PSYC 387 introduces students to the principles of learning and how those principles can be used to modify human behaviour. The course emphasizes the application of learning theories and principles to solve behavioural problems as they exist in oneself; one's family; schools; the workplace; and in larger social, economic, and political groups.
Topics include reinforcement, extinction, punishment, schedules of reinforcement, stimulus discrimination, fading, stimulus-response chaining, generalization, modelling, problem-solving, Pavlovian conditioning, forgetting, and concept learning.
Outline
Unit 1: Introduction
Unit 2: Pavlovian Conditioning and Its Applications
Unit 3: Operant Reinforcement
Unit 4: Schedules of Reinforcement
Unit 5: Operant Learning: Punishment and Operant Applications
Unit 6: Observational Learning and Generalization, Discrimination, and Stimulus Control
Unit 7: Remembering and Forgetting and the Limits of Learning
Evaluation
To receive credit for PSYC 387, you must achieve a mark of at least 50 percent on the examination and obtain a course composite grade of at least D (50 percent). You must also complete the course assignment, to the satisfaction of your tutor, and the seven unit quizzes. The weighting of activities for credit is as follows:
Activity
Weight
Seven Unit Quizzes (6% each)
42%
Tutor-Marked Assignment
18%
Final Exam
40%
Total
100%
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Chance, P. (2014). Learning and behavior (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. (eText)
The rest of the course materials are available online and include a Course Information and a Study Guide.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the PSYC 387 challenge registration, you must write an invigilated examination, worth 100% of your final grade, and you must achieve a grade of at least D (50 percent) on the examination.
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.