Course Syllabus: Psych 251
Dalfen: Spring 2014
Psych 251: Introduction to Learning and Behavioral Analysis
College:
Semester:
Credits:
Days:
Time:
Location:
CUNY at Queens College
Spring 2014
3.0
Monday, Wednesday
9:15 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
SB C203
Instructor:
Office:
Office Hours:
email:
Samantha R. Dalfen
Science Building, Room a311
Appointment Only
sdalfen@gc.cuny.edu
UNIVERSITY REGULATIONS
Academic Policies: Students are required to comply with the regulations set forth by the Undergraduate Scholastic Standards
Committee (USSC) and the policies presented in the Queens College, City University of New York 2007-2009 Undergraduate
Bulletin. The USSC is responsible for evaluating undergraduate academic policies, procedures, and standards, which include, but are
not limited to: degree requirements, registration, grades, dropping and withdrawing from courses, probation and dismissal, and
cheating and plagiarism. The USSC is located in Room 201 of Frese Hall, and the telephone number is 718.997.4486. An electronic
version of the bulletin can be found at http://www.qc.cuny.edu/ Academics/Documents/Undergrad_Bulletin_07_09.pdf. Further, there
is an update to the bulletin for which you also should be familiar.
Grading Policy:
A+
A
A-
97-100
93-96
90-92
B+
B
B-
87-89
83-86
80-82
C+
C
C-
77-79
73-76
70-72
D+
D
F
67-69
60-66
0-59
Weather Emergencies: Students can signup for CUNY Alert, an emergency notification system that enables members of the
university administration to provide timely information to students, staff, and faculty regarding campus emergencies which include,
but are not limited to, bad weather, class cancellation, building closures or evacuations, and power outages. The web address for
CUNY Alert is http://www.cuny.edu/news/alert.html.
Students with Disabilities: The Office of Special Services for Students with Disabilities is in Room 171 at Kiely Hall. The telephone
number is 718.997.5870, the email address is QC_SPSV@qc.cuny.edu, and the web address is http://www.qc.cuny.edu/StudentLife
/services/specialserv/Pages/default.aspx.
If you require clarification for University Regulations, please contact your academic adviser or the department affiliated with the
regulation. Employees of the department will be able to provide you with the most up-to-date information.
COURSE REGULATIONS:
Course Objective: This course will present learning (i.e., a change in behavior due to experience) and behavior (i.e., the responses in
an individual’s repertoire) as a biological methodology for interacting with environmental events. The theoretical foundation for
understanding learning and behavior is presented from an evolutionary perspective (e.g., natural selection and survival of the fittest).
We will investigate learning through classical (i.e. Pavlovian) conditioning, operant (i.e. instrumental) conditioning, and observational
learning. Applications and interpretations of each learning methodology will be discussed. The concepts of generalization,
discrimination, and stimulus control will be presented in order to understand the complex interactions between organisms and their
environment. We will conclude the semester by discussing memory, forgetting, and the limitations to learning.
Required Reading: Chance, P. (2013). Learning and behavior (7th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.
Exam Composition: There will be 4 exams that consist of 50 questions per exam. There will be 42 multiple-choice questions and 8
matching questions. Each exam is worth 20%, and they are not cumulative.
Quizzes: There will be an online quiz due prior to each class. Each quiz will be 15 questions and will be taken on blackboard. The
quizzes will test you on the reading material due for that class. Some of these quizzes will be optional, meaning they will be available
to you to help you review the reading material, but will not count towards your final grade. The optional quizzes will not have a
negative nor positive affect on your final grade. Some of these quizzes will be mandatory, meaning they will count towards your final
grade. Each mandatory quiz will count for 2% of your final grade. I will let you know when a quiz is mandatory, vs. optional. You
will always know whether the quiz due is an optional or mandatory quiz.
Exam Rules: On exam days, you will have until 10:30 a.m. to complete the exam. If you arrive late, you will be permitted to take the
exam if no student has submitted an exam. As such, you will earn a 0 if you arrive after a student has submitted the exam. During the
exam, you are not permitted to access any materials from your personal belongings without permission from the instructor. All exams
will sample material presented in the text and supplemental material presented in the classroom. All exams are closed book.
Page 1 of 6
Course Syllabus: Psych 251
Dalfen: Spring 2014
Extra Credit: Everybody registered for this course is guaranteed 1 extra credit point that is to be added to their final grade. This
means, if your final grade is an 86, you will receive an 87, thus boosting your grade from a B to a B+. You do not have to do anything
for this extra credit. HOWEVER, you can LOSE this extra credit point. You can only lose your extra credit point in one of two ways:
1. You ask me if I can offer any extra credit assignments to help boost your grade or
2. You ask me if I can curve an exam or the final grades
Not only will I NOT ever offer any students any form of an extra credit assignment but you will also lose your extra credit point
immediately. I rarely curve tests but I will only do so at my own discretions, asking me to curve a test will not only guarantee you lose
your extra credit point, it will also guarantee that I will not curve the test. Please, this point I offer you all is to help clarify to
everybody my expectations and to reward those of you (hopefully all of you!) who are polite and understanding of my grading
policies.
If you require further clarification or accommodations with respect to any of the Course Regulations, please contact me. This
includes, but is not limited to, religious holidays not addressed by Queens College, anticipated medical absences, or any other
anticipated event requiring accommodations.
Class Policy – Important Information
1. CHEATING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. This includes any form of cheating on the exams. The
result is failure of the exam and/or failure of the course. Additionally, all instances of cheating
(intentional or accidental) will be reported to the Psychology Department and the Dean of Students.
Please note: the cheater and individuals assisting the cheater will be subject to the penalties describe
above.
2. Attendance – strongly recommended. The instructor realizes that a student may need (for whatever
reason) to miss a class; however, excessive absences will impact the likelihood of succeeding in this
course
a. Missed work – the student is responsible for obtaining information (notes, etc.) that they missed
when absent from class.
b. Religious observances – students who will miss class(es) owing to religious holidays should
notify the instructor during the first week of class so that accommodations may be made.
3. Exam Make-up Policy - Missing an exam is strongly discouraged. Make-up exams are at the sole
discretion of the instructor and there must be substantial reason (e.g., hospitalization) and evidence for
the instructor to approve a make-up exam. No student will be allowed more than one (1) make-up exam.
All approved make-up exams will be short-answer/essay (not multiple-choice) format.
Incomplete Grade – the grade “Incomplete” is not available for this class.
Page 2 of 6
Course Syllabus: Psych 251
Dalfen: Spring 2014
Projected Course Agenda: This is a tentative outline of the material to be covered throughout the semester.
There may be modifications and adjustments made to the agenda based on unforeseen events.
Date
January
February
March
Academic Activities
27
 Introduction and Syllabus
29

Chapter 1: P. 1-11
3

Chapter 1: P. 11-18
5
 Chapter 1: P. 19-31
10
 Chapter 2: P. 34-53
12
NO CLASS: Lincoln’s Birthday
17
NO CLASS: President’s Day
19
 Chapter 3: P. 56-75
20*

Chapter 3: P. 75-92
24

Chapter 4: P. 95-111
26

Chapter 4: P. 111-123 + Review for first exam
FIRST EXAM
3
5
 Chapter 5: P. 126-137
10
 Chapter 5: P. 138-150
12
 Chapter 5: P. 150-164
17
 Chapter 6: P. 168-190
19

Chapter 7: P. 193-212
24

Chapter 7: P. 212-226 + Review for second exam
Page 3 of 6
Course Syllabus: Psych 251
Dalfen: Spring 2014
SECOND EXAM
26
April
31

Chapter 8: P. 230-240
2

Chapter 8: P. 240-251
7

Chapter 9: P. 254-276
9

Chapter 10: P. 279-296
14
NO CLASS: Spring Recess
16
NO CLASS: Spring Recess
21
NO CLASS: Spring Recess
23

Chapter 10: P. 296-310 + Review for third exam
THIRD EXAM
28
May
30

Chapter 11: P. 313-322
5

Chapter 11: P. 322-342
7

Chapter 12: P. 345-353
12

Chapter 12: P. 353-373
14

Chapter 13: P. 376-390 + Review for final
*Thursday follows a Monday schedule
Page 4 of 6
Course Syllabus: Psych 251
Dalfen: Spring 2014
COURSE CONTRACT
Psych 251: Learning and Behavioral Analysis
College:
Semester:
Credits:
Days:
Time:
Location:
CUNY at Queens College
Spring 2014
3.0
Monday, Wednesday
9:15 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
Science Building C203
Instructor: Samantha R. Dalfen
Office: Science Building A311
Office Hours: Appointment Only
email: sdalfen@gc.cuny.edu
I have read and understand the syllabus. I will abide by the
regulations set forth by the Undergraduate Scholastic Standards
Committee (USSC) and the policies published in the Queens College
City University of New York 2012-2013 Undergraduate Bulletin.
Further, I understand and agree to the Course Regulations and the
Projected Course Agenda proposed by Instructor Dalfen. Further, I
understand that the Projected Course Agenda is subject to change as
a result of unanticipated events. Finally, I understand that if I am
unable to attend a class for any reason, it is my responsibility to
obtain the information missed.
Student’s Printed Name:
Phone Number:
Email Address:
Date:
Page 5 of 6
Course Syllabus: Psych 251
Dalfen: Spring 2014
Student’s Signature:
Page 6 of 6