PSY 431 Research in Animal Learning

4 Credit(s) W-III

This advanced research course focuses on the principles of behavior discovered in the animal laboratory. Students will be responsible for shaping the behavior of a rat to illustrate behavioral concepts and principles. Students will read and analyze advanced literature on animal learning and will engage in a substantial amount of informal and formal writing. Through revision of written work (based on feedback from peers and instructors), and through discussion of writing processes and conventions used by psychologists (e.g., from the publication guidelines of the American Psychological Association), students will learn to express themselves more effectively. Students will also reflect upon the ways that writing can support learning of advanced concepts in animal learning and behavior. Three lecture hours and three laboratory hours per week. Prerequisites: WII course, PSY203S, PSY210 or PSY328, and at least six credits in courses numbered PSY300-399.