PL4T132 - Behaviour Analysis Dissertation 22 Feb 2019 - 31 Aug 2027 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: PL4T132
Module Title: Behaviour Analysis Dissertation
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Psychology
Faculty Sub Group: Youth and Community
Module Leader: Aimee Giles
Module Team: Richard May, Emily Groves, Janet Pitman
First Intended Intake: SEP 2019 Final Year of Intake: 2024
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 60 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100497 - psychology
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 22 Feb 2019
Valid To 31 Aug 2027

Module Aims

To enable the student to demonstrate the skills necessary to carry out a substantial, independent empirical study that demonstrates both academic and professional qualities.

Content Summary

Students will be guided in their selection of a research topic in an area pertinent to behaviour analysis. Guidance will be provided by the module team but students are ultimately responsible for organising their dissertation topics and gaining access to client groups, as well as the planning, execution, and reporting of the research they undertake. Students are allocated a primary academic supervisor to provide support for all aspects of the dissertation process.

Students will attend group research meetings with their primary supervisor and other supervisees at least twice monthly beginning in the autumn term. These meetings will provide formative assessment opportunities around:

1) Approval/discussion of project topic

2) Submission for ethical approval

3) Approval of data collection methods and materials

4) Interim progress report on data collection & analytic strategy

5) Interpretation of results

6) Discussion of strengths/weaknesses of project and future research directions

The dissertation assessment will require students to demonstrate competencies in the following areas:

•Selection of a realisable research project

•Literature search and literature review

•Clear and appropriate development and presentation of research questions

•Due consideration of ethical and professional issues

•Choice and application of appropriate methodologies to test hypotheses

•Selection and application of appropriate research designs and data analysis strategies

•Interpretation of the findings effectively and within a context of previous findings.

•Reflection on professional/practical/policy implications from findings and relevant theories.

Throughout the dissertation process students will develop their knowledge and understanding of professional and ethical issues. Particular emphasis will be given to the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s codes of conduct and ethical guidelines in this module.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Seminar 36
Project supervision 9
Independent Study 476
Directed Study 71
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 8
Total Hours Selected 600

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Be able to provide new evidence, ideas and interpretations of professional implications within a chosen area of behaviour analysis.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Dissertation / Major Project 1 Students will present an original piece of research in the form of a dissertation 0 18000 100 No 50

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1
Dissertation / Major Project 1

Reading List

Students will be referred to topic specific current journals and will be expected to engage in substantial independent reading related to their dissertations. Substantial research is required for this assessment.

Ledford, J. R., & Gast, D. L. (2018). Single case research methodology: Applications in special education and behavioural sciences. Routledge.

Bailey, J. S., & Burch, M. R. (2017). Research methods in applied behaviour analysis. London: Sage.

Hinton, P.R., McMurray, I & Brownlow, C 2nd Ed (2014). SPSS explained. Hove, East Sussex: Routledge.

Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 6th ed. (2010). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.