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Syllabus
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Learning (Psychology 304)
James T. Todd, Ph.D.
Behavior Analysis and Learning 3rd ed by Pierce & Cheney
10:00-11:50 M, T, Th
120 Mark Jefferson Hall
June 23, 2004 at the regular class time.
[email protected]
people.emich.edu/jtodd
537F Mark Jefferson; 734-487-2254
2-3 pm M, T, Th, and by appointment
Course Objectives
This course is an introduction to the principles of conditioning learning. Through readings, lectures,
assignments, and class discussion the student will become familiar with the basics of modern
conditioning and learning theory, including topics such as habituation, sensitization, respondent
conditioning, operant conditioning, generalization, discrimination, and matching. A special emphasis
will be placed the application of principles of conditioning to behavior problems. This course will
include significant coverage of the history of learning theories, and critical analyses of certain theories
of learning. Cognitive learning will be incorporated, with a special emphasis on a synthesis of cognitive
findings with principles of behavior derived from learning theory. For successful completion of the
course student will be expected to participate constructively in class discussions, correctly answer
questions on quizzes and examinations.
Assignments
This course will not ordinarily include graded assignments, although assignments might be added if
general class performance warrants. Study exercises may also be given.
Examinations
This course will include four regular examinations and one final examination. Each regular examination
will consist of 50-100 multiple choice, true/false, or short-answer questions. The final examination will
consist of 75-100 multiple choice, true/false, or short-answer questions.
Grading
The course grade will be an average of the highest three regular examination grades and the final test
grade. The final test will be worth two regular examination grades. Thus, ordinarily, each regular
examination grade is worth 20% of the total course grade, and the final test will be worth 40%.
However, any student who achieves an average of at least 90% on three of the four regular
examinations, including at least 80% on the fourth regular examination, can accept the grade earned, and
need not take the final. Any student who earns less that 90% on the three best regular examinations, or
does not earn at least 80% on the fourth examination, must take the final test.
Make-ups
Make-up quizzes and assignments will be arranged only for those students who provide valid, overriding
medical or personal reasons for missing a scheduled requirement. If you know beforehand you will miss
a scheduled requirement, inform the instructor as soon as possible. Documentation verifying a valid
reason for the absence from the test may be required in all cases a make-up is arranged. Make-ups will
be conducted at a time convenient for the instructor. The make up test might be in a different format
from the regular test (i.e., essay instead of multiple choice).
Office Hours
The instructor will ordinarily hold office hours as specified above and by appointment. Please call or
email ahead if possible.
Attendance
Except as required by university policies and other regulations, attendance will not be recorded.
However, because the examinations will cover lecture material and important announcements may be
made at any time regarding issues such as reading assignment changes, class cancellations, and
examination coverage, attendance at every class meeting is encouraged. Furthermore, unless you
provide an reasonable medical or personal reason for missing a scheduled course meeting (see makeups), you will receive a grade of 0 (zero) for any in class exercises conducted that day. Attendance at
examinations will be required.
Final Exam
This course has a final examination scheduled for June 23 at the regular class time. Please be aware that
there is no “finals week” during the spring and summer terms. The final test period is simply the last
scheduled class session. Please come to all classes.
Cheating
University and departmental policies with respect to academic dishonesty and cheating will be followed
and enforced. You will not be permitted to use notes, books, tape players, radios, or similar items
during testing periods. The instructor will retroctively apply penalties for academic dishonesty if the
problem is discovered after test and course grades are given.
Student Requests
Requests for make-up tests, grade changes, extensions, special grades, etc. should be made directly to
the instructor in advance and include supporting documentation.
Syllabus Changes
Unforeseen circumstances may result in changes in any aspect of this syllabus. The instructor may
make changes in the syllabus, schedule, requirements, and other aspects of the course. These changes
will be announced in class.
Class Cancellations
Class meetings may be canceled by university authorities or by the instructor. Cancellations will be
announced in as timely a manner as possible. Assignments due on the day of the canceled class may be
turned in at the next scheduled class meeting.
Other policies
Please refer to official university publications, especially the class schedule and graduate catalog, for
questions regarding enrollment, registration, schedules, adds, drops, grading options, and other policies.
Course Schedule
Week 1: Introduction to the course
5/3:
Coverage of syllabus and overview of the course.
Readings:
Foreword
Preface
Chapter 1, pp. 1- 26
Topics:
Introduction to conditioning and learning & experimental analysis of
behavior.
Some basic terms and concepts
Brief historical overview.
5/4:
Measurement and Study of Behavior
Readings:
Chapter 2, pp. 27-52
Skinner, 1950 (Website)
Topics:
Methods of measurement
Experimental Designs
5/6:
ReflexiveBehavior and Respondent Conditioning
Readings:
Chapter 3, pp. 53-82
Skinner, (1972/1999) (Website)
Topics:
Basic stimulus-response relationships
Schedule-induced behavior
Pavlovian contingencies
Conditioned taste aversion
Rescorla-Wagner Theory
Week 2: Reflexive and Respondent Behavior/Being Operant Behavior
5/10: Reflexive and Respondent Conditioning (continued)
5/11: Reflexive and Respondent Conditioning (continued)
5/13: Examination One
Week 3: Operant Behavior
5/17: Reinforcement and Extinction of Operant Behavior
Readings:
Chapter 4, pp. 83-117
Michael (1975) (Website)
Skinner (1949) (Website)
Topics:
The operant as a unit of behavior
Positive and negative reinforcement
Reinforcement, creativity, and behavioral variability
The myth of the undermining of intrinsic motivation
Premack principle
5/18: Reinforcement and Extinction of Operant Behavior (continued)
5/20: Schedules of Reinforcement
Reading:
Chapter 5, pp. 118-132
Topics:
Basic schedules
Partial reinforcement effect
Ratio and interval schedules
Analysis of schedule effects
Week 4: Basics of Operant Behavior/ Schedules of Reinforcement /Begin Stimulus Control
5/24: Examination Two
5/26: Aversive Control
Reading:
Topics:
5/27: Stimulus Control
Reading:
Topics:
Chapter 6, pp. 153-182.
Punishment
Avoidance and escape
Sidman avoidance
Side-effects of aversive control
Learned helplessness
Extinction-induced aggression
Chapter 8, pp. 208-234
Differential reinforcement and discrimination
Multiple schedules
Behavioral contrast
Generalization
Errorless stimulus control
Week 5: Stimulus Control
5/31: Memorial Day. No classes
6/2:
Stimulus Control (continued)
6/3:
Conditioned Reinforcement
Readings:
Chapter 10, pp. 270-294
Topics:
Behavior chains
Establishing operations
Information and conditioned reinforcement
Concurrent chains
Establishing conditioned reinforcement
Clicker training
Week 6: Stimulus Control; Choice
6/7:
Examination Three
6/9:
Choice and Preference
Reading:
Chapter 9, pp. 235-269
Bourrett & Vollmer, 2002 (Website)
Bourrett & Vollment, 2003 (Website)
Topics:
Concurrent schedules
Change-over responding
Change-over delay
Matching law
Generalized matching law
Ubiquity of matching
Matching in applied setting
6/10: Choice and Preference (continued)
Week 7: Verbal Behavior and other Complex Human Behavior
6/14: Verbal Behavior
Readings:
Topics:
Chapter 12, pp. 324-357
Verbal behavior versus language
Structural and function analyses
Generative grammar
Basic units of verbal behavior
Stimulus equivalence
Language training
6/16: Social and Cognitive Contingencies
Readings:
Festinger (Website)
Topics:
Cognition/Memory
Cognitive dissonance
Attribution theory
6/17: Applying behavioral principles to behavior problems
Readings:
Chapter 13, pp. 358-390
Chapter 14, pp. 391-418
Baer, Wolf, & Risley, 1968 (Website)
Topics:
Applied behavior analysis
Behavior therapy
Social validity
Autism treatment/developmental disabilities
Compliance training
Programmed instruction/personalized system of instuction
Week 8: Exams
6/21: Test 4
Review for final examination.
6/23: Final Examination: This examination is required of all students who don’t average at least 90%
on three of the four regular examinations.