ABA-509 Cap I: Lit Review, Mthd Dsgn, & IRB
This course is the first phase of the graduate thesis sequence in the Behavior and Autism Studies program. Students will learn how to (a) search for and evaluate behavior-analytic research; (b) construct an organized literature review matrix; and (c) use this foundation to design an original research method aligned with best practices and ethical standards. This course emphasizes the development of independent research skills, academic writing, and ethical research design. Students will complete CITI Social-Behavioral Research Training and prepare a full Institutional Review Board (IRB) application, including required forms and supporting materials. This course serves as the prerequisite to Capstone II, which focuses on data collection, results, and discussion of the study proposed in this course. Successful completion of Capstone I requires the submission of an 8-10 article literature matrix, an introduction draft, a complete method section, a full IRB application with supporting documents, and a proposal presentation.