CQUniversity Unit Profile
PSYC13022 Learning & Behaviour Modification
Learning & Behaviour Modification
All details in this unit profile for PSYC13022 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit will provide you with an understanding of the environmental and cultural factors that control and modify behaviour. Theories of behaviour including Classical, Operant and Social/Observational Learning approaches are examined and discussed in relation to both animal and human research. Theories of behaviour modification will also be considered within the health context. There is a focus on applying theory to real-world situations and critically evaluating published research relevant to each topic. The latter half of the unit takes the theoretical approaches covered in the first 8 weeks and applies them to modifying behaviour within real-world situations such as intimate partner violence, drug use/abuse, and psychological disorders (e.g., Eating Disorders).

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 3
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 10
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Minimum of 96 credit points.

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2018

Adelaide
Bundaberg
Distance
Rockhampton
Townsville

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment
Weighting: 20%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 30%
3. Examination
Weighting: 50%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Student feedback in "Have your say".

Feedback

Suggestion was made to increase the number of compulsory forum contributions and perhaps not have an essay response in the exam for future iterations.

Recommendation

Assessments will be reviewed.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Explain the major principles and theories of learning
  2. Apply the major principles and theories of learning to explain behaviour within 'real world' contexts
  3. Employ advanced communication skills to demonstrate depth of understanding of the unit content.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 20%
3 - Examination - 50%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 - Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 20%
3 - Examination - 50%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Learning and Behavior

Edition: 7th (2014)
Authors: Paul Chance
Wadsworth/Cengage
Belmont Belmont , California , USA
ISBN: 9781111832773
Binding: Hardcover
Supplementary

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association

6th Revised edition (2009)
Authors: American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
Washington DC Washington DC , United States
Binding: Paperback

Additional Textbook Information

This is a supplementary text. Many students will already have purchased this text already as it is used continually throughout the Course.  For those students who prefer online resources you can also purchase this text as an e-book.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 6th Edition (APA 6th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Doreen Canoy Unit Coordinator
d.canoy@cqu.edu.au
Janene Dravsnik Unit Coordinator
j.dravsnik@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 09 Jul 2018

Module/Topic

Introduction & Pavlovian Conditioning: Theory & Application

Chapter

1, 3 & 4 + Readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Focus Question One opens Monday 9 July at 9:00am (AEST)

Week 2 Begin Date: 16 Jul 2018

Module/Topic

Operant Conditioning: Theory & Application I

Chapter

5, 6 + Readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Focus Question One closes on Sunday 22 July at 11.55pm (AEST)

Week 3 Begin Date: 23 Jul 2018

Module/Topic

Operant Conditioning: Theory & Application II

Chapter

7, 8 + Readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Focus Question Two opens Monday 23 July at 9:00am (AEST)

Week 4 Begin Date: 30 Jul 2018

Module/Topic

Operant Conditioning: Theory & Application III

Chapter

9 + Readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Focus Question Two closes Sunday 5 August at 11.55pm (AEST)

Week 5 Begin Date: 06 Aug 2018

Module/Topic

Observational Learning

Chapter

10 + Readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Focus Question Three opens Monday 6 August at 9:00am (AEST)

Vacation Week Begin Date: 13 Aug 2018

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 20 Aug 2018

Module/Topic

Generalisation, Discrimination & Stimulus Control

Chapter

11 + Readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Focus Question Three closes on Sunday 26 August at 11.55pm (AEST) 

Week 7 Begin Date: 27 Aug 2018

Module/Topic

Applied Behaviour Analysis/Behaviour Modification: Introduction

Chapter

Readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Focus Question Four opens on Monday 27 August at 9:00am (AEST)

Week 8 Begin Date: 03 Sep 2018

Module/Topic

ABA/BMod: Conducting Assessment & Functional Analyses

Chapter

Readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Focus Question Four closes on Sunday 9 September at 11.55pm (AEST)

Week 9 Begin Date: 10 Sep 2018

Module/Topic

Applying theory: Domestic Violence & Drug Abuse

Chapter

Refresh pages 115-118 of Chapter 4 + Readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Focus Question Five opens Monday 10 September at 9:00am (AEST)


Written Assessment Due: Week 9 Monday (10 Sept 2018) 9:00 am AEST
Week 10 Begin Date: 17 Sep 2018

Module/Topic

Applying Theory: Therapeutic Interventions (Eating Disorders)

Chapter

Readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Focus Question Five closes on Sunday 23 September at 11.55pm (AEST)

Week 11 Begin Date: 24 Sep 2018

Module/Topic

Theories of Behaviour Change

Chapter

Readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Last chance if you have not completed the compulsory two Focus Question responses.  This opportunity will open on Monday 24 September at 9:00am (AEST) and close on Sunday 30 September at 11:55pm (AEST).


Week 12 Begin Date: 01 Oct 2018

Module/Topic

Review Week

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Written Assessment Due: Week 12 Monday (1 Oct 2018) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 08 Oct 2018

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 15 Oct 2018

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Written Assessment

Task Description

This assessment task requires you to respond to a minimum of two focus questions by the beginning of Week 12.  Focus question responses are to be between 800 - 1000 words each. Five focus questions will be provided and one of these will open on the Unit's moodle site each fortnight. You are able to choose which two you respond to.

Students are encouraged to submit more than the minimum number of posts with only the best TWO contributing to their final grade.

Failure to submit TWO posts (that obtain at least one percent each) will result in a FAIL grade for the unit.

Please note: Each focus question will be available for two weeks (except the Last Chance focus question), at the end of that time the focus question will be closed and no further responses will be accepted.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Monday (1 Oct 2018) 11:45 pm AEST

Sunday 11.55pm (AEST) in the fortnight following opening of the relevant focus question.


Return Date to Students

Week 12 Friday (5 Oct 2018)

Within a week of each focus question closing marks will be available.


Weighting
20%

Minimum mark or grade
A minimum of 2% (i.e., at least TWO submissions scoring 1% or more must be made)

Assessment Criteria

Each post will be assigned a mark out of 30 (which will then be converted to a percentage). 

An Information Sheet with full assessment criteria will be available on the Unit's moodle page and you are required to read this in conjunction with the following:

Content:

  • Please ensure that the focus question is addressed in its entirety, for example, focus questions are likely to involve defining a particular concept/theory and then discussing its utility/presence in either an applied or experimental setting.
  • Spelling mistakes and sentence/paragraph structural errors will result in lost marks (e.g., paragraphs should be a minimum of 2-3 sentences long).
  • Plagiarism will be taken very seriously - take care to reference wherever you make a statement based on your reading.
  • Please bear in mind that this is a 3rd year unit and simple re-presentation of information from located sources will not result in high marks - you are required to critically evaluate and discuss the information and concepts you present.

Presentation and Technical Requirements:

Word count

  • 800 - 1,000 words. One word over the maximum or under the minimum will result in an inability to earn full marks.
  • Word count is determined by selecting the text from the first word to the last full stop of the body of the answer - in-text citations are included in the word count but the Title and Reference list is not.

References:

  • A minimum of THREE references need to be used to inform your post - one of these can be the unit textbook (but you do not have to use it) but two must be journal articles or similar, peer-reviewed, sources.
  • Wikipedia, online psychology dictionaries/encyclopedias and first year textbooks are not suitable references.
  • A reference list must be included at the end of your response and references must be included in text - if there is no reference list OR no in-text citations the post will be given a mark of zero.
  • APA 6th edition must be followed.
  • Quotes must be kept to a minimum (and must be accompanied by a page or paragraph number as per APA guideline) - use of more than one direct quote will result in an inability to earn full marks.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Focus Question responses are to be submitted through Moodle

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply the major principles and theories of learning to explain behaviour within 'real world' contexts
  • Employ advanced communication skills to demonstrate depth of understanding of the unit content.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
Written Assessment

Task Description

This assessment task will require you to write an Essay addressing a specific topic. You will be required to apply a learning theory of your choice (but covered in this unit) to explain. Essay instructions can be found on the unit Moodle site under the Assessment tab from Week One.


Assessment Due Date

Week 9 Monday (10 Sept 2018) 9:00 am AEST

Assessment is to be uploaded through Moodle


Return Date to Students

Week 11 Monday (24 Sept 2018)


Weighting
30%

Assessment Criteria

Essays will receive a mark out of 100 with the below distribution of marks per section, for more information please see the unit Moodle site:

TITLE/ABSTRACT: 10 marks

  • Concise and accurately summarises topic addressed, meets APA (6th ed.) format specifications for abstract and title length

BODY OF ESSAY: 60 marks

  • On topic, concise and all parts of question addressed
  • Research led arguments
  • Referenced where appropriate (in-text)
  • Evidence of critical evaluation and discussion of material
  • Not too many direct quotes (i.e., maximum of two, brief, quotes)

REFERENCES: 20 marks

  • Five or more, with minimum of FOUR journal articles
  • Correct APA (6th ed.) format in-text and reference list
  • In-text and Reference list match exactly

STYLE/PRESENTATION: 10 marks

  • APA 6th edition format adhered to
  • Grammar, spelling and sentence structure
  • Overall readability/flow of writing


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
To be uploaded through Moodle

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Apply the major principles and theories of learning to explain behaviour within 'real world' contexts
  • Employ advanced communication skills to demonstrate depth of understanding of the unit content.


Graduate Attributes
  • Communication
  • Problem Solving
  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Ethical practice

Examination

Outline
Complete an invigilated examination

Date
During the examination period at a CQUniversity examination centre

Weighting
50%

Length
180 minutes

Exam Conditions
Closed Book

Materials
Dictionary - non-electronic, concise, direct translation only (dictionary must not contain any notes or comments).
Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?