PSY340 Assignment M3A1: Operant Conditioning Activity Behavior Modification

Operant Conditioning Activity: Behavior Modification
Name
Institution
Date
Modifying Children’s Behavior Using Operant Conditioning Techniques
Behavior modification is a technique used to either increase or decreases a specific behavior or reaction. Behavior modification concept works on the principle of conditioning. Conditioning involves a process of altering unwanted behavior by adopting new behavior using stimulus (Skinner, 2014). Behavior modification techniques are applicable in different settings especially when teachings teach new behavior or in healthcare setting when promoting healthy behavior. Behavior modification is commonly applied when training animals to develop as sense of obedience towards the owner (Skinner, 2014).The paper presents a report on a hypothetical experiment on behavioral modification process.
Experiment Background
Operant conditioning is based on voluntary behavior; operand conditioning means changing the behavior using reinforcements. When an individual display the desirable behavior, he is rewarded only after achieving the desired response (Martin & Pear, 2015). Operant conditioning is a way of learning using rewards and punishment. This type of technique works based on the fact that behavior generates certain and consequences, which are either rewarded or punished to produce desirable, results (Martin & Pear, 2015).
Experiment Procedures
The experiment involves identifying five parents who complain about their children failing to complete assigned tasks in school or while at home. Select few parents who are willing to participate in the experiment. Discuss the procedure with the parents willing to participate in the experiment. Explain to the parent how the technique is to be employed because they are the ones who will be conducting the experiment at home with their children. The first step is to develop specific rules that both the parent and the child would agree upon. In this case, the child needs to be given specific target each day, for example, the child needs to ensure that he completes his homework and explain to the parent anything new he learned in school. He needs to accomplish these tasks every day, and parent should document each achievement every day in a chart. The chart should be pinned where both parents and the children involved in the experiment can review it by the end of each week.
At the end of each week, the child will be rewarded by either being given extra time to watch television or any other desirable reward the parent might want to give. If the child does not a complete the tasks, he will be denied certain privileges like playing with friends or attending a football game. Parents should document each task the child complete every week and reward or punish the child if the task is not completed.
After one month the parent needs to review the chart to analyze how many tasks the child...