Skip to main content
Start of main content.

Understanding and Changing Human Behaviour

General Information

Understanding and Changing Human Behaviour introduces students to an evidence-based framework for understanding the functions of human behaviour. This subject focuses on teaching students the techniques used to conduct a systematic analysis of behaviour that limits human performance. Students will also learn about the specific strategies that can be used to create meaningful and long-term change in human behaviour.

  • Academic unit: Faculty of Society & Design
    Subject code: COUN13-102
    Subject title: Understanding and Changing Human Behaviour
    Subject level: Undergraduate
    Semester/Year: January 2021
    Credit points: 10.000
  • Timetable: https://bond.edu.au/timetable
    Delivery mode: Standard
    Workload items:
    • Seminar: x12 (Total hours: 36) - Seminar 1
    • Personal Study Hours: x12 (Total hours: 84) - Recommended Study Hours
    Attendance and learning activities: Attendance is compulsory for this subject and students must attend all lectures. All lecture content is embedded in the application of new knowledge to practical scenarios and case studies, the knowledge gains that arise from these in-class activities cannot be replaced by reading the textbook for the subject. Therefore, students who elect to miss classes place themselves at risk of missing important and examinable subject content. Students who have legitimate reasons for non-attendance such as illness or unforeseen personal crisis should 1) contact the lecturer-in-charge via email to report their absence and 2) provide the lecturer-in-charge with a medical or similar certificate. Further, learning of new material will occur via direct exposure to practical problem-focused tasks, group interaction, and structured discussion. Students will be required to build their understanding of key concepts by engaging in active and on-topic participation throughout the subject. Learning Activities: Three-hour seminars will comprise of presentation of material via formal lecture, discussion of key concepts in small groups and class, and completion of problem-focused clinical exercises and case studies. Students will be encouraged towards active engagement and will be required to undertake activities such as note-taking, group-based discussion of key concepts and responding to direct questions from the lecturer-in-charge.
  • Prescribed resources:

    Books

    • Watson, D. L. & Tharp, R. G. (2014). Self-directed behavior: Self-modification for personal adjustment. (10th ed), Belmont, CA:Wadsworth
    After enrolment, students can check the Books and Tools area in iLearn for the full Resource List.
    iLearn@Bond & Email: iLearn@Bond is the online learning environment at Bond University and is used to provide access to subject materials, lecture 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: COUN13-102
Subject title: Understanding and Changing Human Behaviour
Subject level: Undergraduate
Semester/Year: January 2021
Credit points: 10.000

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.

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.

Find your program

Subject Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

On successful completion of this subject the learner will be able to:

  1. To apply and evaluate the basic steps for analysing human behaviour and its maintaining variables.
  2. To develop effective expressive, receptive and written communication skills as these apply to the counselling and behaviour management environments.
  3. To design and implement an individualised behavioural intervention to improve one specific behavioural concern.
  4. To construct A-B-C data-collection tools to monitor changes in behaviour and to use these data to judge the extent of behaviour change.
  5. To identify and explain the ethical issues significant to working with clients to alter their patterns of behaviour.

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.

  • Type Task % Timing* Outcomes assessed
    Presentation§ Seminar Presentation 15% Week 8 1,2,3,4,5
    Written Report Written Self-report Case Study 40% Week 11 1,2,3,4,5
    Take-home Examination End of semester examination released week 11, to be completed by week 12 45% Week 12 1,2,3,5
    • § Indicates group/teamwork-based assessment
    • * 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.
  • 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
Presentation§ Seminar Presentation 15% Week 8 1,2,3,4,5
Written Report Written Self-report Case Study 40% Week 11 1,2,3,4,5
Take-home Examination End of semester examination released week 11, to be completed by week 12 45% Week 12 1,2,3,5
  • § Indicates group/teamwork-based assessment
  • * 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.

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

University’s Academic Integrity Policy defines plagiarism as the act of misrepresenting as one’s own original work: another’s ideas, interpretations, words, or creative works; and/or one’s own previous ideas, interpretations, words, or creative work without acknowledging that it was used previously (i.e., self-plagiarism). The University considers the act of plagiarising to be a breach of the Student Conduct Code and, therefore, subject to the Discipline Regulations which provide for a range of penalties including the reduction of marks or grades, fines and suspension from the University.

Bond University utilises Originality Reporting software to inform academic integrity.

Feedback on assessment

Feedback on assessment will be provided to students within two weeks of the assessment submission due date, as per the Assessment Policy.

Accessibility and Inclusion Support

If you have a disability, illness, injury or health condition that impacts your capacity to complete studies, exams or assessment tasks, it is important you let us know your special requirements, early in the semester. Students will need to make an application for support and submit it with recent, comprehensive documentation at an appointment with a Disability Officer. Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Office at the earliest possible time, to meet staff and learn about the services available to meet your specific needs. Please note that late notification or failure to disclose your disability can be to your disadvantage as the University cannot guarantee support under such circumstances.

Additional subject information

Subject curriculum

Approved on: Jul 24, 2020. Edition: 4.3
Last updated: Oct 10, 2022