Behavior Analysis Project (150 points total)
You will complete a Behavior Analysis Project that consists of an individual paper and presentation, plus one preparatory assignment to facilitate the development and organization of your ideas. You will pick a topic that applies concepts we will cover throughout this course. Here are the components of the project:
1. Topic Selection (10 points)
To support the development and organization of your Behavior Analysis Paper and Individual Presentation, you will complete a Topic Selection assignment early in the course. The purpose of this assignment is to ensure that your topic is appropriate in scope, clearly behavior-focused, and aligned with course concepts before you begin writing your paper. Feedback provided on this assignment should be used to guide and refine your final paper and presentation. In this assignment, you will:
o Identify your proposed topic
o Clearly describe the behavior(s) you intend to analyze
o Explain why the topic is appropriate for a behavioral analysis
o Identify at least two behavioral principles from the course that you expect to apply (e.g., reinforcement, punishment, shaping, extinction, stimulus control, observational learning, etc.)
2. Behavior Analysis Paper (100 points)
Following completion of the Topic Selection assignment, you will develop an individual 6 to 7 page Behavior Analysis Paper formatted according to APA 7th edition guidelines. The paper should examine your selected topic through a behavioral analysis framework, emphasizing the behavioral principles discussed in the course that contribute to understanding the topic. Required components include a title page, introduction, background and overview, and a detailed analysis of the applicable behavioral principles.
3. Individual Presentation (40 points total)
After submitting your Behavior Analysis Paper, you will complete an individual presentation based on your paper. Rather than presenting live, you will record your presentation independently and upload the recording to Canvas by the assigned deadline. Your presentation should be clear, well-organized, and demonstrate your ability to communicate behavioral concepts effectively in an applied context. In this assignment, you will:
o The presentation should be 20 to 25 minutes in length
o The presentation should generally follow the organizational structure of your paper
o You should clearly explain your topic, the behavior(s) analyzed, and the key behavioral principles applied
Chapter Quizzes (150 points total)
Throughout the semester, you will complete open-book, open-note quizzes designed to assess your understanding of the assigned chapter readings. Quizzes will consist of a combination of true/false and multiple-choice questions. There are five quizzes, each worth 30 points.
Discussion Posts (40 points total)
As part of this course, you are expected to actively participate in online discussion boards for each module. These discussions are intended to deepen your understanding of course content and promote meaningful engagement with your classmates. There are four discussion post prompts, along with classmates’ posts. For each module, you are required to:
· Respond to the discussion prompt: After completing the assigned readings and lecture videos, post a response to the discussion prompt provided for the module. Your response should demonstrate critical engagement with the course content and thoughtful consideration of the prompt. (6 points for responding to prompt)
· Respond to classmates: In addition to your initial response, you must reply to at least two classmates’ posts. Responses should be substantive and contribute constructively to the discussion by offering insights, making connections to course readings, or providing additional perspectives. (4 points for classmate responses)
Extra Credit Opportunities (10 points)
You may earn extra credit by choosing and completing one of the following options:
· Behavior Modification Paper (5 points)
This option allows you to write a paper describing a method for modifying either a real or hypothetical behavior using at least two behavioral principles. The assignment is intended to promote critical thinking about behavior modification strategies and their practical application. A rubric and detailed instructions are available on Canvas.
· Attend SUU’s Writing Center (5 points)
You may earn extra credit by attending SUU’s Writing Center, either virtually or in person, for feedback and support related to your Behavior Analysis Paper. Upon completion, the Writing Center will send documentation of your attendance to the instructor. This documentation must be received in order for extra credit to be awarded.
Extra credit opportunities are optional and are not a substitute for required coursework. Participation is entirely at the student’s discretion. Any points earned will be applied toward the overall course grade, provided all guidelines and deadlines for the selected option are met.