This document appears to be a syllabus for a graduate level course in applied behavior analysis. The main learning goals are to develop an applied research project targeting a socially important behavior. Students will operationally define behaviors, develop a measurement system, evaluate the effects of interventions, and write their projects using APA style. Assignments include quizzes, article summaries, a midterm describing their research topic and literature review, and a final paper including a method section and hypothetical data. Students must complete ethics training and find a practicum site to conduct their applied research project. The course meets weekly and includes small group meetings to provide feedback on students' projects.

1. Fall 2012
PSY 730.05
Applied Behavior Analysis: Measurement and Applied Project
(Syllabus written by Dr. Daniel Fienup)
Instructor: Dr. Patricia D’Ateno
Office: Razran 238
Phone: 718-997-3200 (Psychology Office)
Email:patricia.dateno@qc.cuny.edu
Learning Goals:
 Develop a research question based on the available research and the needs of your practicum placement
 Develop a clinical evaluation/research project that targets a socially important behavior
 Operationally define target behaviors
 Develop a measurement system/data collection system
 Develop a procedure to evaluate the effects of your independent variable
 Conduct a literature review
 Write a method section for your project using APA-style
Required Texts:
Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2007). Applied behavior analysis (2nd
ed.). Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle
River, New Jersey
American Psychological Association. (2009). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association. (6th
ed.).
American Psychological Association: Washington, DC.
**Make sure your copy is not one of the originally issued copies with errors.
Course Assignments:
Personal Assessment: Completed the first day of class. This questionnaire is designed to assess your skills on the topics
that will be covered in class as well as your plans for completing the practicum project. Worth 5 points.
Operational Definition: In-class assignment. Students will be asked to develop and operational define a target
response. The operational definition you develop will be used for the “Data Collection” and “IOA Calculation”
assignments. Worth 5 points.
Data Collection: In-class assignment. Students will be required to collect data on the target response developed in
class. Worth 5 points.
IOA Calculation: In-class assignment. Students will be required to calculate Interobserver Agreement (IOA) using data
collected during class time. Worth 5 points.
Graphing in Excel: Take-home assignment. Students will be required to create 3 graphs in MS Excel based on the
skills taught during the class period. Worth 20 points.
Ethics Training:
Each student will complete two ethics tutorials (i.e., Human Subjects Research and Responsible Conduct of Research).
For time management purposes, please keep in mind that completing both tutorials will take several hours. You must
pass both tutorials. The program will explain what a passing score is. When you are done, the program will provide
you with a certificate of completion for each tutorial. Turn in both certificates of completion to receive 10 points.

2. Fall 2012
To complete the training, go to https://www.citiprogram.org/Default.asp?. Register for a new account. Your
participating institution is “City University of New York (CUNY).” Check “No” for anticipating CME/CEU credits.
You are completing the training as a graduate student.
Quizzes:
Throughout the semester there will be 8 quizzes. The quizzes will cover:
1) Readings assigned for the current class
2) Material already covered in the class up to that point in time.
Quizzes will be handed out when class begins at 4:30 and will be collected at 4:45. Each student is allowed to drop the
score of one quiz, meaning that 7 quiz scores will be recorded in the grade book. 10 points each quiz, 70 points total.
Peer Mentoring Groups
By the 3rd
week of class we will break into peer mentoring groups. Each group will contain 3-4 students. This peer
mentoring group will provide you with feedback and help to develop your project. The group will be more intimately
involved in developing each other’s project, knowing more about the question, measurement, design, and even
feasibility obstacles than they will know about the projects of all the other students in the class. The group members will
each develop their own project and gain more in depth knowledge about the other projects, providing multiple
exemplars of the development of an applied project. They will also be in the role of helping to troubleshoot obstacles in
each others’ projects. When we have small group project meetings, you will be meeting with your peer mentoring group
and the instructor as we discuss each of your projects. Some assignments in class will specifically be completed with
your peer mentoring group.
Skill Acquisition Applied Project:
Each student will be required to identify an applied research question and conduct a research study at your practicum
site. For this project you will:
 Identify an applied research question related to your practicum site.
 Conduct a literature review (with references) in APA format.
 Recruit participants.
 Write a proposed method section.
 Graph proposed and actual data using Excel.
Article Summaries: You will find a research article related to your applied project. For three different articles, you
will complete the Article Summary Form. Three article summaries will be turned in during different classes. 10 points
each, 30 points total.
Midterm: Your midterm will include a statement about the importance of the target behavior (max 1-page), a summary
of articles (minimum 5 articles), and a 1-page summary of all the articles. Details will be provided in class. 100 points.
Final paper: Your final paper will include title page, a revised midterm, a method section, and hypothetical data
(graphed). Your paper must adhere to APA style. Details will be provided in class. 100 points.
*GROUP PROJECTS: Although some students may work in groups, each member of the group must hand in their own
written work (midterm & final). The group can work together on the design and methods, but each member will
independently write a paper.
*As always, you must conduct yourself in a professional and ethical manner during the practicum and as you conduct
your project.
Attendance at Practicum site:

3. Fall 2012
In order to conduct your applied project you will have to negotiate working with a practicum site. It is up to you to
negotiate that relationship. If you do not find a practicum placement you will not be able to receive a grade in this
course.
Additional Information:
Incomplete (INC) Grade:
This is a temporary grade assigned when: (a) a student does not satisfy a portion of the course requirements; and (b)
there is a reasonable expectation that the student can pass the course by submitting the outstanding work by the end of
the Fall 2012 semester. Students assigned a grade of INC must satisfy missing course requirements by the deadline you
establish. This deadline may be no later than the end of the Fall 2012 semester. A grade of INC not resolved to a
regular grade by the end of the Fall 2012 semester will be converted to a grade of F.
For this class, one must complete the research project/write-up prior to receiving a grade.
Late Assignments:
Late assignments will automatically lose 50% of the points available from your final score. Assignments will not be
accepted after 1-week late.
Academic Honesty:
Plagiarism and copying other students’ work will not be tolerated. Severe penalties will follow from the discovery of
any representation of another individual’s work (in any form) as your own. This includes copying any portion of another
student’s paper or exam. Plagiarism and copying the work of others will result in zero points for the particular
assignment and referral to the Applied Behavior Analysis executive committee for further action. Penalties for
committing academic dishonesty may further include a permanent mark on your academic transcript and suspension
and/or expulsion. If you have any questions about what constitutes academic dishonesty, please see your instructor.
Final Grades:
Number of Points Earned / 350 * 100 = % in Class
Grade %
A+ 97-100
A 93-96
A- 90-92
B+ 87-89
B 83-86
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 73-76
C- 70-72
F 0-69
Week Topic Readings Assi
8/27/12 Introductions
Projects from previous semesters
Overview of class
Personal
done
9/3/12 NO CLASS - HOLIDAY NO CLASS NO
9/10/12 Measurement: Selecting and
Defining Target Behaviors
Cooper Chapter 3 CITI Eth

4. Fall 2012
Project: Developing a research
question, Literature Reviews, Details
of Article Summaries
9/17/12 NO CLASS - HOLIDAY NO CLASS NO
9/24/12 Measurement: Measuring Behavior,
Improving and Assessing the Quality
of Behavior Measurement
Project: Small-groups, share the
article you brought to class, continue
developing research question
Cooper Chapter 4 1st
Artic
In-class:
De
Colle
Assi
10/01/12 SMALL GROUP MEETINGS
Assessing the Quality of Behavior
Measurement
Project: APA Style Citations,
References, Running Head, Title Page.
Discuss details of Midterm
Cooper Chapter 5
APA Manual: Chapter 6, Chapter 7
2nd
Artic
10/8/12 NO CLASS - HOLIDAY NO CLASS NO
10/10/12
*Wed*
SMALL GROUP MEETINGS 3rd
Artic
10/15/12 Measurement: Constructing and
Interpreting Graphic Displays of
Behavior
Basics of Graphs
Project: Progress Updates
Cooper Chapter 6
10/22/12 Midterm Due by 4:30 pm
Project: Progress Updates/
SMALL GROUP MEETINGS
Midte
(Statemen
An
Bibliogr
summary
10/29/12 Measurement: Analyzing Behavior
Change: Basic Assumptions and
Strategies
Project: Progress Updates
Cooper Chapter 7
11/5/12 Measurement: Reversal and
Alternating Treatments Design,
Multiple Baseline and Changing
Criterion Designs
Cooper Chapter 8 and 9

5. Fall 2012
Project: Progress Updates
11/12/12 SMALL GROUP MEETINGS Graphi
Assign
11/19/12 Measurement: Planning and
Evaluating Applied Behavior Analysis
Research
Cooper Chapter 10
11/26/12 Measurement: none
Project: APA Style (level headings,
writing numbers, etc.), Writing a
Method Section (in APA style)
APA Manual: 2.06, 4.27, 4.31-4.40
12/3/12 SMALL GROUP MEETINGS
12/10/12 SMALL GROUP MEETINGS
12/17/12 Final Paper Due by 6:30pm Fin