Behavior Modification and it Application to a Variety of Behaviors Within in an Educational Setting
Abstract
Behavior modification is based on the concepts of observable
antecedents, observable behavior, and consequences. A behavior
modification program consists of a series of stages to achieve a
desired modification of a target behavior. A token economy based
behavior modification program that was applied for a full academic
year in an entire elementary school, spanning from kindergarten
through sixth grade was used as an example to show the application of
behavior modification. Behavior modification has shown to be
effective and efficient in dealing with behavioral problems among
students within an educational setting and has become a valuable asset
to teachers and parents.
Behavior Modification and its Application to a Variety of Behaviors
within an Educational Setting
Behavior modification has long been used to help solve human
behavioral problems within a wide range of settings such as prisons,
homes, mental hospitals, rehabilitation centers, educational
institutions, communities and businesses. According to Weiten (2004),
behavior modification is a systematic approach to changing behavior
through the application of the principles of conditioning. Advocates
of behavior modification assume that behavior is a product of
learning, conditioning, and environmental control. Therefore, they
believe that people can be “reconditioned” to produce more desirable
patterns of behavior. This essay will describe the theory of behavior
modification, the stages of behavior modification methods and examples
of cases where behavi...
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students within an educational setting and has become a valuable asset
to teachers and parents.
References
Milukas, W. (1976). Behavior Modification. New York: Harper & Row.
(Chapter 1 &7)
Sarafino Edward P. (1996) Principles of Behavior Change: Understanding
behavior
modification techniques. New York: John Wiley & Sons, pp. 393-418.
Weiten, W. (2004). Psychology: Themes and Variations (5th ed.).
Pacific Grove, CA:
Brooks/Cole. Chapter 6, pp. 241-259
Bibliography
Kalish, H.I. (1981). From behavioral science to behavior modification.
New York:
McGrawhill. (Chapter 1).
Ross, P.A., & Braden, J.P. (1991). The effects of token reinforcement
versus cognitive
behavior modification on learning-disabled students’ math skills.
Psychology in
the Schools, 28, 247-256.
The Behavioral Assessment System for Children, Second Edition was written by Cecil R. Reynolds and Randy W. Kamphaus. The BASC-2 was published in 2004 by Pearson. The manual is currently priced at $102 and can be purchased online. The BASC-2 is qualified under level B. This means that it may be purchased by an individual with a master’s degree in psychology, education, occupational therapy, social work, or any field closely related to assessment and formal training it the ethical administration, scoring, and interpretation. AN individual who has certification in a professional organization that requires training and experience in the area of assessment. An individual who has a degree or license to practice in the healthcare field. Lastly an individual with formal, supervised training specific to assessing children.
-Behavioral modification techniques: positive reinforcements (verbal praises and chalkboard and a marker to scribble), therapeutic use of self ( active friendliness), and prompting and fading in order to improve compliance, impulse control, frustration tolerance and work behaviors.
For my field experience, I went to Magoffin Middle school and spend time in the Behavioral Intervention classroom (BIC). A behavioral Intervention classroom is a class where mostly Emotionally Disturbed (ED) students attend. Though ED is not the only special need student that could be in the BIC classroom setting. Other classifications could be Autism (AU), Learning disabled (LD), other health impairments (OHI) to include ADD and ADHD. In regards to the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), it is towards the bottom or point of the triangle, meaning it is more restrictive than a general setting classroom would be. The BIC classroom is a last result and not where the school wants to place a student. Let me say what I imagine how the classroom would be before I went to the class was chaos. Due to the time working at the school, I have seen my share of student meltdowns. Many occasions I have seen students outright disrespect authority figures at the school. Passing through the hallway one student was observed outside of the classroom arguing with the campus officer telling him “You’re too fat to catch me!” This was a surprise to me as I continued on my way. Another student in particular, we will call him “Kenny”, had a meltdown in the hallway where he was sitting on the floor hugging his knees and was crying profusely. There were at least three adults including a campus patrol employee, special education teacher and the assistant principal trying to calm Kenny down. Going into this classroom I prepared myself for students being disrespectful and quite possibly violent.
Ever wonder why many individuals are reluctant to changing their behavior? Some see change as a means of restarting their life while others do not know the first step to take. Due to this, psychologist has created a program known as the Behavior Modification Analysis to aid individuals who face these problems. Within this program, persons with behavioral issues will determine their issue and why it needs to be modified. Then this program will form various reasons as to why individuals portray certain behaviors. Next, the target behavior and the assessment of behavior will be examined, measured and observed. Then, a frequency tracking of the behavior will be completed and results recorded. After obtaining the results, realistic goals will be
I have chosen to research the classroom behavior and management theories of Judicious Discipline and Love and Logic: Taking Control of the Classroom,. I will attempt to summarize, in some detail, the authors’ findings and compare and contrast their main points. I will discuss how these two models influence and agree with, or contradict my own behavior management beliefs. Furthermore, I address how these strategies can be used in the classroom and offer my suggestions on the usefulness or uselessness of these theories regarding my own personal philosophy of classroom and behavior management.
In this paper I will be comparing and contrasting three researched based articles regrading positive Behavior Support (PBS). PBS is a method of inhibiting maladaptive behaviors by teaching and reinforcing positive behaviors (Lynnette, Young, & Marchant, 2004). This method is critical in helping students with behavior disorders be able to learn in a classroom environment. A student that have a behavior disorders can posiable be a major distraction in the classroom impeding their education and their classmates’ education. In fact, Research has found the number one concern of many teachers and administrators is aggressive behavior by students in the classroom (Lynnette, Young, & Marchant, 2004). These behaviors have made it difficult
Definition of target behavior- The most important step is define the target behavior. It is the behavior that is being observed. It is important to know because without a clearly defined target behavior, it is difficult to collect the necessary data to have an appropriate intervention to address the behavior is developed and implemented (Shepard & Linn, 2015, p. 212-214). Attempted interventions-
... Sugai, & R. Horner (Eds.), Encyclopedia of behavior modification and cognitive behavior therapy: Volume 1: Adult clinical applications volume 2: Child clinical applications volume 3: Educational applications. (Vol. 2, pp. 874-878). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781412950534.n2065.
The behavior I want to modify is how much I exercise. I currently do little to no exercise; at most I will exercise once a month. I wish to increase how much I exercise. My end goal for this behavior modification is to exercise three times per week (at least one hour each session). I will use the behavior and consequence (reward) principles of operant conditioning in my modification plan. To achieve my end goal I have small goals to achieve each week. Each week that I complete my behavior I will be given a reward. The first few weeks are fairly simple and so the rewards are small. As I complete more weeks the behavior gets harder so the rewards become more substantial. This means that the closer I get to completing my end goal the more I will get rewarded. By rewarding myself as I get closer to my end goal I am incorporating the process of shaping into my behavior modification. I have broken down my
Water makes up 75% of human body. It is the most important ingredient in our bodies. Today many people ignore drinking water and concentrate more into the carbonated drinks. One of the main reasons I would think people drink more carbonated drinks (such as sodas and sport drinks) is because of the way a company hype up their products and use their marketing strategies to influence people into buying them. Many benefits come out of drinking water. First, it quenches one’s thirst much better than any carbonated drinks. Second, it keeps one’s skin clear and healthy looking. In addition, it protects the human body from several diseases. Many people choose drinking sodas and sports drinks than water because water does not have much of a taste and carbonated drinks are flavored and tasteful. I guess I am one of those people who has being caught on to the hype of the soda companies. I do not really drink much water I would say I barely drink two cups a day, but I know the how good water is for my body. So I am modifying my behavior by adding more water to my diet.
The article thoroughly explained how the behavior system worked in their school and gave examples of how the program was implemented and showed improvements. In reading this article, it only provided little information behind the data that was involved in using the program. Overall, the article provided sufficient information has to how the technology can help improve classroom
As teachers, we are often expending more of our energy than is necessary by not taking time to implement a more comprehensive approach toward behavior management. In many cases one will need only a few of these strategies in place to create a positive behavioral support plan.
In light of my School Experience (SE), I will be analysing, discussing and evaluating an aspect of classroom practice. The practice that I have chosen is ‘Behaviour Management’. Behaviour management plays a key role within the classroom and there are a number of techniques used by teachers on a day to day basis. I will look at these techniques in detail, analysing and evaluating them with the work of behaviour management authors and also taking into account my SE observations.
Thinking in a proactive method regards to behavioral management is considerable in the awareness that it decreases the risk of a problem behavior before it begins. Setting the classroom up with required equipment and removing unnecessary substances can avoid children from aiming at items and pitching tantrums for things they cannot want while a lesson is being
Parents and students seldom dispute the disciplinary actions of school authorities up until the late 1960s. Schools are a place considered to provide instruction, instill good value, and inspire the morals of our nation (Arum 60). The courts decided that it was important to give teachers and school administrators’ authority over student behavior. The authority initiated from the English common law concept of in loco parentis which means in place of the parent. This law allowed parents to give school personnel a given amount of control over their children when they place their children in school (Yell 8). This gave administrators and teachers the ability to guide, correct, and discipline in an orderly and effective learning environment while maintaining practical control of students as they do their job teaching. Loco parentis implies that teachers and administrators have a responsibility to see that school order is maintained by requiring students to obey reasonable rules and commands, ensure others rights are respected, and conduct themselves in a safe and orderly manner while at school (Yell 8). Students are supposed to know what behaviors are acceptable or forbidden. They need to be accountable if they refuse to comply with reasonable school rules by behaving in prohibited ways. Holding the students accountable, means the violators will be subject to disciplinary measures or consequences.