willi – dietary issues / 1.Altman et al. (1978)
2.Gregory protocol (weight control in PWS)
3.Maglieri et al. (2000)
4.Rone protocol (food stealing)
4.07 / Protocols 7
Prader Willi - SIB / 1.Grace et al. (1996)
2.Gregory protocol (SIB in PWS)
3.Article TBA
4.Rooker protocol (pain)
4.14 / Assignment TBA
PROPOSALS DUE TODAY
4.21 / Proposal Presentations / No assignment

EAB 4714C: Laboratory in Applied Behavior Analysis

Assigned Readings, Spring, 2008

Applied Behavior Analysis

Baer, D.M., Wolf, M.M., & Risley, T.R. (1968). Some current dimensions of applied behavior analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1, 91-97.

Preference & Reinforcer Assessment

Pace, G.M., Ivancic, M.T., Edwards, G.L., Iwata, B.A., & Page, T.J. (1985). Assessment of stimulus preference and reinforcer value with profoundly retarded individuals. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 18, 249-255.

Fisher, W., Piazza, C.C., Bowman, L.G., Hagopian, L.P., Owens, J.C., & Slevin, I. (1992). A comparison of two approaches for identifying reinforcers for persons with severe and profound disabilities. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 25, 491-498.

Roscoe, E.M., Iwata, B.A., & Kahng, S. (1999). Relative versus absolute reinforcement effects: Implications for preference assessments. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 32, 479-493.

Functional Analysis & Treatment

Iwata, B.A., Dorsey, M.F., Slifer, K.J., Bauman. K.E., & Richman, G.S. (1994). Toward a functional analysis of self-injury. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 197-209. Reprinted from Analysis and Intervention in Developmental Disabilities, 2, 3-20, 1982.

Iwata, B.A., & Worsdell, A.S. (2005). Implications of functional analysis methodology for the design of intervention programs. Exceptionality, 13, 25-34.

Function-Based Interventions

Vollmer, T.R., Iwata, B.A., Zarcone, J.R., Smith, R.G., & Mazaleski, J.L. (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, 9-21.

Iwata, B.A., Pace, G.M., Kalsher, M.J., Cowdery, G.E., & Cataldo, M.F. (1990). Experimental analysis and extinction of self-injurious escape behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 23, 11-27.

Roscoe, E.M., Iwata, B.A., & Goh, H. (1998). A comparison of noncontingent reinforcement and sensory extinction as treatments for self-injurious behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 31, 635-646.

Protocols 1

Conners, J., Iwata, B.A., Kahng, S., Hanley, G.P., Worsdell, A.S., & Thompson, R.H. (2000). Differential responding in the presence and absence of discriminative stimuli during multielement functional analyses. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 33, 299-308.

Hammond, J.L. (protocol). Effects of fixed versus random sequencing during multielement functional analyses.

Shirley, M.J., Iwata, B.A., Kahng, S. (1999). False-positive maintenance of self-injurious behavior by access to tangible reinforcers. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 32, 201-204.

Rooker, G.W. (protocol). Assessment of false positive outcomes in the functional analysis tangible condition.

Protocols 2

Taylor, J. C., & Carr, E. G. (1992). Severe problem behaviors related to social interaction 1: Attention seeking and social avoidance. Behavior Modification, 16, 305-335.

Harper, J.M. (protocol). Social avoidance as a reinforcer for problem behavior.

Goh, H., Iwata, B.A. & DeLeon, I.G. (2000). Competition between noncontingent and contingent reinforcement schedules during response acquisition. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 33, 195-205.

Fritz, J.N. (Protocol). Treatment of severe problem behavior based on an analysis of its precursors.

Protocols 3

Zarcone, J. R., Iwata, B. A., Mazaleski, J. L., & Smith, R. G. (1994). Momentum and extinction effects on self-injurious excape behavior and noncompliance. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 649-658.

Rolider, N.U. (protocol). Antecedent interventions for problem behavior maintained by escape.

Hoch, H., McComas, J.J., Thompson, A.L., & Paone, D. (2002). Concurrent reinforcement schedules: Behavior change and maintenance without extinction. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 35, 155-169.

Hammond, J.L. (protocol). Analysis of competing consequences for escape-maintained behavior: Effects of reinforcer quality and magnitude

Protocols 4

Conyers, C., Miltenberger, R. G., Peterson, B., Gubin, A., Jurgens, M., Selders, A., Dickinson, J., & Barenz, R. An evaluation of in vivo desensitization and video modeling to increase compliance with dental procedures in persons with mental retardation. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 37, 233-238.

Rooker, G.W. (protocol). Assessment and treatment of problem behavior maintained by escape from dental procedures.

Epstein, L. H., & Masek, B. J. (1978). Behavioral control of medicine compliance. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 11, 1-9.

Rooker, G.W. (protocol). Increasing medication compliance in individuals with developmental disabilities.

Protocols 5

Wallace, M.D., Iwata, B.A., & Hanley, G.P. (2006) Establishment of mands following tact training as a function of reinforcer strength. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 39,17-24.

Bloom, S.E. (protocol). An evaluation of cross-function emergence of manding.

Kifer, R.E., Lewis, M.A., Green, D.R., & Phillips, E.L. (1974). Training predelinquent youths and their parents to negotiate conflict situations. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 357-364.

Fahmie, T.C. (protocol). Analysis of events that evoke argumentative behavior.

Protocols 6

Altman, K., Bondy, A., & Hirsch, G. (1978). Behavioral treatment of obesity in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 1, 403-412.

Gregory M.K., (protocol). Reducing weight gain on home visits by individuals with Prader-Willi Syndrome.

Maglieri, K. A., DeLeon, I. G., Rodriguez-Catter, V., & Sevin, B. M. (2000). Treatment of covert food stealing in an individual with Prader-Willi syndrome. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 33, 615-618.

Rone, A.B. (protocol). Analysis of food stealing in individuals with Prader-Willi Syndrome.

Protocols 7

Grace, N. C., Thompson, R., & Fisher, W. W. (1996). The treatment of covert self-injury through contingencies on response products. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 29, 239-242.

Gregory, M.K. (protocol). Treatment of covert self injury maintained by automatic reinforcement.

Article TBA

Rooker, G.W. (protocol). Assessment of pain sensitivity in the Prader-Willi Syndrome