Module Code: H8BEHPSY
Long Title Behavioural Psychology
Title Behavioural Psychology
Module Level: LEVEL 8
EQF Level: 6
EHEA Level: First Cycle
Credits: 5
Module Coordinator: Caoimhe Hannigan
Module Author: Conor Nolan
Departments: School of Business
Specifications of the qualifications and experience required of staff

Lecturer with PhD in Psychology or related cognate discipline
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Demonstrate knowledge of the assumptions, concepts and principles of modern behavioural accounts of human language and cognition.
LO2 Critically evaluate up to date research and theories in area and compare them to competing frameworks.
LO3 Evaluate different waves of behavioural therapies.
LO4 Understand the application of modern behavioural principles and theory in different domains of application.
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is required before enrolment on this module. While the prior learning is expressed as named NCI module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
No recommendations listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Entry requirements

There are no additional entry requirements for this module. The programme entry requirements apply.
 

Module Content & Assessment

Indicative Content
The below is a description and list of indicative content.
The module develops on content and concepts from the Learning and Behaviour module, with a focus on post-Skinnerian, modern behaviour analytic and behavioural psychology accounts and theories. The module will examine the growth and development of radical behaviourism, the influence of stimulus equivalence on the field, the development of relational frame theory, third wave behavioural therapies such as acceptance and commitment therapy. The module will be focused on analysing recent literature and publication on the above topics.
The Strange “Death” of Behaviourism
Did behaviourism “die”? Critical evaluation of this argument. What happened after the Skinner/Chomsky debate?
Stimulus Equivalence
Basic elements and psychological implications of the concept. Application and use of stimulus equivalence in learning and behaviour change.
Relational Frame Theory
Generalised operants: learning without prior exposure Deriving beyond equivalence Basics of RFT: mutual entailment, combinatorial entailment, transformation of stimulus function, ROE.
Applications of RFT
Critical evaluation of use of RFT to assess “implicit” attitudes, improving intelligence, in teaching behaviours to people with intellectual disabilities, application for cognitive decline.
Contextual Behavioural Science and Functional Contextualism
Comparison between approaches and philosophies within psychology.
Third Wave Behavioural Therapies
Therapies based on RFT, taking FC approaches. Review of literature and critical analysis of behavioural based therapies: “Traditional” CBT, ACT, FAP, MBCT, PBBT, DBT.
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework50.00%
End of Module Assessment50.00%

Assessments

Full Time

Coursework
Assessment Type: Continuous Assessment % of total: 50
Assessment Date: Week 8 Outcome addressed: 1,2,3,4
Non-Marked: No
Assessment Description:
Students will be asked to provide a mini literature review on a topic relevant to the module. Students will be expected to find relevant, up to date literature and provide a critical evaluation.
End of Module Assessment
Assessment Type: Terminal Exam % of total: 50
Assessment Date: End-of-Semester Outcome addressed: 1,2,3,4
Non-Marked: No
Assessment Description:
Students are required to complete a 2 hour written exam, where they are presented with 5 essay style questions and are required to answer 2. Each question holds equal weighting. The exam topics come from the whole module content.
No Workplace Assessment
Reassessment Requirement
Repeat failed items
The student must repeat any item failed
Reassessment Description
Should students fail the module they are required to complete a repeat of the failed component.

NCIRL reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Module Target Workload Hours 0 Hours
Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Workload Description Hours Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload
Lecture Classroom and demonstrations 24 Per Semester 2.00
Independent Learning Independent learning 101 Per Semester 8.42
Total Weekly Contact Hours 2.00
 

Module Resources

Recommended Book Resources
  • Mulhern, T. (2022), Relational Frame Theory: Made Simple, 1st Ed. Springer.
  • Niklas Törneke. (2010), Learning RFT, New Harbinger Publications, p.267, [ISBN: 9781572249066].
  • Steven C. Hayes,Kirk D. Strosahl,Kelly G. Wilson. (2016), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Second Edition, Guilford Publications, [ISBN: 9781462528943].
  • Zettle, R. D., Hayes, S. C., Barnes-Holmes, D., & Biglan, A. (2016), The Wiley handbook of contextual behavioral science, John Wiley & Sons.
This module does not have any article/paper resources
Other Resources
  • [Journal], Contextual Behavioral Science.
  • [Journal], Experimental Analysis of Behavior.
  • [Journal], Applied Behavior Analysis.
  • [Journal], The Psychological Record.
  • [Journal], The Analysis of Verbal Behavior.
Discussion Note: