BPP 182 KAA Behaviour Theory & Practice I

• The course is titled Behaviour Theory and Practice I, and is BPP 182 KAA, taught by Professor Lital Gruneir.
• The first lecture includes a welcome and orientation, a discussion on course grading and evaluation, and an introduction to Behaviour Analysis as an umbrella term.
• The course has three format options: live, HyFlex, and online.
• The class and online learning environments should be respectful, safe, and free from unnecessary distractions.
• The agenda includes checking Canvas often, limiting distractions, being on time, setting up a workspace, turning video on, muting the mic, and finding a study buddy.
• Lital Gruneir is the professor, who has a M.ADS, is a Ph.D. Candidate, and is a mom.
• Lital Gruneir is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst, and has been practicing ABA for over 20 years, and has taught at Seneca for over a decade.
• Lital Gruneir is the Director of services for York Region CBT.

Course Grading Breakdown

• Assignments are worth 40% of the final grade, with "ABA in Everyday Life" journal assignments accounting for 25%.
• Two quizzes are worth 5% each, totaling 10%.
• In-class assignments are worth 5%.
• Article reviews constitute 20%, with two reviews worth 10% each.
• The midterm exam is worth 20%
• The final exam is worth 20%.

Course Due Dates

• The first Article Review is due February 2nd.
• An online quiz is due February 9th.
• "ABA in Everyday Life" journal assignments are due February 9th, February 23rd, March 16th, and April 4th (x2 due).
• The Mid-Term Exam is on March 5th.
• Article Review #2 Due March 16th
• The Final Exam is on April 16th.

Defining Science

• Science is a systematic approach to understanding natural phenomena through description, prediction, and control.
• It relies on determinism, empiricism, experimentation, replication, parsimony, and philosophic doubt.
• The purpose of science is to achieve a thorough understanding of the phenomena under study, and to discover real "truths".
• A systematic approach is used for seeking and organizing information about the world.

Three Levels of Understanding

• Description involves collecting facts about observed events that can be quantified, classified, and examined for possible relations with other known facts.
• Description level often suggests hypotheses or questions for additional research.
• Prediction calculates relative probability of events based on repeated observations that reveal relationships between variables.
• Prediction demonstrates correlation and enables preparation, but does not interpret causality.
• Control is the highest level of scientific understanding
• Functional relations can be derived, including specific changes being produced by specific manipulations of another.

Behavioural Science

• Behavioural Science is a branch of science like psychology, sociology, or anthropology.
• Behavioural Science deals primarily with human action and often seeks to generalize about human behaviour in society.
• Applied Behaviour Analysis is a science devoted to understanding and improving human behaviour.
• It aims to improve behaviours of social importance using research-based strategies.

Functional Analysis

• Functional Analysis is the experimental methodology for determining environmental variables and contingencies for maintaining problem behaviour.
• Applied Behaviour Analysis is the science of behaviour, determining how and why behaviour changes, and studying functional relationships.
• Applied Behaviour Analysis includes the systematic application of evidence based interventions to improve socially significant behaviours.
• Data supports intervention responsible for behaviour change in Applied Behaviour Analysis.

Behaviour Analysis as an Umbrella Term

• Behaviour Analysis is a term to cover a broad category of things rather than a single item (like a blanket term or hypernym).
• The four branches of Behaviour Analysis are: Conceptual Analysis of Behaviour (Behaviourism), Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), Service delivery (Behaviour) and Experimental Analysis of Behaviour (EAB).

Four Branches of Behaviour Analysis

• Conceptual Analysis of Behaviour (Behaviourism) is philosophical, theoretical, historical, and discusses methodological issues.
• Applied Behaviour Analysis involves assessing, monitoring, analyzing, revising, and communicating the effects of the work.
• Applied Behaviour Analysis creates behaviour change tactics that can increase behaviour, teach and maintain behaviour, make behaviour sensitive to environmental events, generalize behaviour, and reduce problem behaviour.
• The function of ABA is technology for improving behaviour.
• Behaviour Service Delivery refers to individuals implementing ABA within professions, and do not need a BCBAS/BCaBas.
• Behaviour Service Delivery individuals include those in education, sports, psychology, job safety, health, business, animal training and commerce
• Experimental Analysis of Behaviour (EAB) researches the basic processes and principles, which are mainly conducted in laboratories.

Contrasting Beliefs

• Behavioruism is the philosophy of the science of behaviour
• In behaviourism behaviour and its causes are observable and measurable events.
• Mentalism assumes an inner cause for behaviour, suggesting that the mind is responsible for behaviour.

Six Attitudes of Science

• There are The Six Attitudes of Science (DEERPP): Determinism, Empiricism, Experimentation, Replication, Parsimony, and Philosophic doubt.
• Determinism claims that behaviour is lawful and orderly (ie. The tap is turned on and water comes out).
• Empiricism involves objective observation and accurate measurement of the behaviour(s) of interest
• Empiricism is free from bias, prejudices and opinion, (ie. "He hit his teacher 2 times today").
• Experimentation investigates possible relationships by systematically changing one event and observing for changes in another (ie. rates of swearing decrease with and without a "swear jar").
• Replication is repeating an experiment to see if similar results are achieved, (ie. Study A reports 75% improvement; Study B reports 72%).
• Parsimony is the simplest and most logical explanation for behaviour, making the fewest assumptions (ie. they avoid dogs b/c in the past they were bit by one).
• Philosophic doubt means questioning the truthfulness of facts and experiment results, healthy skepticism (ie. Canadians are less likely to BBQ in January).
• A systematic approach is necessary for seeking & organizing knowledge about the natural world.
• The aim is to achieve a thorough understanding of the phenomena under study, involving socially important behaviors (ABA), and to discover the truth that is independent of prejudice, taste and private opinion.

Description, Prediction & Control

• Description, Prediction & Control is a Triple Threat
• ABA is a science
• Scientists engage in scientific inquiry to better describe, predict and control their phenomenon of interest
• In ABA our phenomenon of interest is behaviour
• Description involves defining behaviour objectively, through actions that can be seen or heard (overt/public behaviours).
• Prediction after observing is the relationship between an environmental variable and the occurrence of a behaviour
• Control can turn the behaviour ON and OFF – presenting and/or removing the environmental variable.
• ABA examines behaviour differently than some mental health disciplines do.
• Behavioural language is objective and is focused on measurement.