General Information
This subject introduces students to the theories and fundamental findings from experimental research employing principles of associative learning. It provides students with an understanding of human and animal behaviour derived from Pavlovian conditioning, operant conditioning and observational learning. The subject allows students to develop a critical thinking perspective on issues and findings in learning research.
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Details
Academic unit: Faculty of Society & Design Subject code: PSYC12-250 Subject title: Learning and Behaviour Subject level: Undergraduate Semester/Year: January 2025 Credit points: 10.000 -
Delivery & attendance
Timetable: https://bond.edu.au/timetable Delivery mode: Standard Workload items: - Forum: x12 (Total hours: 24) - Weekly Forum
- Tutorial: x12 (Total hours: 12) - Weekly Tutorial
- Personal Study Hours: x12 (Total hours: 84) - Self Directed Study
Attendance and learning activities: -
Resources
Prescribed resources: Books
- Russell A. Powell,P. Lynne Honey,Diane G. Symbaluk (2022). Introduction to Learning and Behavior. 6th, Cengage Learning
Others
- American Psychological Association APA (2020). Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (7th Edition). USA APA Available at: https://apastyle.apa.org/products/publication-manual-7th-edition?tab=1
iLearn@Bond & Email: iLearn@Bond is the Learning Management System at Bond University and is used to provide access to subject materials, class recordings and detailed subject information regarding the subject curriculum, assessment, and timing. Both iLearn and the Student Email facility are used to provide important subject notifications.
Additionally, official correspondence from the University will be forwarded to students’ Bond email account and must be monitored by the student.
To access these services, log on to the Student Portal from the Bond University website as www.bond.edu.au
| Academic unit: | Faculty of Society & Design |
|---|---|
| Subject code: | PSYC12-250 |
| Subject title: | Learning and Behaviour |
| Subject level: | Undergraduate |
| Semester/Year: | January 2025 |
| Credit points: | 10.000 |
| Timetable: | https://bond.edu.au/timetable |
|---|---|
| Delivery mode: | Standard |
| Workload items: |
|
| Attendance and learning activities: |
| Prescribed resources: | Books
Others
|
|---|---|
| iLearn@Bond & Email: | iLearn@Bond is the Learning Management System at Bond University and is used to provide access to subject materials, class recordings and detailed subject information regarding the subject curriculum, assessment, and timing. Both iLearn and the Student Email facility are used to provide important subject notifications. Additionally, official correspondence from the University will be forwarded to students’ Bond email account and must be monitored by the student. To access these services, log on to the Student Portal from the Bond University website as www.bond.edu.au |
Enrolment requirements
| Requisites: |
Nil |
|---|---|
| Assumed knowledge: |
Assumed knowledge is the minimum level of knowledge of a subject area that students are assumed to have acquired through previous study. It is the responsibility of students to ensure they meet the assumed knowledge expectations of the subject. Students who do not possess this prior knowledge are strongly recommended against enrolling and do so at their own risk. No concessions will be made for students’ lack of prior knowledge. All Psychology programs are accredited in the sequence presented and designed to provide students with learning and graduate outcomes in line with APAC accreditation standards. In order to meet these outcomes, students in the Undergraduate program should complete PSYC11, then PSYC12, and finally PSYC13 subjects in the order sequenced. |
| Restrictions: |
Nil |
Assurance of learning
Assurance of Learning means that universities take responsibility for creating, monitoring and updating curriculum, teaching and assessment so that students graduate with the knowledge, skills and attributes they need for employability and/or further study.
At Bond University, we carefully develop subject and program outcomes to ensure that student learning in each subject contributes to the whole student experience. Students are encouraged to carefully read and consider subject and program outcomes as combined elements.
Program Learning Outcomes (PLOs)
Program Learning Outcomes provide a broad and measurable set of standards that incorporate a range of knowledge and skills that will be achieved on completion of the program. If you are undertaking this subject as part of a degree program, you should refer to the relevant degree program outcomes and graduate attributes as they relate to this subject.
Subject Learning Outcomes (SLOs)
On successful completion of this subject the learner will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in learning research.
- Comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of Psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach.
- Apply knowledge and skills of Psychology in a manner that is reflexive, culturally appropriate and sensitive to the diversity of individuals.
- Analyse and critique theory and research in the discipline of Psychology and communicate these in written and oral formats.
- Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate values and ethics in Psychology.
- Demonstrate interpersonal skills and teamwork.
- Demonstrate self-directed pursuit of scholarly inquiry in Psychology.
Generative Artificial Intelligence in Assessment
The University acknowledges that Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen-AI) tools are an important facet of contemporary life. Their use in assessment is considered in line with students’ development of the skills and knowledge which demonstrate learning outcomes and underpin study and career success. Instructions on the use of Gen-AI are given for each assessment task; it is your responsibility to adhere to these instructions.
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Assessment details
Type Task % Timing* Outcomes assessed Take-home Examination Students have 7 days to complete the examination. The content is based upon Weeks 1-12 forum content. 35.00% Final Examination Period 1,2,3,4,5 Presentation Small Group Presentations Weeks 4, 5, 6. Plus written learnings from presentations. 30.00% Week 4 1,2,3,4,6,7 Laboratory Report Behaviour change project due day of tutorial 35.00% Week 9 1,2,3,4,7 - * Assessment timing is indicative of the week that the assessment is due or begins (where conducted over multiple weeks), and is based on the standard University academic calendar
- C = Students must reach a level of competency to successfully complete this assessment.
Pass requirement
Nil. However completion of all pieces of assessment to the appropriate standard facilitates success.
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Assessment criteria
Assessment criteria
High Distinction 85-100 Outstanding or exemplary performance in the following areas: interpretative ability; intellectual initiative in response to questions; mastery of the skills required by the subject, general levels of knowledge and analytic ability or clear thinking. Distinction 75-84 Usually awarded to students whose performance goes well beyond the minimum requirements set for tasks required in assessment, and who perform well in most of the above areas. Credit 65-74 Usually awarded to students whose performance is considered to go beyond the minimum requirements for work set for assessment. Assessable work is typically characterised by a strong performance in some of the capacities listed above. Pass 50-64 Usually awarded to students whose performance meets the requirements set for work provided for assessment. Fail 0-49 Usually awarded to students whose performance is not considered to meet the minimum requirements set for particular tasks. The fail grade may be a result of insufficient preparation, of inattention to assignment guidelines or lack of academic ability. A frequent cause of failure is lack of attention to subject or assignment guidelines. Quality assurance
For the purposes of quality assurance, Bond University conducts an evaluation process to measure and document student assessment as evidence of the extent to which program and subject learning outcomes are achieved. Some examples of student work will be retained for potential research and quality auditing purposes only. Any student work used will be treated confidentially and no student grades will be affected.
| Type | Task | % | Timing* | Outcomes assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Take-home Examination | Students have 7 days to complete the examination. The content is based upon Weeks 1-12 forum content. | 35.00% | Final Examination Period | 1,2,3,4,5 |
| Presentation | Small Group Presentations Weeks 4, 5, 6. Plus written learnings from presentations. | 30.00% | Week 4 | 1,2,3,4,6,7 |
| Laboratory Report | Behaviour change project due day of tutorial | 35.00% | Week 9 | 1,2,3,4,7 |
- * Assessment timing is indicative of the week that the assessment is due or begins (where conducted over multiple weeks), and is based on the standard University academic calendar
- C = Students must reach a level of competency to successfully complete this assessment.
Pass requirement
Nil. However completion of all pieces of assessment to the appropriate standard facilitates success.
Assessment criteria
| High Distinction | 85-100 | Outstanding or exemplary performance in the following areas: interpretative ability; intellectual initiative in response to questions; mastery of the skills required by the subject, general levels of knowledge and analytic ability or clear thinking. |
|---|---|---|
| Distinction | 75-84 | Usually awarded to students whose performance goes well beyond the minimum requirements set for tasks required in assessment, and who perform well in most of the above areas. |
| Credit | 65-74 | Usually awarded to students whose performance is considered to go beyond the minimum requirements for work set for assessment. Assessable work is typically characterised by a strong performance in some of the capacities listed above. |
| Pass | 50-64 | Usually awarded to students whose performance meets the requirements set for work provided for assessment. |
| Fail | 0-49 | Usually awarded to students whose performance is not considered to meet the minimum requirements set for particular tasks. The fail grade may be a result of insufficient preparation, of inattention to assignment guidelines or lack of academic ability. A frequent cause of failure is lack of attention to subject or assignment guidelines. |
Quality assurance
For the purposes of quality assurance, Bond University conducts an evaluation process to measure and document student assessment as evidence of the extent to which program and subject learning outcomes are achieved. Some examples of student work will be retained for potential research and quality auditing purposes only. Any student work used will be treated confidentially and no student grades will be affected.
Study Information
Submission procedures
Students must check the iLearn@Bond subject site for detailed assessment information and submission procedures.
Policy on late submission and extensions
A student who has not established a basis for an extension in compliance with University and Faculty policy either by 1) not applying before the assessment due date or 2) by having an application rejected due to failure to show a justifiable cause for an extension, will receive a penalty on assessment submitted after its due date. The penalty will be 10% of marks awarded to that assessment for every day late, with the first day counted after the required submission time has passed. No assessment will be accepted for consideration seven calendar days after the due date. Where a student has been granted an extension, the late penalty starts from the new due date and time set out in the extension.
Academic Integrity
Bond University‘s Student Code of Conduct Policy , Student Charter, Academic Integrity Policy and our Graduate Attributes guide expectations regarding student behaviour, their rights and responsibilities. Information on these topics can be found on our Academic Integrity webpage recognising that academic integrity involves demonstrating the principles of integrity (honesty, fairness, trust, professionalism, courage, responsibility, and respect) in words and actions across all aspects of academic endeavour.
Staff are required to report suspected misconduct. This includes all types of plagiarism, cheating, collusion, fabrication or falsification of data/content or other misconduct relating to assessment such as the falsification of medical certificates for assessment extensions. The longer term personal, social and financial consequences of misconduct can be severe, so please ask for help if you are unsure.
If your work is subject to an inquiry, you will be given an opportunity to respond and appropriate support will be provided. Academic work under inquiry will not be marked until the process has concluded. Penalties for misconduct include a warning, reduced grade, a requirement to repeat the assessment, suspension or expulsion from the University.
Feedback on assessment
Feedback on assessment will be provided to students according to the requirements of the Assessment Procedure Schedule A - Assessment Communication Procedure.
Whilst in most cases feedback should be provided within two weeks of the assessment submission due date, the Procedure should be checked if the assessment is linked to others or if the subject is a non-standard (e.g., intensive) subject.
Accessibility and Inclusion Support
Support is available to students where a physical, mental or neurological condition exists that would impact the student’s capacity to complete studies, exams or assessment tasks. For effective support, special requirement needs should be arranged with the University in advance of or at the start of each semester, or, for acute conditions, as soon as practicable after the condition arises. Reasonable adjustments are not guaranteed where applications are submitted late in the semester (for example, when lodged just prior to critical assessment and examination dates).
As outlined in the Accessibility and Inclusion Policy, to qualify for support, students must meet certain criteria. Students are also required to meet with the Accessibility and Inclusion Advisor who will ensure that reasonable adjustments are afforded to qualifying students.
For more information and to apply online, visit BondAbility.
Additional subject information
Subject curriculum
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Introduction,evolution of behaviourism and research methods
This lecture provides an overview of the subject requirements and introduces basic principles of learning and behaviour. Schools of behaviourism and applied behaviour analysis is reviewed. Key research methods terms, approaches to measurement and research design is reviewed.
SLOs included
- Demonstrate understanding of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in learning research.
- Comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of Psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach.
- Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate values and ethics in Psychology.
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Classical conditioning and elicited behaviours
This lecture outlines the development of involuntary reactions to specific stimuli. Mechanisms for differing classical conditioning are reviewed, including appetitive, aversive, excitatory and inhibitory conditioning. Classical conditioning differs according to the temporal arrangements between neutral and unconditioned stimuli. Who we are attacted to can be shaped by classical conditioning.
SLOs included
- Demonstrate understanding of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in learning research.
- Comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of Psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach.
- Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate values and ethics in Psychology.
- Demonstrate self-directed pursuit of scholarly inquiry in Psychology.
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Classical conditioning: Underlying processes and practical applications
This lecture outlines major theoretical approaches to explain the complexity of classical conditioning: Stimulus-substitution, preparatory-response, and the Rescorla-Wagner theory. Practical applications of classical conditioning are described for understanding and treating phobias, aversion therapy for problem behaviours, and medical applications.
SLOs included
- Demonstrate understanding of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in learning research.
- Comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of Psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach.
- Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate values and ethics in Psychology.
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Classical Conditioning: Basic phenomena and various complexities
This lecture describes basic conditioning phenomena including acquisition, extinction, generalisation and discrimination. Classical conditioning is extended to consider the effects of mutiple stimuli presented simultaneously. Situations that can interfere with the process of conditioning are reviewed, and the mechanism by which exposure to unpredictable events can result in experimental neurosis is outlined.
SLOs included
- Demonstrate understanding of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in learning research.
- Comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of Psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach.
- Analyse and critique theory and research in the discipline of Psychology and communicate these in written and oral formats.
- Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate values and ethics in Psychology.
- Demonstrate interpersonal skills and teamwork.
- Demonstrate self-directed pursuit of scholarly inquiry in Psychology.
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Operant conditioning
Operant conditioning explains how the recurrence of a behaviour is dependent upon the consequences produced. The consequences may result in an increase (reinforcement) or decrease (punishment) in the probability of the behaviour re-occurring. Differing forms of reinforcement influence the extent to which behaviours are likely to continue. Shaping, the reinforcement of gradual approximations to novel behaviour, has an important role in training animals, and humans, engaging in complex behaviours.
SLOs included
- Demonstrate understanding of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in learning research.
- Comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of Psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach.
- Analyse and critique theory and research in the discipline of Psychology and communicate these in written and oral formats.
- Demonstrate interpersonal skills and teamwork.
- Demonstrate self-directed pursuit of scholarly inquiry in Psychology.
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Schedules and theories of reinforcement
Schedules of reinforcement refers to the response requirement that must be met to obtain reinforcement. The effects of differing schedules for behaviour acquisition and persistence of behaviours are outlined. This has important implication for understanding how some problematic behaviours persist over time. The practical importance of reinforcement is highlighted while describing the major theories of reinforcement.
SLOs included
- Demonstrate understanding of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in learning research.
- Comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of Psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach.
- Analyse and critique theory and research in the discipline of Psychology and communicate these in written and oral formats.
- Demonstrate interpersonal skills and teamwork.
- Demonstrate self-directed pursuit of scholarly inquiry in Psychology.
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Extinction and stimulus control
This lecture outlines how the nonreinforcement of a previously reinforced response leads to a decrease in that response (extinction) and how the presence of a stimulus influences the tendency for an operant response to occur (stimulus control). Understanding extinction has important implications for assisting parents with children’s temper tantrums, while stimulus control is useful for enhancing study environments.
SLOs included
- Demonstrate understanding of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in learning research.
- Comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of Psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach.
- Apply knowledge and skills of Psychology in a manner that is reflexive, culturally appropriate and sensitive to the diversity of individuals.
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Escape, avoidance and punishment
This lecture describes how negative reinforcement contributes to escape and avoidance behaviours, with important implications for the persistence of phobias and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The use of punishment in suppressing problematic behaviours is described, highlighting the challenges to ensuring effective behaviour change from the administration of punishment.
SLOs included
- Demonstrate understanding of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in learning research.
- Comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of Psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach.
- Apply knowledge and skills of Psychology in a manner that is reflexive, culturally appropriate and sensitive to the diversity of individuals.
- Demonstrate an understanding of appropriate values and ethics in Psychology.
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Choice, matching, and self-control
This lecture outlines the role of choice in differentiating alternative sources of reinforcement, and how the amount of behaviour is often proportional to the amount of reinforcement (matching). Enacted behaviour is not always automatic and may be involve selecting a larger later reward over a smaller sooner reward (self-control). Self-control, as opposed to impulsiveness (selecting smaller rewards sooner over later larger rewards), contributes to the development of problem behaviours such as drug use.
SLOs included
- Demonstrate understanding of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in learning research.
- Comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of Psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach.
- Apply knowledge and skills of Psychology in a manner that is reflexive, culturally appropriate and sensitive to the diversity of individuals.
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Observational learning and rule-governed behaviour
Beyond direct consequences for behaviour, humans learn by witnessing another person's behaviour (observational learning). This has provided an understanding for how children learn aggressive actions from watching other people enact similar behaviours. Learning also arises indirectly through the exposure to rules (rule-governed behaviour). This lecture outlines the process by which observational learning and rule-governed behaviour develops.
SLOs included
- Demonstrate understanding of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in learning research.
- Comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of Psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach.
- Apply knowledge and skills of Psychology in a manner that is reflexive, culturally appropriate and sensitive to the diversity of individuals.
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Biological dispositions and comparative cognition
This lecture describes the role of biological preparedness in how easily an organism learns certain types of behaviours, and how genetically based, fixed action patterns can displace learned behaviours. This facilitates understanding how some responses are learned quickly, while other learned behaviours dissipate. In contrast, comparative cognition refers to the study of information processing in various animals to understand differences in learning across species.
SLOs included
- Demonstrate understanding of the major concepts, theoretical perspectives, empirical findings and historical trends in learning research.
- Comprehend and apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of Psychology, with depth of understanding of underlying principles, theories and concepts in the discipline, using a scientific approach.
- Apply knowledge and skills of Psychology in a manner that is reflexive, culturally appropriate and sensitive to the diversity of individuals.
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Review
Summary of weeks 1-11 with exam tips.
SLOs included
- Analyse and critique theory and research in the discipline of Psychology and communicate these in written and oral formats.
- Demonstrate self-directed pursuit of scholarly inquiry in Psychology.