Super ASuper ATopical Studies in PsychologyTopical Studies in Psychology

Psychology 396Psychology 396

Allyson Heck, Emily Helt, Amanda Allyson Heck, Emily Helt, Amanda Norton, Lori Schroedter, and Richard Norton, Lori Schroedter, and Richard

MalottMalottWestern Michigan UniversityWestern Michigan University

What is Super A?What is Super A?

A supplemental course to A supplemental course to Concepts of Concepts of Behavior AnalysisBehavior Analysis (Psychology 360) and (Psychology 360) and HonorsHonors General PsychologyGeneral Psychology (Psychology (Psychology 100 Honors).100 Honors).

An opportunity for students to earn an An opportunity for students to earn an extra credit of an A in their major while extra credit of an A in their major while increasing their knowledge of behavior increasing their knowledge of behavior analysis.analysis.

Mission StatementMission Statement

To train undergraduates in goal setting To train undergraduates in goal setting and attainment, data graphing, and self-and attainment, data graphing, and self-management, in order to produce management, in order to produce competent behavior analysts so that future competent behavior analysts so that future professors, graduate schools, and clients professors, graduate schools, and clients can better benefit from their skills.can better benefit from their skills.

Requirements for Earning a Requirements for Earning a Super ASuper A

A student must earn 500 Optional Activity A student must earn 500 Optional Activity Points (OAPs).Points (OAPs).

The student must also have an A (92% or The student must also have an A (92% or above) in Psychology 360 or Psychology above) in Psychology 360 or Psychology 100 Honors.100 Honors.

The History of Super AThe History of Super A

Super A began as a way to reward those Super A began as a way to reward those students who had achieved over an A (92%) in students who had achieved over an A (92%) in Psychology 360 or Psychology 100 Honors.Psychology 360 or Psychology 100 Honors.

It’s purpose is to allow the student to obtain It’s purpose is to allow the student to obtain another credit of an A for all of his/her hard work another credit of an A for all of his/her hard work in Psychology 360 and Psychology 100 Honors, in Psychology 360 and Psychology 100 Honors, as well as further extend the student’s as well as further extend the student’s knowledge of behavior analysis.knowledge of behavior analysis.

This should be accomplished without a This should be accomplished without a tremendous amount of effort from the student.tremendous amount of effort from the student.

Ways to Earn Ways to Earn Optional Activity Points (OAPs)Optional Activity Points (OAPs)

Attending Super AAttending Super A Achieving a grade above a 92% in Psychology 360 or Achieving a grade above a 92% in Psychology 360 or

Psychology 100 HonorsPsychology 100 Honors Completing chapter objectivesCompleting chapter objectives Filling out definition sheetsFilling out definition sheets Participating in researchParticipating in research Attending a departmental functionAttending a departmental function Presenting a Win-WinPresenting a Win-Win Conducting a self-management projectConducting a self-management project Doing extra rat labsDoing extra rat labs Participating in Behavioral Bowl and Vocab BingoParticipating in Behavioral Bowl and Vocab Bingo

Overall Distrubution of OAPs Earned

02468

101214161820

200-300 300-400 400-500 500-600 600-700 700-800 800-900 900-1000

Optional Activity Points

Num

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f Stu

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s

Fall 2004 Student OAP Fall 2004 Student OAP AttainmentAttainment

0200400600800

100012001400

% ab

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chap

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Depar

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Resea

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self-

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Win

-Win

Extra

rat l

abs

Behav

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Vocab

Bin

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Mas

ter p

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Fall 2004 Evaluation of Fall 2004 Evaluation of Super A (Psychology 396)Super A (Psychology 396)

Overall evaluation of P396

0

1

2

3

4

5

1 2 3 4 5

ranking

Nu

mb

er o

f st

ud

ents

excellent above average average below average terrible

How many students earn How many students earn Super A (Psychology 396) credit?Super A (Psychology 396) credit?

Fall semester 2004, 15 out of the 17 Fall semester 2004, 15 out of the 17 students who participated in Super A students who participated in Super A earned at least 500 OAPs.earned at least 500 OAPs.

A majority of these students also rated A majority of these students also rated Super A (Psychology 396) as an excellent Super A (Psychology 396) as an excellent or above average class.or above average class.