1. Identify an area of personal change that you wish to address. 2. Determine the

1. Identify an area of personal change that you wish to address. 2. Determine the difference between applications of operant conditioning when you are trying to add/increase a behavior, versus when you are trying to eliminate/decrease a behavior. 3. Identify a reasonable rate of behavior change given the time frame for the project. 4. Identify potential reinforcers to be used in the behavior plan. 5. Write a behavior plan accurately describing the behavior when the Dead Man and Stranger Tests are applied. 6. Implement that plan and maintain accurate records. 7. Evaluate the plan and suggest changes to the plan that would make it more effective.

Task In this course, you are learning about the most powerful and successful methods for bringing about behavior change in yourself or others. While it may seem common sense, there is a deep science that dictates how these methods are most successfully applied. For this project, you are going to identify a specific behavior that you would like to add/increase or eliminate/ decrease in your life. For instance, you may want to add/increase your exercise routine or, conversely, you may want to eliminate/reduce your intake of sweets.

The ABC Contingency Theory
Adding or Increasing Works Better
Describing your Behavior
Dead Man Test
Stranger Test
Identifying Reinforcers

Steps in the Process Here are the steps to completing this project: 1. Identify the target behavior, where/when the behavior occurs, and your target goal for that behavior. 2. Record the current rate of this behavior. If it is a new behavior, the current rate would be zero. 3. Identify potential reinforcers that you will withhold in order to use them in your plan. 4. Compose the plan statement that encompasses an identification of where/when the behavior 395 will occur, the actual description of the behavior (passing both the Dead Man and Stranger Tests) and the degree of performance that will bring about the reinforcer, and an identification of the reinforcer. 5. Implement the plan for at least 4 weeks. 6. Track the behavior and the success of the plan (when reinforcers were earned). 7. After the implementation period, evaluate the record that you have and reflect on the relative success or failure of the plan, making suggestions for changes or improvements.
Title Page 10 points Standard title page with name, date, course, college name and the name of the assignment. Target Behavior 10 points This is a statement of the goal that you have in your own words. It does not have to pass the tests yet. Baseline 10 points Provide a statement that reflects the current rate of this behavior. Reinforcers 10 points Identify at least two separate reinforcers that you can use in this plan. Plan Statement 10 points A concise statement of the plan. Dead Man’s Test 10 points The statement passes the Dead Man’s Test. Stranger Test 10 points The statement passes the Stranger Test. Record of Implementation 10 points A table in included that shows the data collected during the implementation period. Evaluation 10 points A statement is made as to if the plan worked or not. Additional statements are made about how the plan could be changed or improved. 396 Mechanics 10 points Spelling, syntax, and organizational structure of the paper. Clear and organized