First Course in Applied Behavior Analysis

by Paul Chance

With an emphasis on practical solutions to behavior problems, Chance offers an unparalleled approach to behavior analysis. Creating a simulated classroom, course content is presented by "Dr. Cee"--a fictitious instructor who interacts with equally fictitious students. Through Dr. Cee, Chance teaches the language of behavior theory and analysis as well as the most important procedures for changing behavior and the principles that underlay those procedures. The dialogue between Dr. Cee and the students is realistic; the students ask questions, giving readers a chance to see if they know the answer to the questions raised. Effective and engaging, Chance's Socratic approach is very readable, yet does not sacrifice accuracy and specificity.

Genres: Psychology

512 pages, Paperback

First published September 3, 1997

Reviews

[Sierra Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a text for my Behaviour Intervention course and I loved it. I don’t think I’ve ever picked up a textbook and looked forward to what I was about to learn. The style of writing is so inclusive and made it very motivating for me to read!!

[Patrick Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s incredibly possible that this will be the only time I give a 5 star rating to a textbook. This was a superbly fresh take on providing specific course content in a relatable and concise tone with intermixed theory. Since the branch of Behavior Analysis is relatively new in the Psychology field we don’t have enough literary attention on this subject, but this book took the information and provided a mock classroom setting where you could learn and giggle coyly amongst your “peers”. The ideas in this book are not grounded in permanence since this field will have more to offer in advanced courses and through more scholarly conversation, but this was a more than fabulous introduction to the world of behavior change.

[Ashley Aselin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for school but has really good ideas on changing behavior as a teacher and parent.