HEL619 The Science of Behavior
- ECTS Credits:
- 5
- Responsible department:
- Faculty of Health and Sport Sciences
- Course Leader:
- Carsta Simon
- Lecture Semester:
- Autumn
- Teaching language:
- English if English speaking participants.
- Duration:
- 1 term
The course is connected to the following study programs
Teaching language
English if English speaking participants.Course contents
The course will offer an introduction to various topics in present behavior analytic research. The main but not exclusive focus is on human behavior. The course will focus on a selectionist approach to understanding current behavior - environment interactions and their relation to events in a species’ phylogeny. It builds a bridge between psychology, behavior analysis, evolutionary biology, philosophy of behavioral science and biology, and other disciples concerned with understanding learning, the behavior of organisms (including human animals,) and how to research it.
Learning outcomes
Upon completion of the course, the candidate
Knowledge
- will have in-depth understanding of the study of behavior from a selectionist point of view
- will have in-depth knowledge and understanding of various areas of application for natural scientific research on behavior
- will have in-depth knowledge of phylogenetic and ontogenetic influences on behavior
Skills
- can reflect and make judgments on when a natural scientific understanding of behavior is feasible
- can master and critically evaluate the use of a selectionist approach to understanding behavior in relation to other disciplines
- can reuse and cumulate existing knowledge to the study of behavior
General competences
- can critically evaluate and reflect on interdisciplinary selectionist thinking
- can communicate the results of an analysis of a behavior environment interaction in a presentation
Examination requirements
The course days, group work, and presentations are mandatory.
Teaching methods
The teaching and learning methods consist of a combination of lectures, group work and presentations based on the lecture topics, selected readings, and the candidates’ own ongoing research. In zoom sessions, it is expected that the students have their camaras on.
Evaluation
Electronical evaluation by SurveyXact after completing the course.
Admission for external candidates
No
Offered as Single Standing Module
No
Assessment methods and criteria
The final assignment is a 20 min presentation based on an application of the lecture contents, interteaching literature, and conversations to the PhD student’s own research. This presentation can be given either on zoom or on campus streamed to the other participants. This assignment will be graded as pass or fail.
Other information
Contact person: Professor Carsta Simon (carsta.simon@uia.no)