SPED 8174 - Behavior Analysis and Intervention in Applied Settings

3 cr.

This course will prepare students to function as behavior analysts and consultants within the community, school and home environments. Students will learn to identify socially significant behaviors to target for change, operationally define these behaviors, conduct descriptive assessments, develop hypotheses based on the results of their assessments to conduct functional analyses, interpret the results of the functional analyses to develop effective and ethical treatments and evaluate implemented treatments in terms of efficacy and consumer approval/acceptance/adherence based on the data. Students will learn to identify barriers to effective behavioral analysis and intervention within applied settings (e.g., resistance), and methods to overcome these barriers, such as conducting functional and ecological assessments of caregiver behavior and potential motivating operations for resistance. In addition, students will learn how to conduct a needs assessment to determine areas for caregiver training and support and develop a support system/training program based on the results of the assessment. Throughout the content of this course, attention will be given to methods to improve consultant/consultee relationships to foster adherence to behavioral interventions and support systems.

Prerequisite(s): SPED 8015 and SPED 8180 or SPED 8020 .