Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

Experimental Analysis of Behavior (Online)

PSY 3400-30I

Course: PSY 3400-30I
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: PSY
CRN: 13781

Course Description

This course includes a study of the experimental analysis of behavior method, variables that have been shown to affect behavior, and principles that help us to understand, explain, and control behavior. Students must register for the lecture and the lab. (Fall, Spring) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Co-requisite(s): PSY 3405

Required Texts

Chance, P. & Furlong, E. (2022). Learning and Behavior (8th Ed). Cengage Learning.

Learning Outcomes

1)       Describe how natural selection contributes to behavioral patterns within and across species
2)       Identify and describe principles of classical and higher-order conditioning 
3)       Understand reinforcement and factors that influence its effects on behavior
4)       Understand punishment and factors that influence its effects on behavior
5)       Describe the role of observational learning on the behavior of human and nonhuman animals
6)       Apply behavioral principles to intrapersonal and interpersonal contexts 

Course Requirements

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.



Course Outline

 | Week (Date) | Topic  | Reading | Assignment | Due Date
| 1 (January 7 – 11) | Getting Started | Syllabus  | Introduction Discussion Post Getting Started Quiz Commenced Attendance Quiz | 1/11/2026 1/11/2026 1/11/2026
| 2 (January 12 – 18) | Introduction: Learning to Change   | Chapter 1 | Sniffy Lab Worksheet #1 | 1/18/2026
| 3 (January 19 – 25) | The Study of Learning and Behavior | Chapter 2 | Discussion Post #1 Response to Classmates’ Posts | 1/22/2026 1/25/2026
| 4 (January 26 – February 1) | Pavlovian Conditioning | Chapter 3 | Quiz #1: Chapters 1 & 2 | 2/1/2026
| 5 (February 2 – 8) | Pavlovian Applications   | Chapter 4 | Sniffy Lab Worksheet #2 | 2/8/2026
| 6 (February 9 – 15) | Operant Learning – Reinforcement   | Chapter 5 | Discussion Post #2 Response to Classmates’ Posts | 2/12/2026 2/15/2026
| 7 (February 16 – 22) | Reinforcement – Beyond Habit   | Chapter 6 | Quiz #2: Chapters 3 through 5 Topic Selection | 2/22/2026 2/22/2026
| 8 (February 23 – March 1) | Schedules of Reinforcement   | Chapter 7 | Sniffy Lab Worksheet #3 | 3/1/2026
| 9 (March 2 – 8) | Operant Learning – Punishment   | Chapter 8 | Discussion Post #3 Response to Classmates’ Posts Sniffy Initial Planning | 3/5/2026 3/8/2026
| 10 (March 9 – 15) | SPRING BREAK – NO CLASSES  |   |   |  
| 11 (March 16 – 22) | Operant Applications   | Chapter 9 | Quiz #3: Chapters 6 through 8  | 3/22/2026
| 12 (March 23 – 29) | Observational Learning   | Chapter 10 | Sniffy Lab Worksheet #4 Sniffy Observations & Data | 3/29/2026
| 13 (March 30 – April 5) | Generalization, Discrimination, and Stimulus Control | Chapter 11 | Discussion Post #4 Response to Classmates’ Posts | 4/2/2026 4/5/2026
| 14 (April 6 – 12) | Forgetting   | Chapter 12 | Quiz #4: Chapters 9 through 11 | 4/12/2026
| 15 (April 13 – 19)  | The Limits of Learning   | Chapter 13 | Sniffy Final Lab Report | 4/19/2026
| 16 (April 20 – 24) | Wrapping It Up | None | Quiz #5: Chapters 12 & 13 Behavior Analysis Paper Individual Presentation  | 4/24/2026 4/24/2026 4/24/2026

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Might be accepted with an explanation. You cannot submit assignments more than two weeks late. If you submit, 1 day late, you will lose 1% of the total points of the assignment. For 2-3 days late, you will lose 2% of the total points of the assignment. For 4-6 days, you will lose 3% of the total points of the assignment. For 7 days, you will lose 4% of the total points of the assignment. For 8-14 days, you will lose 5% of the total points of the assignment. After 14 days, your assignment will not be accepted. 

Attendance Policy

The course is asynchronous. 

Course Fees

Content for this section will be provided by the instructor.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.