Kelly Stohl, MSW

No Office on campus (Adjunct Faculty) Mailbox in the H Building.

Phone Number: Work (864) 942-9592  Cell (864) 344-1115

Email: KTS73@DMH.STATE.SC.US

The text in this class is by Paul Chance (1998).  The title is First course in Applied Behavior Analysis.  We will be using it often and it is really easy and interesting to read.  Get to know it well!

Psychology 201 is a prerequisite for Psychology 218.  This class was organized to introduce the concepts of behavior modification or change.  The instructor will challenge you to critically think about your work with other in assessment and intervention.  This course will help you to develop a toolbox of theories and interventions in working to change behaviors and not people.

When you finish this course successfully you will be able to:

1.       demonstrate an understanding of the nature, motivation, and the ability to change human behavior.

2.     demonstrate an awareness of cultural and societal forces on behavior.

3.     Can assess the client’s needs and assist in the implementation of necessary action plans.

4.     Develop the necessary forms, assessments, and implementation of action plans for people.

5.     Look at yourself and your biases on certain behaviors.

6.    Critically think about behavior and its effects on individuals, families and groups, and organizations.

Class Participation                            20%  In-class assignments

Quizzes (TBA Number??)                    20%  In Class and often

Assessments (2)                               10%  Take Home Assessments

Behavior Mod Plan (2)                        10%  Take Home Behavior Mod. Plans

Cornerstone Paper (1)                        40%  Take home paper – Due last class

Class Participation:  This is class assignments.  I will not take roll, but if you are absent and do not have a good excuse there will be no make up available.  Much of the In-class items will be done in groups.

Quizzes:  Since there will be no tests, quizzes will be given on chapters that you have read.  These quizzes will be announced the week before and given with the ability to use your text and notes.  They are for learning not memorization.

Assessments:  There will be two assessments done by students during the semester.  These assessments will be done in the theory and format from when we are studying.

Action Plans:  Your assessment means nothing without a behavior modification plan.  I will give you the format and you will have to come up with the action plan.  These action plans will follow the assessments.

Cornerstone Paper:  This is a Six page paper on what you learned during the semester and how you are going to use it in your profession.  You need to use at least three books.  You will be expected to use your creativity and not copy from the book.  Please, books are so boring, I hope you will make me think!

Assignments and Lecture Topics

1.  Attendance: 

q       Students are expected to attend all classes.  Recognizing that situations may arise to prevent such attendance, however, the following policy is set forth to address these situations.

q       Students may be absent for five percent of class meetings for avoidable absences, and no more than an additional ten percent of class meetings for unavoidable absences.  In extreme circumstances, students may be absent for a length of time mutually agreed upon between the instructor and the student that exceeds this percentage of class meetings.

q       Attendance for less than a full class period may be counted as one-third of an absence.

Student Responsibilities:

q       Understand the college’s attendance policy and the make-up procedures followed in each class.

q       Understand the rationale for class participation being necessary to accomplish the learning outcomes of the course.

q       Understand the importance of attending the class and being prompt to class

q       Communicate to the course instructor promptly any problems affecting his or her attendance to class or change in enrollment status

q       Provide verification of reason for class absences if requested by an instructor.

q       Attend class on a regular, consistent basis unless there are unavoidable circumstances preventing attendance.

q       Be committed to completing class work and fulfilling class obligations to other students in the class

q       Show respect for the instructor and other students, communicate concerns clearly, and use appropriate grievous complaint channels, if needed, should misunderstandings occur.

Definitions:

q       Avoidable absence:  An absence where a student voluntarily misses class for non-emergency reason (i.e., sleep late, go hunting, shopping, etc.)

q       Unavoidable absence:  Absences caused by a situation or set of circumstances which were unforeseen and over which the student has no control (i.e., automobile accident, death in immediate family, child ill, or work schedule change, etc.)

q       Extreme circumstance:  Absences which are unforeseen and of which the student has no control that occur in extended intervals of time to a student who has the potential to pas the course through make-up,.

Things required in for APA in Human Services 101.

When citing an author in your paper please do it the following way:

Carl Rogers (1989) discussed his point in his Article, The Human Psyche, that natural consequences come when we do natural things.

                                  Or

In a book on the human psyche (Rogers, 1989) it is discussed…

The way that you would do your Reference page is this way:

References

C. Rogers (1989).  The Human Psyche. 

Simpsonville, SC: The Stohl Publishing Company.