S MTWTF 12h avg S 0 ----- 60min 30min 12 AM 6 AM 12 PM 6 PM Social Games 2h 25min 38min Creativity 35min Content: Your paper must begin with a clear introductory paragraph and go on to cover all five of the self-modification program steps. Specifically, you must 1) identify the target behaviour and indicate why it was chosen; 2) describe the baseline data (noting behavioural antecedents, pre-program level of response, and behavioural consequences); 3) outline the program design; 4) discuss the implementation of the program and 5) critically evaluate the program upon completion. Evaluation: This essay is worth 25% of the student's final grade and will be graded out of 25 points, assigned as follows: 4 3 - - - - for well-written introductory paragraph Step 1: for selecting appropriate target behaviour and justifying selection Step 2: for discussing level/frequency of pre-program target behaviour, including reference to the controlling antecedents and controlling consequences of the behaviour Step 3: for designing a thoughtful self-modification program Step 4: for discussing program execution Step 5: for critically evaluating program, including discussion of successes and possible improvements 2 for well-written concluding paragraph 1 - - for clear, well-labeled graph(s), chart(s), and/or table(s) 2 Grammar, spelling and proper citations (APA format) - Term Assignment (Fall, 2023): Purpose, Expectations, and Evaluation Criteria Purpose: The topic was developed to accomplish a number of objectives, including: 1) to facilitate a better understanding of the terminology, key concepts, and processes of operant conditioning; 2) to demonstrate the practical applications of operant conditioning theory; 3) to provide students with an opportunity to change their own behaviour in a systematic, meaningful way; and 4) to allow students to critically evaluate the successes and challenges of self- modification programs. Format: The completed assignment must be in essay format with no subheadings. It will include: 1) a title page with the title of the essay, student's name, course name, professor's name, and due date; 2) an appendix containing at least one graph clearly showing baseline data and program results (additional graphs, charts, or tables must be relevant and always well- labelled); 3) a reference page with at least the course textbook listing. Steps (see pgs 245-247 of the text for more elaboration): 1) Choose a behaviour. Choose a desirable behaviour that you'd like to increase (e.g., studying) or an undesirable behavior that you'd like decrease (e.g., social media consumption), making sure that this target behaviour is clearly defined, observable, and measurable. 2) Gather baseline data. Observe your natural target behaviour (the one you want to change) for at least five days, keeping track of the following: The antecedents to the behaviour. What happens before triggers - the behaviour that you are trying to change? Are there situations, events or feelings that make your undesirable behaviour more likely to happen? Are there conditions (situations, events, feelings) that encourage the desirable behaviour, that make it more likely to happen? The consequences that follow the target behaviour. What you are getting out of this behaviour? Why are you doing it? Thus, you need to identify the good outcomes that keep you doing the undesirable behaviour, and/or the bad outcomes of your desirable behaviour that discourage you from doing it. The frequency of the target behaviour - how often or how much time do you spend doing it? 3) Plan your program to change your behaviour. First, set a reasonable - attainable - goal for yourself. Plan on using tangible- real!- reinforcements and/or punishments not just willpower to make the change in your behaviour. Consequences are the guts of a successful behaviour modification program! To increase a behaviour, you'll have to choose a reinforcer that's motivating for you and decide how you'll deliver it; you may also want to punish yourself if you DON"T do the desired behaviour. If you're trying to decrease a behaviour, you'll have to use a different strategy: Will you reward yourself for NOT doing the behaviour? Punish yourself if you do? Try to avoid the antecedents of the behaviour? Good plans involve a variety of components 4) Execute your program. Run your program, taking note of your target behaviour for at least five (5) days. 5) Evaluate your program. Reflect on your program and consider its strengths and weaknesses - what went well, what was challenging, and what, in retrospect, you would change if you were to run the program over again?