1) Reinforcement Compared to Punishment and their Effects on Behavior
For this paper, the goal is to write about the concepts of reinforcement and punishment, then write about how each effect behavior. You are to include the operational mechanisms of each and how these mechanisms impact behavior.
Baron, A. & Galizio, M. (2005). Positive and negative reinforcement: should the distinction be preserved? The Behavior Analyst, 28, 85-98.
Lerman, D. C., & Vorndran, C. M. (2002). On the status of knowledge for using punishment: Implications for treating behavior disorders. Journal of applied behavior analysis, 35(4), 431-464.
2) Watson and Skinner: Similarities and Differences
For this paper, the goal is to write about the founding fathers of behaviorism, John B. Watson and B. F. Skinner. You are to write about the fundamental principles each of these gentlemen contributed to the science of behaviorism – that is J. B Watson’s methodological behaviorism and B. F Skinner’s radical behaviorism. You are to include a comparison, for example what these two men agreed on conceptually and what they disagreed on.
Watson, J. B. (1913). Psychology as the Behaviorist Views It. The Johns Hopkins University, 158-176. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
Schneider, S. M., & Morris, E. K. (1987). A history of the term radical behaviorism: From Watson to Skinner. The Behavior Analyst, 10(1), 27-39.
3) Classical and Operant Theories: Compare and Contrast
For this paper, the goal is to write about the concepts of classical and operant conditioning and learning, and how these concepts are depicted within the framework of the science of behaviorism. You are to include how these theories are similar and how they are different within the behaviorism paradigm.
Catania, A. C., & Laties, V. G. (1999). Pavlov and Skinner: Two lives in science (An introduction to BF Skinner’s “some responses to the stimulus ‘Pavlov’”). Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 72(3), 455-461. https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.1999.72-455Links to an external site.
Skinner, B. F. (1937). Two types of conditioned reflex: A reply to Konorski and Miller. The Journal of General Psychology, 16(1), 272-279.
4) Myths, Misconceptions, and Truths about Applied Behavior Analysis
For this paper, the goal is to write about the field of applied behavior analysis and the science of behaviorism that supports it. You are to include four to five misconception or falsehoods about the field. For example, behavior analysis as only synonymous with autism. You are to include the importance of knowing and understanding the misconceptions and how a student of behaviorism would refute the misconceptions.
Becirevic, A. (2014). Ask the experts: how can new students defend behavior analysis from misunderstandings? Behavior Analysis in Practice.
