Web Bio

Dr. Cheney received the bachelor’s degree from Utah State University and after a tour in the U.S. Air Force, the masters and doctorate degrees from Arizona State University. He majored in Behavior Analysis and the Biological Bases of Behavior and did graduate work at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix. He has been teaching physiological psychology and behavior analysis as well as other courses for about 40 years. Dr. Cheney has investigated various questions involving drug effects on behavior, brain mechanisms, sensory processes, rearing conditions, behavioral histories, diet selection, foraging, predator-prey interactions, school practices, eating disorders, teaching-learning methods, and other topics. Much of his research has been in the lab with nonhuman animals. He collaborates with faculty and students in other disciplines that involve animal or human behavior. He is particular interested in the behavior of wildlife, livestock and companion animals and in promoting teaching/learning methods that maximize student progress efficiently and comfortably through a particular topic. His courses involve many approximations of what is known about programming instruction including breaking the material into small units, requiring frequent student responses, providing immediate feedback, and remediating to mastery prior to advancement.