Learning (7127.3)

Please note these are the 2018 details for this unit
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Available teaching periods Delivery mode Location
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EFTSL Credit points Faculty
0.125 3 Faculty Of Health
Discipline Study level HECS Bands
Discipline Of Psychology Level 2 - Undergraduate Intermediate Unit Band 1 2021 (Pg Clinical Psychology)
Band 2 2021 (Prof Pathway Psychology-After 1 Jan 2021)
Band 2 2021 (Prof Pathway Psychology-Before 1 Jan 2021)
Band 2 2021 (Standard Course Commenced Before 1 Jan 2021)
Band 4 2021 (Commenced After 1 Jan Social Work_Exclude 0905)
Band 4 2021 (Standard Course Commenced After 1 Jan 2021)
The subject is devoted to developing an understanding of the theories of learning and behaviour change in humans and other animals. Specifically, it will address the theories and application of classical (Pavlovian) conditioning, operant or instrumental conditioning and learning by observation. In addition, the subject will include review and analyses of higher forms of behaviour such as insightful problem solving, creativity and atypical or bizarre behaviours. The application of scientific method to questions about behaviour and behaviour change will be emphasized with consideration of the view of learning as an evolutionary and adaptive mechanism.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
1. Identify, describe and apply the basic principles underlying classical conditioning;
2. Identify, describe and apply the basic principles underlying operant conditioning;
3. Understand, explain and apply the basic premise of observational or social learning; and
4. Apply commonly used behaviour-modification strategies to modify a target behaviour.


Graduate attributes

1. UC graduates are professional - employ up-to-date and relevant knowledge and skills
1. UC graduates are professional - communicate effectively
1. UC graduates are professional - use creativity, critical thinking, analysis and research skills to solve theoretical and real-world problems
1. UC graduates are professional - work collaboratively as part of a team, negotiate, and resolve conflict
1. UC graduates are professional - display initiative and drive, and use their organisation skills to plan and manage their workload
3. UC graduates are lifelong learners - reflect on their own practice, updating and adapting their knowledge and skills for continual professional and academic development


Prerequisites

4309 Psychology 101 OR 11399 Understanding People and Behaviour AND
4310 Psychology 102 OR 10444 Foundations of Psychology
OR Permission of the unit convener

Corequisites

None.

Incompatible units

None.

Equivalent units

None.

Assumed knowledge

None.
Year Location Teaching period Teaching start date Delivery mode Unit convener
Not available

Required texts

Essential Readings:

  • Chance, P. (2014). Learning and Behavior (7th edition). Wadsworth.

 

Recommended Readings:

  • American Psychological Association (2010). Publication manual of the American Psychlogical Association (7th ed). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

The following text may be useful as a guide to APA format, and to report writing.

  • Burton, L. (2010). An interactive approach to writing essays and research reports in psychology (3rd ed.). John Wiley & Sons. CALL NUMBER: BF76.7.B87 2010

The following text may also be a useful reference for many of the topics covered:

  • Powell, R.A., Honey, P.L., & Symbaluk, D.G. (2017). Introduction to Learning and Behavior (5th edition). Wadsworth.

Other suggested readings

  • Kahng, S., Ingvarsson, E., Quigg, A., Seckinger, K., Teichman, H., (2011). Defining and measuring behaviour. In W.W. Fisher, C.C. Piazza & H. Roane, (Eds.). Handbook of Applied Behaivour Analysis (pp. 113-131). The Guilford Press.
  • Miltenberger, R.G. (2012). Behavior Modification: Principles and procedures (5th ed.). Wadsworth. (Please note that a 6th Edition is available and has been ordered by UC Library)
  • Roane, H., Rihgdahl, J., Kelley, M., & Glover, A., (2011). Single-case experimental designs. In W.W. Fisher, C.C. Piazza & H. Roane, (Eds.). Handbook of Applied Behaviour Analysis (pp. 132-147). The Guilford Press.

Copies of essential reading texts are available through the short loan section at the UC Library.

See Canvas Reading List for other suggested readings.

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Academic integrity is highly valued in the Faculty of Health.  Plagiarism can be detected through a range of methods, such as staff familiarity with the subject area and random searches on internet search engines using key phrases from student work.  Students are encouraged to undertake the Academic Integrity Module (AIM).

The University of Canberra has available, through Canvas, text-matching software that helps students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understandings of academic integrity. Known as URKUND, the software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.  It is expected that all written assignments for this unit (i.e. the Behaviour Modification Research Proposal) will be submitted for checking by URKUND text-matching software.

Note: In order to pass this unit, students must submit/attempt ALL assessment items.  Students must also achieve an overall mark of at least 50% in order to be eligible for a pass in this unit.

Extensions

Please read this information BEFORE contacting your unit convener for an extension.

  1. Assignment extensions will only be granted in exceptional circumstances.
  2. Students are expected to work on the assessment items throughout the teaching period. Early communication of problems is strongly advised. Students should assess early in the teaching period whether they have a reasonable likelihood of being able to complete the unit and should consider withdrawing by the census date, if required.
  3. Requests will require documentary evidence (see below for information on acceptable documentation) and must be submitted to the unit convener. An extension will not be granted on the grounds of academic workload, for undocumented issues or for technical problems.
  4. To request an extension, email the unit convener with “Extension request” in the subject line and include:
    1. Which assessment item the extension is requested for (and which unit)
    2. Length of extension requested
    3. Reason for the extension request
    4. Attached documentary evidence. Appropriate evidence includes the following:
      1. A medical certificate signed by a registered medical, dental or health practitioner. The certificate must contain the registered provider number, the duration of the student’s incapacity to study, and the date of consultation.
      2. A death notice or other appropriate documentation for bereavement.
  5. The unit convener will consider your request, determine the length of the extension to be granted and email you advising whether your request is approved or declined. If approved, the new due date will also appear on your Canvas site where your assignment is submitted.
  6. Penalties for late submission (without an approved extension) of assessed work will be applied. Marks will be deducted at the rate of 5% of the value of the assessment item per day it is overdue (including weekends). For example, if an assignment is worth 40 marks, 2 marks will be deducted each day. Submissions received more than 7 days after the prescribed date and time will not be accepted for marking, a mark of zero (0) will be awarded for the item.
  7. Assignments submitted after the due date, regardless of whether an extension was granted, will be returned at a later date than those submitted on time.
  8. Assignment submissions will not be accepted once the university examination period has commenced unless an extension has been granted in writing before the end of the teaching period. Such extensions will be granted only in exceptional circumstances

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Participation requirements

Students are encouraged to attend all lectures and participate in tutorials.  When attending and participating in lectures and tutorials, it is expected that students be mindful of others' rights to teach/learn, be respectful of staff and fellow students, and that personal/private conversations be conducted outside the virtual classroom.

Required IT skills

No special IT skills are required for this unit, although it is expected that all students will have basic word-processing skills, be able to perform literature searches using databases, be able to use Canvas, and have basic familiarity with the use of Microsoft Powerpoint.  Regular access to Canvas is a requirement for students enrolled in this unit to enable access to announcements, discussion forums and for online submission of assignments.

Work placement, internships or practicums

None.

Additional information

Communication with staff is to be via email or through the Canvas discussion forums.  Communication with fellow students should be via the Canvas discussion forums.  During this unit, you are encouraged to engage in discussion and activities via forums on Canvas.  Please be respectful to all participating in the forums by ensuring that you use appropriate forms of communication.  Announcements made in lectures, an/or via Canvas, will be deemed to have been received by all students.

Email Communication

The Unit Convenor receives numerous emails each day.  To assist with providing a timely response to all student queries, please consider whether the question can be addressed via Canvas, if the unit convenor is the appropriate person to contact, and if the information has been provided in the unit outline.