Reference no: EM133846276 , Length: 6 Pages

Assignment:

Apply operant conditioning strategies to behavior modification.

Operant conditioning is one of the most commonly used behaviorist techniques. Who has not seen a parent give a child a treat after doing a good job? Have you ever noticed how a well-timed frown or raised eyebrow from a parent can stop a child's misbehavior in its tracks? Operant conditioning is not only used by parents, but also within organizations. Employers often give raises with the hope of maintaining good employees. It is also used in the classroom. That gold star or "Good work!" from a teacher is often designed to bolster performance. These are all examples of operant conditioning that are used in the real-world!

Since operant conditioning is so prevalent, it is important to be able to use it well. Therefore, for this assignment, you will write a 4- to 6-page essay that describes how you would apply operant conditioning to a specific case.

Select one of the following behaviors:

• Teaching a puppy to stop biting
• Getting a teenager to clean their room
• Working with a child on the autism spectrum to make eye contact with an adult
• Working with a client to reduce self-injury behavior
• Another behavior of your choosing - check first with your instructor.

In your essay, be sure to do the following:

• Briefly recap and describe the target behavior you wish to shape.
• Break the behavior down into the manageable parts that you will shape (list each part).
• Evaluate a minimum of four specific reinforcers that could be used to shape behaviors; select the most appropriate one.
• Describe at least two factors that you need to consider when selecting a reinforcer and why you selected the reinforcer you chose.
• Using the behavioral parts and the selected reinforcer, describe the process that you will use to shape the target behavior.
• Discuss how you will balance eventually removing tangible reinforcement while preventing extinction during shaping.