Chapter 1 & 2 Introduction & Perspectives

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            I find motivation itself to be interesting because I have days were I am so motivated to get everything done and other days where I am like nope I will do that another day. I also get motivated to clean my apartment before doing schoolwork. I think that is because then I know I do not have to do it later. When I get motivated to do school work I have to make a list so that I know what I need to get done that week. Once I have the week's schedule I break it down to what I need to do each day to get everything done for the week and turned in on time.

            If I had to explain motivation to someone I would say that it is the desire or want to get something done. Examples would be like doing a paper a couple days before it is due just so then you know it is done and will not be late. Another would be doing a work out even though you might not want to but pushing through because you want to look better or lose the weight. I would also say that motivation is different for other people. Some people like to have school planned out for the next month where I can only do a week at a time or I would stress myself out. Were some people can only do a day at a time or they get stressed out. I also think that society have to play a large roll in what motivates people. If they see everyone else doing something they are going to want to be like them and do it too. Also motivation has different degrees. By this I mean that you have different levels of motivation to get things done. You might be more motivated to do a work out one day then homework or studying. You might also get distracted by other basic needs during the day like getting hungry, which would then motivate you to stop what you are doing and eat.

            The most surprising thing I would say is not teaching motivation or having a syllabus. I think teaching college students how to keep in the right track and to push through school is important. Having a syllabus for the students is motivating because it gives them a timeline for the semester so they are more prepared. If I did not have a syllabus I would not be as motivated to make a list each week or write down what needs to be done. And for me if I do not write it down I am not motivated to get it done. I think the reason it is taught now is because students need to learn how to motivate others in the jobs that they are getting. If you are not taught what motivation is how can you teach it to others that might be working for you someday. If you cannot display motivation how are others going to catch on and get motivated? Its key ingredient I think to success.

 

Ingredient

Display

List

Break down

Pushing through

Degrees

Levels

Taught

Additional Web Surfing

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Premack principle.

http://www.autismmom.net/premack-principle-and-behavior/ 

Next search for another website about the premack principle and read more about it. Copy and paste that link at the bottom of your post.

Briefly discuss the Premack Principle and how you might be able to incorporate it into your behavioral change project.

Finance & Behavior.
Poke around and find something interesting to you and write about it from a behavioral perspective.

Dog Training.

Education.



In the video above Mitra shows us that kids can learn in ways different from our traditional education. He finds children learn and self organize when they are given a question. My question is how can we take the information from this video (and possibly from what we are learning in class) and make changes within our existing educational system to prepare for the future?

In The News:
Trained Monkeys Clear the Skies - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/china-monkeys-wii-parade_55e6f9f3e4b0c818f619cca7


Online Class Only Assignment (Due each Friday)

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This assignment is for the On-line class only and is due each Friday. It is worth 10 points.
After you have read the sections for each week you are asked to submit the responses to the "boxed" in portion of the readings. We will ask that you respond to each question in full and keep in mind the grading rubric for the 10 point assignments. 

An example of a "boxed" portion in Section 1.1 asks "How do you feel about manipulating someone else? Is this a good thing or bad thing?" For each box in the readings we ask that you include the question(s) and then your detailed response and please keep it organized so we can read it fairly easy. If there is more than one question be sure to answer each question fully. Don't worry if you don't get it perfect the first time as we will shape your behavior as we go.

When you submit the assignment please use the following email address: bmod.uni@gmail.com

This way our TA can access it and give you feedback.

Let us know if you have any questions.

--Dr. M

Class Assignment Week #1 (Due Saturday 29th)

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Welcome to the Behavior Modification class. We would like you to spend a little time orienting yourself with the class blog site. Please read the course description on the 'Home Page.'

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/

Next go to the 'Blog' and check out the types of assignments you will be doing over the semester.

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/blog/

Check out the book 'ABCs' of Behavior Modification and see if the chapters download OK on the computer you are using.

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/abcs.html

Look over the 'Syllabus' pages and make sure you understand what we will be doing this semester as it relates to the syllabus (Class schedule, Course Requirements, & Grading rubrics).

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/about/

You should be able to register your own account during sign in.

By now you should have completed the first part of this assignment. This would indicate that you have been able to log in and comment on the class blog site. If you have not completed that part, do that now.

What we would like you to do next is to go to the following page and read some of the blog posts on various types of assignments left from the students in the class before you.

Reading Activity:
http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/2012/12/reading-activity-week-14-due-tuesday-2.html

Topical Blog:
http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/2012/12/topical-blog-week-13-due-thursday-3.html  

Behavioral Change Project:
http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/2012/12/week-16-final-assignment-1.html


After reading the posts please answer the following four questions:
1) Which posts did you like the best? Why?
2) Were some posts better than others? Why or why not?
3) Has reading these posts changed your idea of what behavior modification is? Why or why not?
4) Based on these posts are there any specific topics you are interested in learning?

Thanks,

--Dr. M

Reading Activity Week #2 (Due Monday)

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Please go to the following blog page:

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/abcs.html

Please read sections 1.1 (ABC's of Behavior Modification) and 1.2 (Contingencies: Reinforcement & Punishment).

Next review the grading rubric:

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/grading.html

Next, please respond to the following questions. Please keep the numbering intact as we can give you more credit for organization. And keep in mind that the "Why?" and "How so?" questions are the most important to elaborate on.

After reading section 1.1, please respond to the following questions.

1) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

2) What did you find least interesting? Why?

3) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

4) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

After reading section 1.2, please respond to the following questions.

5) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

6) What did you find least interesting? Why?

7) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

8) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

9) How has reading these sections influenced what you originally thought about behavior modification? How so?

10) Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post and put them at the bottom of your post.

Let us know if you have any questions,

--Dr. M

Topical Blog Week #2 (Due Wednesday)

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Before you begin this assignment, please go to the following site and read a couple of topical blog posts that were done by students last semester at: http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/2012/04/topical-blog-week-14-due-thursday-1.html#comments

 

Notice that some are quite a bit better than others. Re-read our class grading rubric and think about how well the various posts might have been graded. http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/grading.html

Next what we would like you to do is to find a topic from what we have covered so far in class that you are interested in and search the internet for material on that topic. You might, for example, find people who are doing research on the topic, you might find web pages that discuss the topic, you might find youtube clips that demonstrate something related to the topic, etc. What you find and use is pretty much up to you at this point. But use at least 3 sources (only one video please and make sure it adds to the topic).

1) Once you have completed your search and explorations, I would like you to say what your topic is, how exactly it fits into the section we have covered so far, and why you are interested in it.

2) What are three aspects of the topic you want to talk about for this assignment?

2) Next, I would like you to take the information you found from the various sources and integrate/synthesize* them into the three aspects of the topic, and then write about the topic.

3) At the end, please include working URLs for the three websites.

*By integrating/synthesizing I mean to take what your read/experienced from the internet search (and from section 1 if you like) organize the information into the main themes, issues, info, examples, etc. about your topic and then write about the topic in your own words using that information. This is hard for some people to do - many students write what we refer to as "serial abstracts." They are tempted to talk about the websites rather than the topic proper. For example, they will talk all about website #1, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #2, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #3, and then write some kind of conclusion. Serial means one after the other...This what you DON'T want to do!

At first it is a real challenge to get out of the habit of writing "serial abstracts," but I assure you once you get the hang of it it is much easier to write using the integration/synthesis method. And besides this is the way good researchers and scientists write their technical reports and findings - many of you will have to be able to do this for other classes and for jobs that you may eventually be hired for, so now is a good time to learn this skill.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Let us know if you have any questions.

--Dr. M

Reading Activity Week #3 (Due Monday)

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Please go to the following blog page:

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/abcs.html

Please read sections 1.3 (Language of Behavior) and 1.4 (Some Behavioral Terms)

After reading the first section, please respond to the following questions.

1) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

2) What did you find least interesting? Why?

3) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

4) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

After reading the second section, please respond to the following questions.

5) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

6) What did you find least interesting? Why?

7) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

8) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

9) How has reading these sections influenced what you originally thought about behavior modification? How so?

10) Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post and put them at the bottom of your post.

Let us know if you have any questions,

--Dr. M

Topical Blog Week #3 (Due Wednesday)

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What we would like you to do is to find a topic from what we have covered in this weeks readings that you are interested in and search the internet for material on that topic. You might, for example, find people who are doing research on the topic, you might find web pages that discuss the topic, you might find youtube clips that demonstrate something related to the topic, etc. What you find and use is pretty much up to you at this point. But use at least 3 sources (only one video please and make sure it adds to the topic).

1) Once you have completed your search and explorations, I would like you to say what your topic is, how exactly it fits into the section we have covered so far, and why you are interested in it.

2) What are three aspects of the topic you want to talk about for this assignment?

2) Next, I would like you to take the information you found from the various sources and integrate/synthesize* them into the three aspects of the topic, and then write about the topic.

3) At the end, please include working URLs for the three websites.

*By integrating/synthesizing I mean to take what your read/experienced from the internet search (and from section 1 if you like) organize the information into the main themes, issues, info, examples, etc. about your topic and then write about the topic in your own words using that information. This is hard for some people to do - many students write what we refer to as "serial abstracts." They are tempted to talk about the websites rather than the topic proper. For example, they will talk all about website #1, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #2, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #3, and then write some kind of conclusion. Serial means one after the other...This what you DON'T want to do!

At first it is a real challenge to get out of the habit of writing "serial abstracts," but I assure you once you get the hang of it it is much easier to write using the integration/synthesis method. And besides this is the way good researchers and scientists write their technical reports and findings - many of you will have to be able to do this for other classes and for jobs that you may eventually be hired for, so now is a good time to learn this skill.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Let us know if you have any questions.

--Dr. M

Reading Activity Week #4 (Due Monday)

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Please go to the following blog page:

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/abcs.html

Please read sections 1.5 (More about Behaviors) and 2.1 (What is behavior Modification).

After reading the first section, please respond to the following questions.

1) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

2) What did you find least interesting? Why?

3) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

4) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

After reading the second section, please respond to the following questions.

5) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

6) What did you find least interesting? Why?

7) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

8) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

9) How has reading these sections influenced what you originally thought about behavior modification? How so?

10) Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post and put them at the bottom of your post.

Let us know if you have any questions,

--Dr. M

Topical Blog Week #4 (Due Wednesday)

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What we would like you to do is to find a topic from what we have covered in this weeks readings that you are interested in and search the internet for material on that topic. You might, for example, find people who are doing research on the topic, you might find web pages that discuss the topic, you might find youtube clips that demonstrate something related to the topic, etc. What you find and use is pretty much up to you at this point. But use at least 3 sources (only one video please and make sure it adds to the topic).

1) Once you have completed your search and explorations, I would like you to say what your topic is, how exactly it fits into the section we have covered so far, and why you are interested in it.

2) What are three aspects of the topic you want to talk about for this assignment?

2) Next, I would like you to take the information you found from the various sources and integrate/synthesize* them into the three aspects of the topic, and then write about the topic.

3) At the end, please include working URLs for the three websites.

*By integrating/synthesizing I mean to take what your read/experienced from the internet search (and from section 1 if you like) organize the information into the main themes, issues, info, examples, etc. about your topic and then write about the topic in your own words using that information. This is hard for some people to do - many students write what we refer to as "serial abstracts." They are tempted to talk about the websites rather than the topic proper. For example, they will talk all about website #1, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #2, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #3, and then write some kind of conclusion. Serial means one after the other...This what you DON'T want to do!

At first it is a real challenge to get out of the habit of writing "serial abstracts," but I assure you once you get the hang of it it is much easier to write using the integration/synthesis method. And besides this is the way good researchers and scientists write their technical reports and findings - many of you will have to be able to do this for other classes and for jobs that you may eventually be hired for, so now is a good time to learn this skill.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Let us know if you have any questions.

--Dr. M

Reading Activity Week #5 (Due Monday)

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Please go to the following blog page:

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/abcs.html

Please read sections 2.2 (Reinforcement) and 2.3 (Punishment)

After reading the first section, please respond to the following questions.

1) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

2) What did you find least interesting? Why?

3) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

4) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

After reading the second section, please respond to the following questions.

5) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

6) What did you find least interesting? Why?

7) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

8) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

9) How has reading these sections influenced what you originally thought about behavior modification? How so?

10) BOP: Now that you have been thinking about behavior modification for the past couple of weeks, we will start a mini behavioral observation project. We are going to start recording how many glasses of water we drink each day. You can just write these down on a piece of paper each day (starting today) and we will use your findings next week in one of these assignments. How much water to you think you drink each day?

11) Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post and put them at the bottom of your post.

Let us know if you have any questions,

--Dr. M

Topical Blog Week #5 (Due Wednesday)

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IN THE NEWS!

What we would like you to do is to continue applying what we are learning in class to real world matters. Some might ask, "What good is learning psychology if we can't apply it to real world matters?" So that is what we are going to do with this week's topical blog assignment.

What we would like you to do is to either go to NPR (http://www.npr.org/), the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/ ) there are some good news source links at the bottom of the following page (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/listed in their news sources) and read, watch, or listen to something that is interesting to you and relates to reinforcement.

For your news I would like you to

1) briefly describe/summarize your piece,

2) tell us what behavior (target behavior) you are using that illustrates reinforcement,

3) tell us what the consequence of the behavior is,

4) tell us how, that consequence will increase the frequency of the behavior,

5) tell us if the consequence involves the addition of something desirable or if it involves the removal of something undesirable, finally

6) tell us to the antecedent is.

7) Please then list the ABC's of the behavior

A=
B=
C=

8) Now state if this is an example of positive reinforcement, or negative reinforcement. Explain why. (Make sure that the consequence will change the likelihood of the behavior occurring in the future).

Tell us if it involves extinction, establishing operations, use as many terms from the chapters we have already covered as you can.

NOW what we would like you to do is to either go to a different news source, NPR (http://www.npr.org/ ), the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/ ) there are some good news source links at the bottom of the following page (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ listed in their news sources) and read, watch, or listen to something that is interesting to you and relates to punishment.

For your news I would like you to

9) briefly describe/summarize your piece,

10) tell us what behavior (target behavior) you are using that illustrates punishment,

11) tell us what the consequence of the behavior is,

12) tell us how, that consequence will decrease the frequency of the behavior,

13) tell us if the consequence involves the addition of something undesirable or if it involves the removal of something desirable, finally

14) tell us to the antecedent is.

15) Please then list the ABC's of the behavior

A=
B=
C=

16) Now state if this is an example of positive punishment, or negative punishment. Explain why.

For originality sake, make sure the news pieces you are not using the same pieces of news the other students before you just used.

17) When you are done, copy and paste the URLs at the bottom so we can go and see the sources you used.

18) Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Let us know if you have any questions.

--Dr. M

Reading Activity Week #6 (Due Monday)

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Please go to the following blog page:

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/abcs.html

Please read sections 2.4 (Additional Concepts) and 2.5 (Schedules of Reinforcement).

After reading the first section, please respond to the following questions.

1) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

2) What did you find least interesting? Why?

3) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

4) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

After reading the second section, please respond to the following questions.

5) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

6) What did you find least interesting? Why?

7) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

8) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

9) How has reading these sections influenced what you originally thought about behavior modification? How so?

10a) Behavior Project: You should now have a week's worth of data collected on how much water you drank each day for a week. Please fill out the information below:
Day 1 =
Day 2 =
Day 3 =
Day 4 =
Day 5 =
Day 6 =
Day 7 =
Average =

10b) Behavior Project (Baseline): Most people do not drink enough water per day. The rule of thumb is eight 8-oz glasses a day (64 oz or about 2 liters). We would like you to use positive reinforcement to increase the amount of water you drink each day. Of course drinking water might make you feel healthier and that in itself may be reinforcing, what is something that you can reinforce yourself with if you can go 7 days drinking at least 64 oz water?
Keeping that in mind, for the next 7 days try to make your target behavior of 64 oz water so you can get your reinforcer at the end of the week.

P.S. if you are already drinking 64 or more oz of water let us know and we'll help you adapt the assignment to your current water drinking behaviors.

 

11) Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post and put them at the bottom of your post.

Let us know if you have any questions,

--Dr. M

Topical Blog Week #6 (Due Wednesday)

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What we would like you to do is to find a topic from what we have covered in this week's readings that you are interested in and search the internet for material on that topic. You might, for example, find people who are doing research on the topic, you might find web pages that discuss the topic, you might find youtube clips that demonstrate something related to the topic, etc. What you find and use is pretty much up to you at this point. But use at least 3 sources (only one video please and make sure it adds to the topic).

1) Once you have completed your search and explorations, I would like you to say what your topic is, how exactly it fits into the section we have covered so far, and why you are interested in it.

2) What are three aspects of the topic you want to talk about for this assignment?

2) Next, I would like you to take the information you found from the various sources and integrate/synthesize* them into the three aspects of the topic, and then write about the topic.

3) At the end, please include working URLs for the three websites.

*By integrating/synthesizing I mean to take what your read/experienced from the internet search (and from section 1 if you like) organize the information into the main themes, issues, info, examples, etc. about your topic and then write about the topic in your own words using that information. This is hard for some people to do - many students write what we refer to as "serial abstracts." They are tempted to talk about the websites rather than the topic proper. For example, they will talk all about website #1, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #2, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #3, and then write some kind of conclusion. Serial means one after the other...This what you DON'T want to do!

At first it is a real challenge to get out of the habit of writing "serial abstracts," but I assure you once you get the hang of it it is much easier to write using the integration/synthesis method. And besides this is the way good researchers and scientists write their technical reports and findings - many of you will have to be able to do this for other classes and for jobs that you may eventually be hired for, so now is a good time to learn this skill.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Let us know if you have any questions.

--Dr. M

Reading Activity Week #7 (Due Monday)

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Please go to the following blog page:

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/abcs.html

Please read sections 3.1 (Thorndike) and 3.2 (Pavlov).

After reading the first section, please respond to the following questions.

1) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

2) What did you find least interesting? Why?

3) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

4) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

After reading the second section, please respond to the following questions.

5) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

6) What did you find least interesting? Why?

7) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

8) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

9) How has reading these sections influenced what you originally thought about behavior modification? How so?

10a) Behavior Project (Intervention): You should now have an additional week's (week two) worth of data collected on how much water you drank each day for a week while being under reinforcement as you attempt to maintain your target behavior of 64 oz per day. Please fill out the information below for week two:
Day 1 =
Day 2 =
Day 3 =
Day 4 =
Day 5 =
Day 6 =
Day 7 =
Average =

10b) How did you do overall? Did you meet your target behavior each day? Was it difficult measuring and recording your behavior each day? What was your reinforce? Was the reinforcer you chose a good choice? Do you think you will continue to drink 64 oz of water without being reinforced? Please continue to reinforce yourself for drinking 64 oz water for the next 7 days (week 3). 

 

11) Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post and put them at the bottom of your post.

Let us know if you have any questions,

--Dr. M

Topical Blog Week #7 (Due Wednesday)

| 214 Comments

What we would like you to do is to find a topic from what we have covered in this week's readings that you are interested in and search the internet for material on that topic. You might, for example, find people who are doing research on the topic, you might find web pages that discuss the topic, you might find youtube clips that demonstrate something related to the topic, etc. What you find and use is pretty much up to you at this point. But use at least 3 sources (only one video please and make sure it adds to the topic).

1) Once you have completed your search and explorations, I would like you to say what your topic is, how exactly it fits into the section we have covered so far, and why you are interested in it.

2) What are three aspects of the topic you want to talk about for this assignment?

2) Next, I would like you to take the information you found from the various sources and integrate/synthesize* them into the three aspects of the topic, and then write about the topic.

3) At the end, please include working URLs for the three websites.

*By integrating/synthesizing I mean to take what your read/experienced from the internet search (and from section 1 if you like) organize the information into the main themes, issues, info, examples, etc. about your topic and then write about the topic in your own words using that information. This is hard for some people to do - many students write what we refer to as "serial abstracts." They are tempted to talk about the websites rather than the topic proper. For example, they will talk all about website #1, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #2, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #3, and then write some kind of conclusion. Serial means one after the other...This what you DON'T want to do!

At first it is a real challenge to get out of the habit of writing "serial abstracts," but I assure you once you get the hang of it it is much easier to write using the integration/synthesis method. And besides this is the way good researchers and scientists write their technical reports and findings - many of you will have to be able to do this for other classes and for jobs that you may eventually be hired for, so now is a good time to learn this skill.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Let us know if you have any questions.

--Dr. M

Reading Activity Week #8 (Due Monday)

| 195 Comments

Please go to the following blog page:

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/abcs.html

Please read sections 3.3 (Classical Conditioning) and 3.4 (Watson).

After reading the first section, please respond to the following questions.

1) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

2) What did you find least interesting? Why?

3) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

4) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

After reading the second section, please respond to the following questions.

5) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

6) What did you find least interesting? Why?

7) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

8) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

9) How has reading these sections influenced what you originally thought about behavior modification? How so?

10a) Behavioral Project (Intervention). You should now have an additional week's (week #3) worth of data collected while under reinforcement on how much water you drank each day for a week as you attempt to maintain your target behavior of 64 oz per day. Please fill out the information below for week #3:
Day 1 =
Day 2 =
Day 3 =
Day 4 =
Day 5 =
Day 6 =
Day 7 =
Average =

10b) So far you have completed week#1 without reinforcement, this is called baseline. You went two weeks using reinforcement, this is your behavioral intervention, now we will do one more week WITHOUT REINFORCEMENT. This is called 'return to baseline.' So keep monitoring your water drinking but do not reinforce yourself at the end of the week. 

11) Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post and put them at the bottom of your post.

Let us know if you have any questions,

--Dr. M

Topical Blog Week #8 (Due Wednesday)

| 200 Comments

What we would like you to do is to find a topic from what we have covered in this week's readings that you are interested in and search the internet for material on that topic. You might, for example, find people who are doing research on the topic, you might find web pages that discuss the topic, you might find youtube clips that demonstrate something related to the topic, etc. What you find and use is pretty much up to you at this point. But use at least 3 sources (only one video please and make sure it adds to the topic).

1) Once you have completed your search and explorations, I would like you to say what your topic is, how exactly it fits into the section we have covered so far, and why you are interested in it.

2) What are three aspects of the topic you want to talk about for this assignment?

2) Next, I would like you to take the information you found from the various sources and integrate/synthesize* them into the three aspects of the topic, and then write about the topic.

3) At the end, please include working URLs for the three websites.

*By integrating/synthesizing I mean to take what your read/experienced from the internet search (and from section 1 if you like) organize the information into the main themes, issues, info, examples, etc. about your topic and then write about the topic in your own words using that information. This is hard for some people to do - many students write what we refer to as "serial abstracts." They are tempted to talk about the websites rather than the topic proper. For example, they will talk all about website #1, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #2, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #3, and then write some kind of conclusion. Serial means one after the other...This what you DON'T want to do!

At first it is a real challenge to get out of the habit of writing "serial abstracts," but I assure you once you get the hang of it it is much easier to write using the integration/synthesis method. And besides this is the way good researchers and scientists write their technical reports and findings - many of you will have to be able to do this for other classes and for jobs that you may eventually be hired for, so now is a good time to learn this skill.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Let us know if you have any questions.

--Dr. M

Reading Activity Week #9 (Due Monday)

| 199 Comments

Please go to the following blog page:

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/abcs.html

This is an easy reading week. Please read sections 3.5 (Skinner).

After reading the first section, please respond to the following questions.

1) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

2) What did you find least interesting? Why?

3) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

4) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

5) How has reading these sections influenced what you originally thought about behavior modification? How so?

6a) Behavioral Project (Return to Baseline). You should now have a final week's (week four) worth of data collected while NOT under reinforcement. Please fill out the information below for week four:
Day 1 =
Day 2 =
Day 3 =
Day 4 =
Day 5 =
Day 6 =
Day 7 =
Average =

6b) This last week (week four) is referred to as 'return to baseline.' Baseline refers to the periods of time when you are not being reinforced for the target behavior (drinking water in this case). Did your drinking of water stay at the 64 oz mark without the reinforcer or did it decrease? Why do you think you got the results you did?

You should have received a copy of a graph to fill out from Dr. MacLin. Please go back and fill out the water drinking data for the last four weeks and either bring it to class on Thursday (or email it to bmod.uni@gmail.com). The graph is worth 10 points.

7) Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post and put them at the bottom of your post.

Let us know if you have any questions,

--Dr. M

Topical Blog Week #9 (Due Wednesday)

| 213 Comments

What we would like you to do is to find a topic from what we have covered in this week's readings that you are interested in and search the internet for material on that topic. You might, for example, find people who are doing research on the topic, you might find web pages that discuss the topic, you might find youtube clips that demonstrate something related to the topic, etc. What you find and use is pretty much up to you at this point. But use at least 3 sources (only one video please and make sure it adds to the topic).

1) Once you have completed your search and explorations, I would like you to say what your topic is, how exactly it fits into the section we have covered so far, and why you are interested in it.

2) What are three aspects of the topic you want to talk about for this assignment?

2) Next, I would like you to take the information you found from the various sources and integrate/synthesize* them into the three aspects of the topic, and then write about the topic.

3) At the end, please include working URLs for the three websites.

*By integrating/synthesizing I mean to take what your read/experienced from the internet search (and from section 1 if you like) organize the information into the main themes, issues, info, examples, etc. about your topic and then write about the topic in your own words using that information. This is hard for some people to do - many students write what we refer to as "serial abstracts." They are tempted to talk about the websites rather than the topic proper. For example, they will talk all about website #1, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #2, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #3, and then write some kind of conclusion. Serial means one after the other...This what you DON'T want to do!

At first it is a real challenge to get out of the habit of writing "serial abstracts," but I assure you once you get the hang of it it is much easier to write using the integration/synthesis method. And besides this is the way good researchers and scientists write their technical reports and findings - many of you will have to be able to do this for other classes and for jobs that you may eventually be hired for, so now is a good time to learn this skill.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Let us know if you have any questions.

--Dr. M

Reading Activity Week #10 (Due Monday)

| 204 Comments

Please go to the following blog page:

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/abcs.html

Please read sections 4.1 (Need for Self-Directed Behavior) and 4.2 (Self Directed behavior Steps)

After reading the first section, please respond to the following questions.

1) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

2) What did you find least interesting? Why?

3) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

4) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

After reading the second section, please respond to the following questions.

5) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

6) What did you find least interesting? Why?

7) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

8) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

9) How has reading these sections influenced what you originally thought about behavior modification? How so?

10a) Behavioral Project (New Project). Think of a behavior you might want to change and list out the steps based on section 4.2. What is that behavior? What is the difference between a behavior and a behavioral class? Make sure the behavior you are trying to change is a behavior and not a behavioral class.

10b) How might you go about measuring the behavior and then keeping track of the behavior?

10c) How might the data look like on a graph (similar to the one we did for the water drinking)? What would be a title for the graph? What would be a good label for the y-axis? What might be a good label for the x-axis?

11) Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post and put them at the bottom of your post.

Let us know if you have any questions,

--Dr. M

Topical Blog Week #10 (Due Wednesday)

| 202 Comments

What we would like you to do is to find a topic from what we have covered in this week's readings that you are interested in and search the internet for material on that topic. You might, for example, find people who are doing research on the topic, you might find web pages that discuss the topic, you might find youtube clips that demonstrate something related to the topic, etc. What you find and use is pretty much up to you at this point. But use at least 3 sources (only one video please and make sure it adds to the topic).

1) Once you have completed your search and explorations, I would like you to say what your topic is, how exactly it fits into the section we have covered so far, and why you are interested in it.

2) What are three aspects of the topic you want to talk about for this assignment?

2) Next, I would like you to take the information you found from the various sources and integrate/synthesize* them into the three aspects of the topic, and then write about the topic.

3) At the end, please include working URLs for the three websites.

*By integrating/synthesizing I mean to take what your read/experienced from the internet search (and from section 1 if you like) organize the information into the main themes, issues, info, examples, etc. about your topic and then write about the topic in your own words using that information. This is hard for some people to do - many students write what we refer to as "serial abstracts." They are tempted to talk about the websites rather than the topic proper. For example, they will talk all about website #1, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #2, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #3, and then write some kind of conclusion. Serial means one after the other...This what you DON'T want to do!

At first it is a real challenge to get out of the habit of writing "serial abstracts," but I assure you once you get the hang of it it is much easier to write using the integration/synthesis method. And besides this is the way good researchers and scientists write their technical reports and findings - many of you will have to be able to do this for other classes and for jobs that you may eventually be hired for, so now is a good time to learn this skill.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Let us know if you have any questions.

--Dr. M

Reading Activity Week #11 (Due Monday)

| 190 Comments

Please go to the following blog page:

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/abcs.html

Please read sections 4.3 (Importance of Goals) and 5.1 (Measuring Behavior).

After reading the first section, please respond to the following questions.

1) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

2) What did you find least interesting? Why?

3) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

4) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

After reading the second section, please respond to the following questions.

5) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

6) What did you find least interesting? Why?

7) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

8) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

9) How has reading these sections influenced what you originally thought about behavior modification? How so?

10a) Behavioral Project (Baseline). Last Monday (week #10) you were asked to state a behavior you might change and how you would go about measure that behavior. Please start collecting baseline data on that behavior (recall that baseline is the data collected before the behavioral intervention/reinforcer).

10b) Next week when we begin the behavioral intervention what will you use for a reinforcer? Why is this a good reinforcer? What type of reinforcement schedule might you use (e.g., continuous reinforcement, fixed interval, etc.)? Why did you choose this schedule?

11) Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post and put them at the bottom of your post.

Let us know if you have any questions,

--Dr. M

Topical Blog Week #11 (Due Wednesday)

| 184 Comments

IN THE NEWS!

What we would like you to do is to continue applying what we are learning in class to real world matters. Some might ask, "What good is learning psychology if we can't apply it to real world matters?" So that is what we are going to do with this week's topical blog assignment.

What we would like you to do is to either go to NPR (http://www.npr.org/), the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/ ) there are some good news source links at the bottom of the following page (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/listed in their news sources) and read, watch, or listen to something that is interesting to you and relates to something we have covered so far and that you can apply the ABC's of behavior to.

For your news I would like you to

1) briefly describe/summarize your piece and tell us what your topic is

2) tell us what behavior (target behavior) you are using that illustrates your topic,

3) tell us what the consequence of the behavior is,

4) tell us how, that consequence will change the frequency of the behavior,

5) tell us if the consequence involves the addition of something desirable or if it involves the removal of something undesirable, finally

6) tell us to the antecedent is.

7) Please then list the ABC's of the behavior

A=
B=
C=

NOW what we would like you to do is to either go to a different news source, NPR (http://www.npr.org/ ), the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/ ) there are some good news source links at the bottom of the following page (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ listed in their news sources) and read, watch, or listen to something that is interesting to you and relates to a different topic we have covered so far.

For your news I would like you to

8) briefly describe/summarize your piece and tell us what your topic is

9) tell us what behavior (target behavior) you are using that illustrates your topic,

10) tell us what the consequence of the behavior is,

11) tell us how, that consequence will change the frequency of the behavior,

12) tell us if the consequence involves the addition of something desirable or if it involves the removal of something undesirable, finally

13) tell us to the antecedent is.

14) Please then list the ABC's of the behavior

A=
B=
C=

For originality sake, make sure the news pieces you are not using the same pieces of news the other students before you just used.

17) When you are done, copy and paste the URLs at the bottom so we can go and see the sources you used.

18) Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Let us know if you have any questions.

--Dr. M

Reading Activity Week #12 (Due Monday)

| 191 Comments

Please go to the following blog page:

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/abcs.html

Please read sections 5.2 (Rule Governed Behavior) and 5.3 (Functional Analysis of Behavior).

After reading the first section, please respond to the following questions.

1) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

2) What did you find least interesting? Why?

3) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

4) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

After reading the second section, please respond to the following questions.

5) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

6) What did you find least interesting? Why?

7) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

8) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

9) How has reading these sections influenced what you originally thought about behavior modification? How so?

10a) Behavioral Project (Intervention). Last Monday (week #11) you were asked to start collecting baseline data on a target behavior. You should have 1 week's worth of base line data to report below:

Week 1 (Baseline)

Day 1 =
Day 2 =
Day 3 =
Day 4 =
Day 5 =
Day 6 =
Day 7 =
Average =

10b) Begin your behavior intervention by reinforcing yourself if you reach your target behavior and continue collecting data.

10c) In reference to section 5.3, what might a functional analysis of your target behavior look like?

11) Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post and put them at the bottom of your post.

Let us know if you have any questions,

--Dr. M

Topical Blog Week #12 (Due Wednesday)

| 180 Comments

What we would like you to do is to find a topic from what we have covered in this week's readings that you are interested in and search the internet for material on that topic. You might, for example, find people who are doing research on the topic, you might find web pages that discuss the topic, you might find youtube clips that demonstrate something related to the topic, etc. What you find and use is pretty much up to you at this point. But use at least 3 sources (only one video please and make sure it adds to the topic).

1) Once you have completed your search and explorations, I would like you to say what your topic is, how exactly it fits into the section we have covered so far, and why you are interested in it.

2) What are three aspects of the topic you want to talk about for this assignment?

2) Next, I would like you to take the information you found from the various sources and integrate/synthesize* them into the three aspects of the topic, and then write about the topic.

3) At the end, please include working URLs for the three websites.

*By integrating/synthesizing I mean to take what your read/experienced from the internet search (and from section 1 if you like) organize the information into the main themes, issues, info, examples, etc. about your topic and then write about the topic in your own words using that information. This is hard for some people to do - many students write what we refer to as "serial abstracts." They are tempted to talk about the websites rather than the topic proper. For example, they will talk all about website #1, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #2, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #3, and then write some kind of conclusion. Serial means one after the other...This what you DON'T want to do!

At first it is a real challenge to get out of the habit of writing "serial abstracts," but I assure you once you get the hang of it it is much easier to write using the integration/synthesis method. And besides this is the way good researchers and scientists write their technical reports and findings - many of you will have to be able to do this for other classes and for jobs that you may eventually be hired for, so now is a good time to learn this skill.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Let us know if you have any questions.

--Dr. M

Reading Activity Week #13 (Due Monday)

| 190 Comments

Please go to the following blog page:

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/abcs.html

Please read sections 5.4 (Changing the Antecedants).

After reading the first section, please respond to the following questions.

1) What did you find interesting in the section? Why?

2) What did you find least interesting? Why?

3) How does the section relate to what you already knew/learned previously?
Note: This can be from previous chapters or from other classes, etc.

4) Based on what you read from this section, what are two things that relate to your life? How so?

5a) Behavioral Project (Intervention). Last Monday (week #12) you were asked to continue collecting data on a target behavior. You should now have 2 week's worth of base line data. Report Week #2 below:

Week #2 (behavioral intervention)

Day 1 =
Day 2 =
Day 3 =
Day 4 =
Day 5 =
Day 6 =
Day 7 =
Average =

5b) How is your behavior project going so far? (note: Don't just say "good." We are looking for some depth and detail.) What changes might you make if you were to do it again? What are some antecedents you could change to help your progress?

Please continue reinforcing yourself if you achieve your target behavior during your behavioral intervention and continue to collect data.

6) Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Let us know if you have any questions,

--Dr. M

Topical Blog Week #13 (Due Wednesday)

| 185 Comments

What we would like you to do is to find a topic from what we have covered in this week's readings that you are interested in and search the internet for material on that topic. You might, for example, find people who are doing research on the topic, you might find web pages that discuss the topic, you might find youtube clips that demonstrate something related to the topic, etc. What you find and use is pretty much up to you at this point. But use at least 3 sources (only one video please and make sure it adds to the topic).

1) Once you have completed your search and explorations, I would like you to say what your topic is, how exactly it fits into the section we have covered so far, and why you are interested in it.

2) What are three aspects of the topic you want to talk about for this assignment?

2) Next, I would like you to take the information you found from the various sources and integrate/synthesize* them into the three aspects of the topic, and then write about the topic.

3) At the end, please include working URLs for the three websites.

*By integrating/synthesizing I mean to take what your read/experienced from the internet search (and from section 1 if you like) organize the information into the main themes, issues, info, examples, etc. about your topic and then write about the topic in your own words using that information. This is hard for some people to do - many students write what we refer to as "serial abstracts." They are tempted to talk about the websites rather than the topic proper. For example, they will talk all about website #1, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #2, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #3, and then write some kind of conclusion. Serial means one after the other...This what you DON'T want to do!

At first it is a real challenge to get out of the habit of writing "serial abstracts," but I assure you once you get the hang of it it is much easier to write using the integration/synthesis method. And besides this is the way good researchers and scientists write their technical reports and findings - many of you will have to be able to do this for other classes and for jobs that you may eventually be hired for, so now is a good time to learn this skill.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Let us know if you have any questions.

--Dr. M

Reading Activity Week #14 (Due Monday)

| 189 Comments

ABC's of poverty:

Please read - http://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-tirado/why-poor-peoples-bad-decisions-make-perfect-sense_b_4326233.html

and if you want to read the follow-up (optional): http://www.huffingtonpost.com/linda-tirado/meet-the-woman-who-accide_b_4334428.html

Please choose some aspects of this article that deals with poverty and using the ABC's of Behavior, discuss how the antecedants and consequences of being poor may lead to the behaviors discussed by the author.

4a) Behavioral Project (Return to Baseline). Last Monday (week #12) you were asked to continue with your behavioral intervention. You should have 1 week's worth of base line data and 2 week's worth of intervention data. Report Week #3 below:

Week #3 (behavioral intervention)

Day 1 =
Day 2 =
Day 3 =
Day 4 =
Day 5 =
Day 6 =
Day 7 =
Average =

4b) How is the behavioral intervention going?

For this next week we will STOP THE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTION and return to baseline. This means that we will still collect data, but not reinforce the behavior any longer.

What do you think will happen to your behavior now that you are now longer reinforcing it?

5) Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Let us know if you have any questions,

--Dr. M

Topical Blog Week #14 (Due Wednesday)

| 182 Comments

What we would like you to do is to find a topic from what we have covered in this week's readings that you are interested in and search the internet for material on that topic. You might, for example, find people who are doing research on the topic, you might find web pages that discuss the topic, you might find youtube clips that demonstrate something related to the topic, etc. What you find and use is pretty much up to you at this point. But use at least 3 sources (only one video please and make sure it adds to the topic).

1) Once you have completed your search and explorations, I would like you to say what your topic is, how exactly it fits into the section we have covered so far, and why you are interested in it.

2) What are three aspects of the topic you want to talk about for this assignment?

2) Next, I would like you to take the information you found from the various sources and integrate/synthesize* them into the three aspects of the topic, and then write about the topic.

3) At the end, please include working URLs for the three websites.

*By integrating/synthesizing I mean to take what your read/experienced from the internet search (and from section 1 if you like) organize the information into the main themes, issues, info, examples, etc. about your topic and then write about the topic in your own words using that information. This is hard for some people to do - many students write what we refer to as "serial abstracts." They are tempted to talk about the websites rather than the topic proper. For example, they will talk all about website #1, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #2, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #3, and then write some kind of conclusion. Serial means one after the other...This what you DON'T want to do!

At first it is a real challenge to get out of the habit of writing "serial abstracts," but I assure you once you get the hang of it it is much easier to write using the integration/synthesis method. And besides this is the way good researchers and scientists write their technical reports and findings - many of you will have to be able to do this for other classes and for jobs that you may eventually be hired for, so now is a good time to learn this skill.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Let us know if you have any questions.

--Dr. M

Reading Activity Week #15 (Due Monday)

| 186 Comments

Token Economies.

Please review the following website and read about the steps involved in setting up a token economy using the LRBI Checklist:
http://165.139.150.129/intervention/Token.pdf

Next read the following link about the Poyer Purple Paw tokens http://www.uni.edu/~maclino/bm/purple_paw_tokens.pdf

1) What is this program?
2) How did it come about?
3) What are the behavioral classes they are trying to elicit?
4) What would be some specific target behaviors they might want the children to emit?
5) Is this system based on reinforcement or punishment?
6) Is it positive or negative?
7) What are the tokens used in this program?
8) What might be some pro's and con's associated with using these tokens?
9) What is the delivery system?
10) What are some pro's and con's associated with the delivery system?
11) How are the tokens banked?
12) What are the pro's and con's?
13) What are the back up reinforcers?
14) How were the backup reinforcers chosen?
15) Are they effective reinforcers?
16) How do the students gain access to the reinforcers?
17) What are some of the outcome measures so the administrators know the system is effective?
18) How effectively are the administrators teaching the students about the system?
19) How effectively are the administrators teaching the parents about the system?
20)How effectively have the administrators taught the other teacher about the system?
21) Is there the possibility of not everyone (students, teachers, and parents) may not have complete buy in with the system?
22) What are some problems know to exist with token economies that might be a problem here?
23) What are some questions you might have for the administrators about the system?
24) What additional information might you want to know about the system?

25) Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

--Dr. M


Topical Blog Week #15 (Due Wednesday)

| 182 Comments

Token economy.

Imagine you are a consultant and were asked to set up a token economy for a large corporation to solve a behavioral problem they are experiencing. Please answer some questions about the token economy you have set up for the corporation.

Answer the questions below using as many behavioral terms are you can.

1) What is this corporation and what do they do? 
2) How did the problem you are addressing come about? 
3) What are the behavioral classes they are trying to elicit? 
4) What would be some specific target behaviors they might want the employees to emit? 
5) Is this system based on reinforcement or punishment? 
6) Is it positive or negative? 
7) What are the tokens used in this program? 
8) What might be some pro's and con's associated with using these tokens? 
9) What is the token delivery system? 
10) What are some pro's and con's associated with the delivery system? 
11) How are the tokens banked? 
12) What are the pro's and con's with banking the tokens in this manner? 
13) What are the back up reinforcers? 
14) How were the backup reinforcers chosen? 
15) How do you know if they are effective reinforcers? 
16) How do the employees gain access to the reinforcers? 
17) What are some of the outcome measures so the administrators know the system is effective? 
18) How will the administrators go about teaching the employees about the system?
19) How will the administrators go about teaching the management about the system? 
20) How will you go about teaching the administrators about the system? 
21) Is there the possibility of not everyone (employees, management and administrators) may not have complete buy in with the system? How will you address this if it occurs?
22) What are some problems known to exist with token economies that might be a problem here? 
24) Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

--Dr. M

For the Final assignment you will be asked to develop a product, service, etc. based on the behavioral science you have been learning in class this semester.

While we are interested in the product, we are mostly interested in the science behind it, and the depth you researched the science behind it and your command of the science.

Imagine we are potential investors and scientists, you have to really sell the product to us by selling the science. The more different areas you cover, the better.

Other than that this is a fairly open ended assignment as it is up to you to put this together, how you want to present it.

The final is worth 40 points. As such it should show twice the work as a topical blog. Let us know if you have any questions.

Make a list of the terms and concepts at the bottom of the post.

The assignment is worth up to 40 points. So make sure it has double the work required for a 20 point assignment. http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/grading.html

Please let us know if you have any questions.

--Dr. M

Snow Day Assignment Week#7 (Due Monday)

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Please watch the above video (20+ minutes) and answer the following question:
In the video above Mitra shows us that kids can learn in ways different from our traditional education. He finds children learn and self organize when they are given a question. My question is how can we take the information from this video (and possibly from what we are learning in class) and make changes within our existing educational system to prepare for the future?

Snow Day Att6 (Due Monday)

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What we would like you to do is to continue applying what we are learning in class to real world matters. Some might ask, "What good is learning psychology if we can't apply it to real world matters?" So that is what we are going to do with this week's topical blog assignment.

What we would like you to do is to either go to NPR (http://www.npr.org/ ), the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/ ) there are some good news source links at the bottom of the following page (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ listed in their news sources) and read, watch, or listen to something that is interesting to you and relates to schedules of reinforcement VR, FR, VI, FI  (not continuous reinforcement).

For your news I would like you to 1) briefly describe/summarize your piece, 2) tell us what behavior (target behavior) you are using that illustrates reinforcement, 3) tell us what the consequence of the behavior is, 4) tell us how, that consequence will increase the frequency of the behavior, 5) tell us if the consequence involves the addition of something desirable or if it involves the removal of something undesirable, finally 6) how that particular schedules of reinforcement is controlling the behavior.

Please then list the ABC's of the behavior

A=
B=
C=

If you can discuss how the behavior might be different if a different schedule of reinforcement were to be used.

Snow Day Assignment for Week #3 (Due Monday)

| 40 Comments

What we would like you to do is to continue applying what we are learning in class to real world matters. Some might ask, "What good is learning psychology if we can't apply it to real world matters?" So that is what we are going to do with this week's topical blog assignment.

What we would like you to do is to either go to NPR (http://www.npr.org/ ), the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/ ) there are some good news source links at the bottom of the following page (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ listed in their news sources) and read, watch, or listen to something that is interesting to you and relates to reinforcement.

For your news I would like you to 1) briefly describe/summarize your piece, 2) tell us what behavior (target behavior) you are using that illustrates reinforcement, 3) tell us what the consequence of the behavior is, 4) tell us how, that consequence will increase the frequency of the behavior, 5) tell us if the consequence involves the addition of something desirable or if it involves the removal of something undesirable, finally 6) tell us to the antecedent is.

Please then list the ABC's of the behavior

A=
B=
C=

Now state if this is an example of positive reinforcement, or negative reinforcement. Explain why.

Tell us if it involves extinction, establishing operations, use as many terms from the chapters we have already covered as you can.

Reading Activity Week #1 (Due Tuesday)

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Welcome to the bmod class. We would like you to spend a little time orienting yourself with the class blog site. Please read the course description on the 'Home Page.' Go to the 'Blog' and check out the types of assignments you will be doing over the semester. Check out the book 'ABCs' of Behavior Modification and see if the chapters download OK on the computer you are using. Look over the 'Syllabus' pages and make sure you understand what we will be doing this semester as it relates to the syllabus (Class schedule, Course Requirements, & Grading rubrics).

You should already have a temporary blog username and password for you to use, if not please email Dr. MacLin to get yours (or to have him resend yours - otto.maclin@uni.edu). You will receive an email later in the week showing you how to get a permanent username and password.  

Now click on the comment link (above), sign in and leave a comment. If you are using a temporary username make sure to put your intials at the top of your entry. In particular please state in your comment that that you basically went through the website, home page, syllabus, online book. That you understand the class schedule & course requirements and that you read through all sections of the syllabus.

Based on your experience reading through the website, please let us know if you have any questions, if there is anything you don't understand or if you experienced any problems.

Thanks!

--Dr. M

Topical Blog Week #1 (Due Thursday)

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TB1 - By now you should have been able to log in and comment on the blog site. What we would like you to do now is to go to the following page and read some of the blog posts left from the students in the class before you.

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/2012/12/week-16-final-assignment-1.html

and

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/2012/10/att11-in-the-news---due-friday.html

After reading the posts please answer the following:
Which posts did you like the best? Why?
Has reading these posts changed your idea of what behavior modification is? Why or why not?
Based on these posts are there any specific topics you are interested in learning?

Thanks,

--Dr. M

Reading Activity Week #2 (Due Tuesday)

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Please go to the following blog page:

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/abcs.html

Please read sections 1.1 (ABC's of Behavior Modification) and 1.2 (Contingencies: Reinforcement & Punishment)

After reading section 1.1, please respond to the following questions.

What was one thing that you really liked that was in the section? Why? What was one thing that you disliked that was in the section? Why? What are three things you will remember from what you read in the section? Why?

After reading section 1.2, please respond to the following questions.

What was one thing that you really liked that was in the section? Why? What was one thing that you disliked that was in the section? Why? What are three things you will remember from what you read in the section? Why?

Prior to reading these sections, what did you think about behavior modification? Why? How has reading these sections changed what you originally thought about behavior modification? How so?

Please fill out the boxes in the readings you may be quizzed on them in class.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Let us know if you have any questions,

--Dr. M

Topical Blog Week #2 (Due Thursday)

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Hi Class,

We will go over this on when we meet on Thursday. If you are unsure how to do this assignment you might wait until after we meet in class.

This assignment will ask that you find interesting video clips on the internet. The clips can be cartoons like 'family guy,' sit coms like 'big bang,' commercials, music videos, just about anything you typically enjoy watching. What we do not want is a video produced to expressly demonstrate the specific behavioral topic.

For originality sake, make sure the videos you are not using the same videos used by students before you.

So far we have discussed reinforcement (increasing the frequency of a behavior as a result of the consequence)

What we would like you to do is to find a video clip off the internet illustrating reinforcement.

For this clip we would like you to 1) briefly describe/summarize the clip. 2) tell us what behavior (target behavior) you are using that illustrates the reinforced behavior (please note what time it occurs in the video), 3) tell us what the consequence of the behavior is, 4) tell us if the consequence involves the addition of something desirable or if it involves the removal of something undesirable, and finally, 5) tell us to the antecedent is.

Please list the ABC's of the target behavior in the clip:

A=
B=
C=

Now state if this is an example of positive reinforcement, or negative reinforcement. Explain why.

We have discussed punishment (decreasing the frequency of a behavior as a result of the consequence)

Now we would like you to do is to find a video clip off the internet illustrating punishment.

For this clip we would like you to 1) briefly describe/summarize the clip. 2) tell us what behavior (target behavior) you are using that illustrates the punished behavior (please note what time it occurs in the video), 3) tell us what the consequence of the behavior is, 4) tell us if the consequence involves the addition of something undesirable or if it involves the removal of something desirable, and finally, 5) tell us to the antecedent is.

Please list the ABC's of the target behavior in the clip:

A=
B=
C=

Now state if this is an example of positive punishment, or negative punishment. Explain why.

When you are done with both clips, copy and paste the URLs at the bottom so we can go and see the videos you used. Paste the reinforcement URL first and then the punishment URL.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Let us know if you have any questions

--Dr. M

Reading Activity Week #3 (Due Tuesday)

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Please go to the following blog page:

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/abcs.html

Please read sections 1.3 (Language of Behavior) and 1.4 (Some Behavioral Terms)

After reading section 1.3, please respond to the following questions.

What was one thing that you really liked that was in the section? Why? What was one thing that you disliked that was in the section? Why? What are three things you will remember from what you read in the section? Why?

After reading section 1.4, please respond to the following questions.

What was one thing that you really liked that was in the section? Why? What was one thing that you disliked that was in the section? Why? What are three things you will remember from what you read in the section? Why?

How has reading these sections changed or built on what you have learned so far about behavior modification? How so?

Please fill out the boxes in the readings you may be quizzed on them in class.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

--Dr. M

Topical Blog Week #3 (Due Thursday)

| 36 Comments

Hi Class,

PART ONE - This assignment is very similar to the topical blog we did last week. We will go over this on when we meet on Thursday. If you are unsure how to do this assignment you might wait until after we meet in class.

This assignment will ask that you find interesting video clips on the internet. The clips can be cartoons like 'family guy,' sit coms like 'big bang,' commercials, music videos, just about anything you typically enjoy watching. What we do not want is a video produced to expressly demonstrate the specific behavioral topic.

For originality sake, make sure the videos you are not using the same videos used by students before you.

So far we have discussed extinction (not being reinforced for a previously reinforced behavior)

What we would like you to do is to find a video clip off the internet illustrating extinction.

For this clip we would like you to 1) briefly describe/summarize the clip. 2) tell us what previously reinforced behavior probably was (this might not be explicit in the video), 3) tell us what the consequence of the previously reinforced behavior probably was, 4) tell us if the consequence involved the addition of something desirable or if it involves the removal of something undesirable, 5) tell us what the antecedent is, 6) tell us what the topography of the extinguished behavior looks like (please note what time it occurs in the video), 7) discuss why you know this is extinction.

Please list the ABC's of the target behavior in the clip prior to extinction:

A=
B=
C=

Now state if this is an example of positive reinforcement, or negative reinforcement. Explain why.

What do you think will happen if the behavior gets reinforced again?

When you are done copy and paste the URL at the bottom so we can go and see the video you used.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

PART TWO - Behavior Observation. We would like you to observe a particular behavior you emit and record that behavior for a week.

1) State the behavior as a specific target behavior, 2) State how you are going to record the behavior, 3) although you are going to be the only person recording your behavior, what might some sources of inter-observer be when recording this behavior if more than one person were going to observe it, 4) knowing that you are going to begin recording this particular behavior, how might that change the frequency of the behavior?

Start recording the behavior every day until next Thursday.

Let us know if you have any questions

--Dr. M

Reading Activity Week #4 (Due Tuesday)

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Please go to the following blog page:

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/abcs.html

Please read sections 1.5 (More about Behaviors) and 2.1 (What is behavior Modification)

After reading section 1.5, please respond to the following questions.

What was one thing that you really liked that was in the section? Why? What was one thing that you disliked that was in the section? Why? What are three things you will remember from what you read in the section? Why?

After reading section 2.1, please respond to the following questions.

What was one thing that you really liked that was in the section? Why? What was one thing that you disliked that was in the section? Why? What are three things you will remember from what you read in the section? Why?

How has reading these sections changed or built on what you have learned so far about behavior modification? How so?

Please fill out the boxes in the readings you may be quizzed on them in class.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

--Dr. M

Topical Blog Week #4 (Due Thursday)

| 37 Comments

Hi Class,

PART ONE - This assignment is very similar to the topical blog we did last week. We will go over this on when we meet on Thursday. If you are unsure how to do this assignment you might wait until after we meet in class.

This assignment will ask that you find interesting video clips on the internet. The clips can be cartoons like 'family guy,' sit coms like 'big bang,' commercials, music videos, just about anything you typically enjoy watching. What we do not want is a video produced to expressly demonstrate the specific behavioral topic.

For originality sake, make sure the videos you are not using the same videos used by students before you.

So far we have discussed discriminative stimuli (environmental cues indicating whether we will be reinforced or not)

What we would like you to do is to find a video clip off the internet illustrating a discriminative stimulus and how it affects behavior.

For this clip we would like you to 1) briefly describe/summarize the clip. 2) tell us what behavior (target behavior) you are using that illustrates the reinforced behavior (please note what time it occurs in the video), 3) tell us what the consequence of the behavior is, 4) tell us if the consequence involves the addition of something desirable or if it involves the removal of something undesirable, 5) tell us to the antecedent is, 6) tell us what the discriminative stimulus is, and finally 7) how does the discriminative stimulus affect the target behavior.

Please list the ABC's of the target behavior in the clip prior to the introduction of the discriminative stimulus:

A=
B=
C=

Now state if this is an example of positive reinforcement, or negative reinforcement. Explain why.

When you are done copy and paste the URL at the bottom so we can go and see the video you used.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

PART TWO - Behavior Observation. We asked you to observe a particular behavior you emit and to record that behavior for a week.

1) State the behavior as a specific target behavior, 2) State how you went about recording the behavior, 3) How well did your recording method work for you?, 4) simply based on observing your behavior, did it increase or decrease?

Let us know if you have any questions

--Dr. M

Reading Activity Week #5 (Due Tuesday)

| 39 Comments

Please go to the following blog page:

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/abcs.html

Please read sections 2.2 (Reinforcement) and 2.3 (Punishment)

After reading section 2.2, please respond to the following questions.

What was one thing that you really liked that was in the section? Why? What was one thing that you disliked that was in the section? Why? What are three things you will remember from what you read in the section? Why?

After reading section 2.3, please respond to the following questions.

What was one thing that you really liked that was in the section? Why? What was one thing that you disliked that was in the section? Why? What are three things you will remember from what you read in the section? Why?

How has reading these sections changed or built on what you have learned so far about behavior modification? How so?

Please fill out the boxes in the readings you may be quizzed on them in class.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

--Dr. M

Topical Blog Week #5 (Due Thursday)

| 34 Comments

What we would like you to do is to continue applying what we are learning in class to real world matters. Some might ask, "What good is learning psychology if we can't apply it to real world matters?" So that is what we are going to do with this week's topical blog assignment.

What we would like you to do is to either go to NPR (http://www.npr.org/ ), the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/ ) there are some good news source links at the bottom of the following page (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ listed in their news sources) and read, watch, or listen to something that is interesting to you and relates to reinforcement.

For your news I would like you to 1) briefly describe/summarize your piece, 2) tell us what behavior (target behavior) you are using that illustrates reinforcement, 3) tell us what the consequence of the behavior is, 4) tell us how, that consequence will increase the frequency of the behavior, 5) tell us if the consequence involves the addition of something desirable or if it involves the removal of something undesirable, finally 6) tell us to the antecedent is.

Please then list the ABC's of the behavior

A=
B=
C=

Now state if this is an example of positive reinforcement, or negative reinforcement. Explain why.

Tell us if it involves extinction, establishing operations, use as many terms from the chapters we have already covered as you can.

NOW what we would like you to do is to either go to a different news source, NPR (http://www.npr.org/ ), the BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/ ) there are some good news source links at the bottom of the following page (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ listed in their news sources) and read, watch, or listen to something that is interesting to you and relates to punishment.

For your news I would like you to 1) briefly describe/summarize your piece, 2) tell us what behavior (target behavior) you are using that illustrates punishment, 3) tell us what the consequence of the behavior is, 4) tell us how, that consequence will decrease the frequency of the behavior, 5) tell us if the consequence involves the addition of something undesirable or if it involves the removal of something desirable, finally 6) tell us to the antecedent is.

Please then list the ABC's of the behavior

A=
B=
C=

Now state if this is an example of positive punishment, or negative punishment. Explain why.

For originality sake, make sure the news pieces you are not using the same pieces of news the other students before you just used.

When you are done, copy and paste the URLs at the bottom so we can go and see the sources you used.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Let us know if you have any questions.

--Dr. M

Reading Activity Week #6 (Due Tuesday)

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Please go to the following blog page:

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/abcs.html

Please read sections 2.4 (Additional Concepts) and 2.5 (Schedules of Reinforcement)

After reading section 2.4, please respond to the following questions.

What was one thing that you really liked that was in the section? Why? What was one thing that you disliked that was in the section? Why? What are three things you will remember from what you read in the section? Why?

After reading section 2.5, please respond to the following questions.

What was one thing that you really liked that was in the section? Why? What was one thing that you disliked that was in the section? Why? What are three things you will remember from what you read in the section? Why?

How has reading these sections changed or built on what you originally thought about behavior modification? How so?

Please fill out the boxes in the readings you may be quizzed on them in class.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

--Dr. M

Topical Blog Week #6 (Due Thursday)

| 41 Comments

We will go over this on when we meet on Thursday. If you are unsure how to do this assignment you might wait until after we meet in class.

This assignment will ask that you find interesting video clips on the internet. The clips can be cartoons like 'family guy,' sit coms like 'big bang,' commercials, music videos, just about anything you typically enjoy watching. What we do not want is a video produced to expressly demonstrate the specific behavioral topic.

For originality sake, make sure the videos you are not using the same videos used by students before you.

So far we have discussed superstitious behavior and schedules of reinforcement.

What we would like you to do is to find a video clip off the internet illustrating superstitious behavior.

For this clip we would like you to 1) briefly describe/summarize the clip. 2) tell us what behavior (target behavior) you are using that illustrates the superstitious behavior (please note what time it occurs in the video), 3) tell us what the consequence of the behavior is, 4) tell us if the consequence involves the addition of something or if it involves the removal of something, 50 tell us how you think this behavior occurred, and finally, 6) tell us to the antecedent is.

Please list the ABC's of the target behavior in the clip before the superstitious behavior occurred:

A=
B=
C=

Now discuss the behavior in terms of the ABCs once the superstitions behavior began.

We have discussed schedules of reinforcement.

Now we would like you to do is to find a video clip off the internet illustrating schedules of reinforcement (other than continuous reinforcement)

For this clip we would like you to 1) briefly describe/summarize the clip. 2) tell us what behavior (target behavior) you are using that illustrates the what is being reinforced with a schedule of reinforcement (please note what time it occurs in the video), 3) tell us what the consequence of the behavior is, 4) tell us if the consequence involves the addition of something undesirable or if it involves the removal of something desirable, and finally, 5) what is the schedule of reinforcement being demonstrated, 6) tell us to the antecedent is.

Please list the ABC's of the target behavior in the clip:

A=
B=
C=

Now state if this is an example of positive reinforcement, or negative reinforcement. Explain why. What would happen of the schedule of reinforcement changes where it takes twice as long or twice as many responses to get reinforced?

When you are done with both clips, copy and paste the URLs at the bottom so we can go and see the videos you used. Paste the superstitious behavior URL first and then the schedule of reinforcement URL.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Let us know if you have any questions

--Dr. M

Reading Activity Week #7 (Due Tuesday)

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RA7 -

Please go to the following blog page:

http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/abcs.html

Please read sections 3.1 (Thorndike) and 3.2 (Pavlov)

After reading section 3.1, please respond to the following questions.

What was one thing that you really liked that was in the section? Why? What was one thing that you disliked that was in the section? Why? What are three things you will remember from what you read in the section? Why?

After reading section 3.2, please respond to the following questions.

What was one thing that you really liked that was in the section? Why? What was one thing that you disliked that was in the section? Why? What are three things you will remember from what you read in the section? Why?

How has reading these sections changed or built on what you originally thought about behavior modification? How so?

Please fill out the boxes in the readings you may be quizzed on them in class.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

--Dr. M

Topical Blog Week #7 (Due Thursday)

| 33 Comments

Before you begin this assignment, please go to the following site and read a couple of topical blog posts that were done by students last semester at: http://www.psychologicalscience.com/bmod/2012/04/topical-blog-week-14-due-thursday-1.html#comments

Notice that some are quite a bit better than others.

Next what we would like you to do is to find a topic from what we have covered so far in class that you are interested in and search the internet for material on that topic. You might, for example, find people who are doing research on the topic, you might find web pages that discuss the topic, you might find youtube clips that demonstrate something related to the topic, etc. What you find and use is pretty much up to you at this point. But use at least 3 sources (only one video please).

Once you have completed your search and explorations, I would like you to say what your topic is, how exactly it fits into the section we have covered so far, and why you are interested in it. Next, I would like you to take the information you found related to your topic, integrate/synthesize the topic, and then write about the topic. At the end, please include working URLs for the three websites.

By integrating/synthesizing I mean to take what your read/experienced from the internet search (and from chapter 1 if you like) organize the information into the main themes, issues, info, examples, etc. about your topic and then write about the topic in your own words using that information. This is hard for some people to do - many students write what we refer to as "serial abstracts." They are tempted to talk about the websites rather than the topic proper. They will talk all about website #1, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #2, start a new paragraph and talk all about web site #3, and then write some kind of conclusion. Serial means one after the other...This what you DON'T want to do!

At first it is a real challenge to get out of the habit of writing "serial abstracts," but I assure you once you get the hang of it it is much easier to write using the integration method. And besides this is the way researchers and scientists write their technical reports and findings - many of you will have to be able to do this for other classes and for jobs that you may eventually be hired for so now is a good time to learn this skill.

Once you are done with your post make list of the terms and terminology you used in your post.

Note: we have relaxed the grading scale since this is the first time you have done one of these assignments. Next week we will resume the normal grading scale.

Let us know if you have any questions.

--Dr. M