Characteristics of Behaviour Modification
-Focus on behaviour
-Guided by theory of behaviourism
-Based on basic behavioural principles
-Emphasis on current environmental events
-Procedures are clearly described
-Treatment implemented by people in everyday life
-Measurement of behaviour change
-De-emphasis on the past as a cause
-Rejection of hypothetical underlying causes
Characteristics of Behaviour
-Involves an individual’s actions, not labels
-Involves measurable dimensions of behaviour (freq, lat, dur, inten)
- Can be observed, described and recorded
- Has an impact on the physical and social environment
- Behaviour is lawful and orderly
-May be covert or overt
Indirect vs Direct Assessment
Indirect is subjective
Direct is immediate
Purpose of Behavioural Assessment
- Decide if problem exists
- Decide on best treatment
- Measure treatment effects (assess before and after)
- Recording might be the treatment (reactivity)
Recording Behaviour
- Define the target behaviour (operational definition)
- Determine logistics of recording (who, when, where to record)
- Choose recording method
- Choose recording instrument
- Consider reactivity of recording
- Obtain interobserver agreement assessment
Recording Methods
Continuous Recording
- Real time recording
Percentage of opportunities
Product Recording
Interval Recording (whole, partial, momentary, frequency within interval)
Time Sample Recording
How to minimize reactivity
Let participant get accustomed to observer or self monitoring
Record through observation windows or participant observers
Purpose of Research Designs
Did the treatment (IV) change the target behaviour (DV)
Rule out extraneous variables (with tightly controlled research design)
When Does a Functional Relationship Exist
Behaviour changes when treatment is introduced, ONLY when treatment is introduced, and the demonstration of change is replicated
A-B Research Design
A = baseline, B = treatment
No replication so not true research design
Used in clinical practice and self management with already proven methods
A-B-A-B Reversal
Functional relationship iff replicaion of treatment effect only when treatment introduced
Can be unethical or impossible to reverse/remove treatment)
Multiple Baseline
Treatment is staggered (different phase lengths)
Functional relationship if change is only after intervention begins, and across all baseline types
Participants, behaviours, or settings
Alternating Treatments (Multielement)
Compared across 2+ conditions
Conditions alternate rapidly (multiple brief replications)
Functional relationship indicated by “differentiation”
Changing Criterion
Baseline and multiple treatment phases
Different performance criteria (goals) for each phase
Functional relationship if behaviour meets criteria only when introduced (different lengths of phases) and changes with each criterion introduction (replication)
Reinforcement (S^R)
- Occurrence of behaviour
- Followed by immediate consequence
- Behaviour more likely to occur in future
Positive Reinforcement (S^R+)
Addition of a stimulus/reinforcer
Negative Reinforcement (S^R-)
Removal of an aversive stimulus
Escape vs Avoidance
Escape terminates aversive stimulus, avoidance prevents occurrence of aversive stimulus
Unconditioned Reinforcers (Primary Reinforcers)
Biologically determined (survival value)
Conditioned Reinforcers (Secondary Reinforcers)
Neutral stimulus paired with established reinforcer
Generalized Conditioned Reinforcers
Paired with wide variety of other reinforcers
Factors Influencing Reinforcement
Immediacy
Contingency (consistency)
Individual differences
Magnitude/Amount
Motivation Operations (EOs and AOs)
Motivating Operations (MO)
Antecedent
Momentary effect, not future effect
Alters potency/value of reinforcer
Establishing Operation
Increases potency (value) of reinforcer
Evokes behaviour that produces reinforcer
