Classroom Projects to Motivate Student Involvement in Behaviorally-based Community Initiatives

Abstract

Service to the community is a valued practice, essential to optimize many city operations we enjoy as individuals. Indeed, the University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire places such a high value on such activities that service learning is a requirement for graduation, offering "rich experiences for UWEC students and substantial benefits for the community" (Center for Service Learning, UWEC). In the psychology course, Experimental Analysis of Behavior, students have been instructed to draft proposals around a research idea that could feasibly be implemented to benefit the local community of Eau Claire. The purpose of this study was to highlight several of the projects the students have focused on over the past year.