Behavior Modification Operant Conditioning Project Overview & Due Dates Baseline 6/3/19 – 6/9/19 Implementation Phase: 6/10/19 – 6/19/19 Project Submissio
Behavior Modification Operant Conditioning Project Overview & Due Dates
Baseline 6/3/19 – 6/9/19
Implementation Phase: 6/10/19 – 6/19/19
Project Submission Due 6/21/19 by 11:59 PM
Purpose of project: The purpose of this behavioral modification project is to modify your behavior and learn about operant conditioning in the process. There are two major ways to change your behavior:
Increase the frequency or duration of your chosen behavior (either from 0 to a higher amount, or from your current level to a higher amount)
Decrease the frequency of duration of your chosen behavior (either to 0, or to a lower amount than your current level)
Instructions: Please read and follow all of the instructions carefully to complete the project. If anything is unclear or you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask.
In order to start a behavioral modification project, you must start by choosing which behavior you are going to modify.
To increase the likelihood of success on this project, please choose one of the following behaviors. Please choose the one that you are most motivated to attempt to change.
Options for behavior for this project
Studying
Academic time
Drinking water
Biting nails
Sleeping
Social media use
Electronic use
Cussing
Playing video games
Meditating
Reading
Smoking
Juuling
Other *If you chose another behavior, you must get it approved by me first.
Once you have chosen your behavior, you must then decide exactly what counts as that behavior (i.e., describe what your behavior is) and how you will measure your engagement in that behavior (i.e., define how you will measure it). In other words, you need to create an operational definition.
To increase your likelihood of success on this project, you need to use the operational definition for your chosen behavior that I am giving below.
*Please keep in mind that you will be tracking your chosen behavior every day for the duration of the project in the exact manner the operational definition states. Your day will be measured from 12 AM (midnight) to 11:59 PM.
*If you want to make any changes to the following operational definition for your chosen behavior, you must email me what you would like to change it to, the reason for your desire to change the operational definition, and receive permission to change it in that manner before you begin tracking your chosen behavior.
Behavior = Studying; Operational definition = Minutes spent engaging in any of the following: quizzing self on material, participating in study group, creating study guides, creating concept maps, creating potential exam questions and answering them, creating examples of material, thinking about how the material applies to your life now and in the future, or completing practice quizzes or exams
Behavior = Engaging in academic time; Operational definition = Minutes spent engaging in any of the following activities: reading for class, completing class quizzes or activities, going to class sessions, talking with the professor about class, working on homework or projects for class, quizzing self on course material, participating in a study group, completing study aides, or taking practice quizzes or exams
Behavior = Drinking water; Operational definition = Ounces of water consumed (*You may not change this to bottles or cups, you can convert bottles or cups to ounces)
Biting nails; Operational definition = Number of times I am aware that I have put a nail in my mouth and bitten down on the nail
Behavior = Sleeping; Operational definition = Time in hours and minutes per day when I am fully asleep as determined by memory of last time I was aware of the time until the time I woke up (lying in bed awake does not count) (feel free to count or exclude naps but be specific which you are doing) OR Time in hours and minutes per day when I am asleep according to my smart watch (or an app on my phone)
Behavior = Social media use; Operational definition = Minutes spent using any of the following social media websites or apps: Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, Pinterest, Reddit, Tumblr (feel free to add any other social media platforms you use)
Behavior = Electronic use; Operational definition = Minutes spent using any of the following electronics: cell phone, tablet, computer
Behavior = Cussing; Operational definition = Number of times I say any of the following: F*ck, B*tch, H*ll, Sh*t, A*s, D*mn (feel free to add other words you consider cussing)
Behavior = Playing video games; Operational definition = Minutes spent playing a video game using a video game console, computer, or other electronic
Behavior = Meditating; Operational definition = Minutes spent engaging in a conscious effort to meditate
Behavior = Reading; Operational definition = Minutes spent reading
Feel free to specify exactly what you need to read in order for this to count; e.g., “Minutes spent reading books for enjoyment”, “Minutes spent reading news articles”, “Minutes spent reading books, articles, textbooks (reading social media posts does not count)”
Behavior = Smoking; Operational definition = Number of cigarettes I smoke (if less than a full cigarette is smoked, I will estimate the fraction of the cigarette that was smoked)
*e.g., if you smoked half, count it as .5
Behavior = Juuling; Operational definition = Number of times I put the juul to my mouth and inhaled
Other *If you chose another behavior, you must get it approved by me first.
After you have your chosen behavior and operational definition, you need to complete a baseline measurement.
A baseline measurement is when you measure your behavior without making any attempts to change the behavior. So, you just track what you are currently doing. E.g., if you are tracking meditating and you currently do not meditate at all, you should not start meditating during baseline, you will just write 0 minutes each day.
Explanation of rationale for taking a baseline: Whenever you want to modify a behavior, you must have a strong understanding of the behavior prior to engaging in any attempts to modify the behavior. Therefore, you must take a baseline of the behavior you chose using the operational definition that was given for 7 days.
To complete your baseline, follow these instructions:
Download and print the tracking sheet provided below.
Copy the operational definition for your chosen behavior onto your tracking sheet.
Every day track the behavior in the exact way the operational definition states. You cannot count things that are not listed, and you cannot change the unit of measurement.
***Do not attempt to change your behavior yet!***
If you are tracking a behavior that you are going to want to change how often it happens, your operational definition defined what each tally mark means. You must follow your operational definition exactly and you should make tally marks every time you catch yourself engaging in the behavior as you defined it that day (try to write the tally mark as quickly as possible so that you are not guessing). (E.g., If you said you were tracking number of times you swore/cussed, you need to put a tally mark every time you swear/cuss and add them up at the end of the day for the total number.)
If you are tracking a behavior that you want to change how long it happens, your operational definition defined whether you were measuring your specified behavior in seconds, minutes, or hours. You must follow your operational definition exactly and you should write down every time you catch yourself engaging in the behavior as you defined it that day in the unit of time you specified (try to write the duration as quickly as possible so that you are not guessing later on). E.g., If you said you were tracking minutes spent studying, you should write down how many minutes you engage in studying throughout the day every time you study and then add them up at the end of the day for total minutes.
Two sample tracking sheets are attached below.
When the week is over, submit the data from your first week of tracking in the “Baseline Tracking Sheet Week 1” assignment.
**Store your tracking sheet in a safe place, you will need to submit the tracking sheet at the end, and you’ll need this data to complete the project.
SAMPLE TRACKING SHEET FOR A BEHAVIOR THAT YOU WANT TO CHANGE HOW LONG IT HAPPENS
Behavior: Sleeping
Operational Definition: Time in hours and minutes per day when I am fully asleep as determined by memory of last time I was aware of the time until the time I woke up (lying in bed awake does not count)
Day of the week, Date
Tracking (# of times engaged in the behavior (tally marks) or write duration of behavior)
Monday, 11-1-16
7 hours
Tuesday, 11-2-16
7 hours and 15 minutes
Wednesday, 11-3-16
7 hours
Thursday, 11-4-16
7 hours and 30 minutes
Friday, 11-5-16
6 hours
Saturday, 11-6-16
8 hours
SAMPLE TRACKING SHEET FOR A BEHAVIOR THAT YOU WANT TO CHANGE HOW OFTEN IT HAPPENS
Behavior: Biting nails
Operational Definition: Each time I catch myself biting a nail or cuticle.
Day of the week, Date
Tracking (# of times engaged in the behavior (tally marks) or write duration of behavior)
Monday, 11-1-16
= 15 times
Tuesday, 11-2-16
= 10 times
Wednesday, 11-3-16
= 10 times
Thursday, 11-4-16
= 15 times
Friday, 11-5-16
= 10 times
Saturday, 11-6-16
= 15 times
*Please copy exactly the behavior and operational definition that was given in the instructions.
Behavior = ________________________________________________________________________________
Operational Definition = _____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Day of the week, Date
Tracking (# of times engaged in the behavior (tally marks) or write duration of behavior)
Once you are done tracking your behavior for a week, follow these instructions to answer the following Baseline Writing Prompts:
Review your baseline of your chosen behavior from week 1.
Answer the following Baseline Writing Prompts.
Prompts:
#1: Determine the average (i.e., mean) daily frequency or duration of your target behavior during your baseline. (e.g., 20 times per day on average; 15 minutes per day on average)
#2: Where did your behavior take place? Did you notice places your behavior did not take place? *Please note that these questions are much more relevant for some behaviors (e.g., swearing & biting nails), than others (e.g., sleeping), but you should answer this either way.
#3: What tended to follow the behavior when you engaged in it? (Remember this is helping you apply the lessons learned in this class. Think about any consequences you received naturally.)
#4: What are at least three activities that you enjoy doing but are not required for you to engage in to survive or meet your responsibilities? (e.g., hanging out with friends and watching TV are enjoyable for many people but are not required)
#5: What are at least three things that you like but are not required for survival or to meet your responsibilities? (e.g., many people enjoy having extra spending money and that is not required but money itself is required to be able to purchase food; some type of food is required but not specific favorite foods that you may find especially enjoyable)
After you have completed those prompts, modify the Behavioral Modification Plan below to work for you
Given the short nature of this summer course, I am providing you with a behavioral modification plan for you to utilize. You will need to modify it to be effective for you though. Everything that is bold and underline in the plan below must be modified, instructions to help you know how to modify each are provided in parentheses.
You can use the answers to prompt #4 and #5 above to help you modify your initial behavioral modification plan to increase your desired behavior and/or decrease your undesired behavior. Please note that part of doing an effective behavioral modification project is modifying your plan if it is not being effective as soon as you realize it is not effective. You can modify this plan if needed after you begin to implement it.
If you want feedback on your initial plan, please email a copy of it to me and I will be happy to provide feedback on it. You are not required to do that though.
Initial Plan Template:
Desired end goal behavior = … per day (Clearly define the desired end goal of your behavior. (e.g., I want to study at least 3 hours per day; I want to sleep at least 8 hours each night).
Initial daily behavioral goal = … per day (Determine what your initial daily goal for the behavior will be, this should be slightly challenging to reach on a daily basis but should not be so challenging that you are going to fail. Frequently, your initial daily goal is not the same as your end goal).
Every day I meet my behavioral goal, I will reinforce myself by … (Determine what reinforcer (or reinforcers) you will be able to earn. (I suggest using your answers to prompts #4 & 5 above)
I will provide myself with this reinforcer if I have met my daily goal at … (Determine exactly when you will receive reinforcement. (e.g., Immediately after exercising; As soon as I wake up. *Remember, you must give yourself a reinforcer every day you earn it.)
I will make sure I do not get the reinforcer (or reinforcers) I have chosen for this project unless I earn them by … (Write out how you will ensure you do not get the reinforcer (or reinforcers) unless you earn it (or them). For instance, “I will add an app to my phone that locks me out of social media apps unless I put in a password.” Or “I will tell my friends I am not able to hang out until I have completed my daily goal.”)
Include this section only if you are using shaping
Once I have met my initial daily behavioral goal for 3 days in a row, I will increase the requirement for reinforcement to the next step and will follow the following shaping plan each time I have met my current behavioral goal for 3 days in a row.
Step 1 = Initial daily behavioral goal
Step 2 = …
Step 3 = … etc. (until you get to your desired end goal behavior)
*Notes for if you are using shaping (this is highly recommended for some behaviors), clearly define each step of the shaping process. (e.g., Step 1: Study 1 hour per day, Step 2: Study 1.5 hours per day, etc.; Step 1: Sleep for 6 hours/night, Step 2: Sleep for 6.5 hours/night, etc.)
Remember, that when you are using shaping, you do not change the reinforcer at all. You only change the requirement to receive reinforcement. You also should engage in the behavior for the given step for at least 2 days in a row (I recommend 3 days in a row) before you move to the next step.
Sample Plan for Increasing time spent on class activities (for student who spent 3 hours on average per day during baseline)
Desired end goal behavior = 6 hours per day
Initial daily behavioral goal = 4 hours per day
Every day I meet my behavioral goal, I will reinforce myself by watching one show on Netflix
I will provide myself with this reinforcer if I have met my daily goal no later than 8 PM
I will make sure I do not get the reinforcer (or reinforcers) I have chosen for this project unless I earn them by signing out of my Netflix account every time I finish watching a show and telling my roommate I’m not allowed to watch Netflix unless I earn it.
Once I have met my initial daily behavioral goal for 3 days in a row, I will increase the requirement for reinforcement to the next step and will follow the following shaping plan each time I have met my current behavioral goal for 3 days in a row.
Step 1 = 4 hours per day
Step 2 = 5 hours per day
Step 3 = 6 hours per day
Sample Plan for Decreasing Number of cigarettes smoked (for student who smoked an average of 30 cigarettes a day during baseline)
Desired end goal behavior = 0 cigarettes per day
Initial daily behavioral goal = no more than 25 cigarettes per day
Every day I meet my behavioral goal, I will reinforce myself by having my favorite dessert and/or playing video games for an hour
I will provide myself with this reinforcer if I have smoked no more than the allotted number of cigarettes by 9 PM (this student knows they never smoke past 9 PM so that is why they chose that time)
I will make sure I do not get the reinforcer (or reinforcers) I have chosen for this project unless I earn them by hiding the dessert in the back of the fridge and unplugging my video game console. I am also going to tell my roommates and friends about my goal so they can support me.
Once I have met my initial daily behavioral goal for 3 days in a row, I will increase the requirement for reinforcement to the next step and will follow the following shaping plan each time I have met my current behavioral goal for 3 days in a row.
Step 1 = 20 cigarettes per day
Step 2 = 15 cigarettes per day
Step 3 = 10 cigarettes per day
Step 4 = 5 cigarettes per day
Step 5 = 0 cigarettes per day
**Notice that this student will definitely need to continue with this shaping plan after the class is over in order to meet their end-goal behavior because shaping the behavior quicker than this will likely lead to failure.
Next, implement your behavioral modification plan & Track Progress for duration of Implementation phase
Begin to follow your initial behavioral modification plan to increase your desired behavior and/or decrease your undesired behavior. While you follow your plan, you must continue to track your behavior using new tracking sheets (Implementation Tracking Sheets). You can, and should, modify the initial plan if needed after you begin to implement it at any point.
To implement your plan, follow these instructions:
Begin to follow your initial behavioral modification plan exactly as you said you would on the date assigned.
Complete the Implementation tracking sheet every day.
If your behavior is not changing with the plan you designed, create a new version of your plan. *You are expected to show through completion of this project that you are able to use the principles of operant conditioning to change your behavior. So, if needed you should change your plan as necessary.
If you need to make changes to your initial plan, save it as a new document because you will need to explain all changes you made during the implementation phase in your final write-up.
*Instructions for how to complete the new sheets are on the next page.
*You will submit the data from these tracking sheets at the end of the project on Blackboard.
*I recommend continuing to track your behavior the same way you did during the Baseline tracking period (e.g., on paper or on your phone) using the new tracking sheets (below).
Instructions for how to complete the tracking sheets for the implementation phase
You will need to copy the exact behavior and operational definition that you used during baseline tracking onto the implementation tracking sheet. You will then complete the first two columns exactly like you did during the baseline phase of the project. On your new tracking sheet you will also need to respond to the last columns. Please be honest because this will help you determine why you were or were not successful.
SAMPLE TRACKING SHEET FOR A BEHAVIOR THAT YOU WANT TO CHANGE HOW LONG IT HAPPENS
Behavior: Sleeping
Operational Definition: Hours and minutes per day when I am fully asleep as determined by memory of last time I was aware of the time until the time I woke up (lying in bed awake does not count).
Current requirement for earning reinforcement = 8 hours of sleep per night.
Day of the week, Date
Tracking (# of times engaged in the behavior (tally marks) or write duration of behavior)
Did you do the behavior you stated was required to earn your reinforcer as part of your plan today? (Yes or No)
Did you provide yourself with the reinforcer you are using for your plan today? (Yes or No)
Monday, 11-1-16
7.5
No
No
Tuesday, 11-2-16
7.5
No
No
Wednesday, 11-3-16
8
Yes
No
Thursday, 11-4-16
7.25
No
Yes
Friday, 11-5-16
6
No
No
Saturday, 11-6-16
9
Yes
Yes
Sunday, 11-7-16
9
Yes
Yes
SAMPLE TRACKING SHEET FOR A BEHAVIOR THAT YOU WANT TO CHANGE HOW OFTEN IT HAPPENS
Behavior: Biting nails
Operational Definition: Each time I catch myself biting a nail or cuticle. (Each tally stands for at least one biting motion I am aware of but could stand for up to 1 minute of biting I am aware of. If I catch myself biting and continue to bite after catching myself, the first time will be one tally and each subsequent minute will be one tally.)
Current requirement for earning reinforcement = Biting my nails 5 or fewer times per day.
Day of the week, Date
Tracking (# of times engaged in the behavior (tally marks) or write duration of behavior)
Did you do the behavior you stated was required to earn your reinforcer as part of your plan today? (Yes or No)
Did you provide yourself with the reinforcer you are using for your plan today? (Yes or No)
Monday, 11-1-16
No
No
Tuesday, 11-2-16
No
No
Wednesday, 11-3-16
Yes
No
Thursday, 11-4-16
No
Yes
Friday, 11-5-16
No
No
Saturday, 11-6-16
Yes
Yes
Sunday, 11-7-16
IIII
Yes
Yes
You’ll notice that both of these students did not always follow their plan.
Sometimes when they did not do the behavior required to earn their reinforcer, they still gave it to themselves. If you find yourself doing this more than once, change your plan to something you will be able to follow.
Sometimes when they did the behavior required to earn their reinforcer, they did not give it to themselves. If you find yourself doing this more than once, change your plan to something you will be able to follow.
Also, if you find that you are going two days in a row without meeting your current goal, change your goal to be more obtainable and then shape to your final goal.
Tracking Sheet to Use for Implementation Phase
*Please copy exactly the behavior and operational definition that was given in the instructions and that you used in the Baseline phase.
Behavior = ________________________________________________________________________________
Approved Operational Definition = _____________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Day of the week, Date
Tracking (# of times engaged in the behavior (tally marks) or write duration of behavior)
Did you do the behavior you stated was required to earn your reinforcer as part of your plan today? (Yes or No)
Did you provide yourself with the reinforcer you are using for your plan today? (Yes or No)
Final Submission
Once you are done completing the implementation phase of the project, you will create a final submission using the Portfolio feature on Blackboard that includes all of the following:
Picture of your completed baseline tracking sheet (5% of project grade)
Answers to the Baseline writing prompts (5% of project grade)
Your initial behavioral modification plan (5% of project grade)
Picture of your completed implementation tracking sheet (5% of project grade)
Any modifications to your initial behavioral modification plan with modifications highlighted or the explanation of why you did not make any changes given in your answers to the writing prompt is very high quality (5% of project grade)
Answers to the writing prompts given below (50% of project grade)
Graph of your data pasted into the same document as your writing prompts (completed by following directions given below and in the Excel spreadsheet provided to help you complete the graph) (25% of project grade)
Explanation: To solidify the lessons learned as a result of completing the Behavioral Modification Project you will write responses to writing prompts and complete a graph to share your results.
Grading:
Your writing responses and graph will be graded based on quality of each as well as whether you demonstrated an understanding of how to utilize operant conditioning to modify your behavior. Quality refers to whether you followed all instructions, as well as features such as how easy it is to understand, frequency of grammatical errors, accuracy, thoughtfulness, and thoroughness.
As with all other assignments, everything must be in your own words and you need to include citations to support your statements and to give credit to the source of your ideas when relevant. In this course, that means you need to cite the relevant BKLOs and/or the books you read for the course if relevant. Assignments with quotations will lose points because it means you have not practiced writing in your own words.
This is an independent project.
You are expected to utilize all relevant resources provided through the course to complete this assignment (i.e., readings and resources provided in-class and on Blackboard).
Instructions for the Final Write-up responses:
Review all of the documents and tracking sheets you have created as part of this project and then respond to the following writing prompts in a Blackboard compatible document (.zip, .doc, .docx, .docm, .odt, .txt, .pdf, .rtf and .html).
The length of your response is not as important as the quality. Please do not be overly verbose but make sure you adequately demonstrate you have thought about your responses. Use full, grammatically correct sentences.
Starred prompts should have a paragraph response.
Please clearly number your responses to aid grading (do not use bulleted numbers as these disappear on Blackboard).
Please do not copy and paste the writing prompts, just answer them.
Writing prompts:
Did you see improvements in your behavior across the course of this project? (Make sure to say what your behavior was in this answer.)
Did you fully reach your end goal behavior?
*Why did you either make changes to your plan or maintain your plan as it was originally laid out? If you made changes, what did you change and why?
*Using knowledge from this course, why do you think you got the results that you did? (Your answer should demonstrate your understanding of operant conditioning.)
*Using knowledge from this course, what is your plan going forward to either continue working towards meeting your behavioral goal or maintain the progress you have made? (Your answer should demonstrate your understanding of operant conditioning.)
*What did completing this project help you learn about yourself?
Instructions for the Graph: You will submit a professional appearing graph of your results utilizing a computer program (Excel is the best way to create this).
The graph needs to include all of the following elements:
It clearly shows the frequency or duration of your chosen behavior across all days of the project
The dates should be along the X-axis
The data you recorded on your tracking sheets should be along the Y-axis
Both the X-axis and Y-axis are appropriately labeled
Both the X-axis and Y-axis have appropriate numbers
The Y-axis label and numbers matches your operational definition
The data matches your tracking sheets (Both dates and the behavioral tracking data)
You have labeled which part of the data is the Baseline period clearly and accurately
You have labeled which part of the data is the Implementation period clearly and accurately
You have included your behavioral goal and operational definition underneath the graph in your document to remind me what you did.
*If you modified your behavioral plan, you also clearly labeled when those changes took place.
*Please use the Graphing workbook provided to assist you to complete your graph. (You can also use any other resources for how to create graphs in whichever program you prefer to work in.)
Copy and paste this graph into the Word document that you wrote your writing prompts in after your writing prompts
