CQUniversity Unit Profile

PSYC13022 - Learning & Behaviour Modification

Save or Print as PDF

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 - 2020

Adelaide

Bundaberg

Cairns

Online

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).

Website

This unit has a website, within the Moodle system, which is available two weeks before the start of term. It is important that you visit your Moodle site throughout the term. Please visit Moodle for more information.

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

Regional Campuses

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville

Metropolitan Campuses

Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Written Assessment

Weighting: 20%

2. Written Assessment

Weighting: 30%

3. Online Test

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.

CQUniversity Policies

All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.

You may wish to view these policies:

Grades and Results Policy
Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
Review of Grade Procedure
Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure

This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.

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 Unit evaluation, student emails.

Feedback

Essay topic could have been more clearly defined.

Recommendation

Instructions for the essay will be reviewed.

Feedback from Unit evaluation.

Feedback

Students were happy that the examination had been replaced by an online test.

Recommendation

Keep the online test as a form of assessment.

Feedback from Unit evaluation.

Feedback

The online test was challenging to complete within the 2-hour time allowed.

Recommendation

As most students were able to complete the test in the time allocated, the format and timing of the test will remain the same. However, more emphasis on how to approach and answer the test will be given both in lectures and in written information prior to the test.

Feedback from Student evaluation.

Feedback

Students appreciated the applied and real life examples.

Recommendation

Real life examples and applications will continue to be used.

Unit Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

Explain the major principles and theories of learning
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 learning and behaviour modification.

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 - Online Test - 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 - First Nations Knowledges
11 - 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	11
1 - Written Assessment - 30%
2 - Written Assessment - 20%
3 - Online Test - 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

7th Revised edition (2020)
Authors: American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
Washington DC Washington DC , United States
Binding: Paperback

Additional Textbook Information

If you prefer to study with a paper copy, they are available at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code). eBooks are available at the publisher's website.

View textbooks at the CQUniversity Bookshop

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 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts

10 + Readings

Events and Submissions/Topic

Focus Question 3 opens Monday 10th August (Week 5) at 9:00am (AEST)

Vacation Week

Begin Date: 17 Aug 2020

Module/Topic

Review/Exam Week

Begin Date: 12 Oct 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week

Begin Date: 19 Oct 2020

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Written Assessment

Assessment Title

Written Assessment - Focus Questions

Task Description

This assessment task requires you to respond to two focus questions by the beginning of Week 12. Focus question responses are to be between 800 - 1000 words in length. Five focus questions will be provided and each of these will open on the Unit's moodle site every fortnight. You MUST complete the first focus question and then you are able to choose which one of the remaining four you wish to respond to.

Failure to submit TWO focus questions (that obtain a mark of at least 1% each) will result in a FAIL grade for the unit.

Please note: Each focus question will be available for two weeks. At the end of that time the focus question will be closed and no further responses will be accepted.

Assessment Due Date

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

Return Date to Students

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% each 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 7th 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

American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)

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 learning and behaviour modification.

Graduate Attributes

Communication
Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Information Literacy

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title

Written Assessment - Essay

Task Description

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

Assessment Due Date

Week 9 Monday (14 Sept 2020) 9:00 am AEST

Assessment is to be uploaded through Moodle

Return Date to Students

Week 11 Friday (2 Oct 2020)

Mark and feedback will be returned via Moodle

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 (7th 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 (7th ed.) format in-text and reference list
In-text and Reference list match exactly

STYLE/PRESENTATION: 10 marks

APA 7th edition format adhered to
Grammar, spelling and sentence structure
Overall readability/flow of writing

Referencing Style

American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)

Submission

Online

Submission Instructions

To be uploaded through Moodle

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Explain the major principles and theories of learning
Employ advanced communication skills to demonstrate depth of understanding of learning and behaviour modification.

Graduate Attributes

Communication
Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Information Literacy
Ethical practice

3 Online Test

Assessment Title

Online Test

Task Description

You will be required to complete a two-hour short answer on-line test. The test will be open for two days (Thursday and Friday of Week 12), you choose which two-hour period to take the test.

All of the topics covered during the term wll be assessed.

This assessment is worth 50% of your final mark. This test will be marked out of 50.

Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Monday (5 Oct 2020) 11:45 pm AEST

This is an 2-hour online test, which should be completed within a 48 hour period.

Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (23 Oct 2020)

Marks will be returned via Moodle

Weighting

50%

Assessment Criteria

You will need to demonstrate knowledge of the major principles and theories of learning.

Both basic and applied uses of learning theory will be assessed.

You will need to demonstrate knowledge of learning and behavour modification specific terminology.

You will need to demonstrate knowledge of the applied use of learning and behaviour modification.

You will need to critically evaluate learning theory and it's application to real life situations.

Referencing Style

American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)

Submission

Online

Submission Instructions

Submit through Moodle

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Explain the major principles and theories of learning
Apply the major principles and theories of learning to explain behaviour within 'real world' contexts

Graduate Attributes

Communication
Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Information Literacy
Ethical practice

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.