For this assignment, you will write a paper that presents a detailed analysis of the basic concepts of operant learning.
Please include these topics in your paper:
1. Basic Procedures, Principles, and Processes
a. Define the 4 basic types of consequences that can be used in consequence-based interventions and the effect of each.
b. Define an extinction procedure and the resulting effect.
c. Pick 3 of the 5 procedures discussed in your answers to a and b, and explain how you could use them to reduce the frequency of talking to a peer (inappropriately) while the teacher is talking.
d. Now identify which behavioral process or principle is associated with each of the following procedures: shaping procedures, overcorrection procedures, coercive interactions, bonuses/commission, timeout procedures, response redirection, response cost procedures, and planned ignoring.
In other words, for each of the 8 intervention procedures listed in item d, state which behavioral process or principle it is associated with and how you know. (Hint: Your answers will always be one of the five terms you have already discussed in items a and b above.)
(Additional information to note: The related terminology of behavioral procedures, principles, and processes can understandably be very confusing. Remember that behavioral procedures describe the environmental manipulations that are made in order to demonstrate the related behavioral processes. The behavioral processes occur because of the functional relationships between the environmental manipulations and the behavior, which are referred to as the behavioral principles involved.
For example, As a behavior change procedure, extinction provides zero probability of reinforcement. As a behavioral process, extinction refers to the diminishing rate of a previously reinforced behavior when that behavior no longer produces reinforcement. As a principle, extinction refers to the functional relation between withholding reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior and the resultant diminishing rate of response, (Cooper et al., 2020, p.594).)
2. Characteristics of Effective Consequences
a. Describe several characteristics that make consequences more or less effective. Be sure to include recommendations regarding their immediacy/contiguity, contingency, and intensity (with respect to punishing stimuli).
b. Describe at least two ways to identify effective consequences for an individual. (Refer to chapter 11 in Cooper et al. (2020) and chapter 6 in Mayer et al. (2022).)
3. Use of Reinforcement versus Punishment Procedures
a. Describe some potential side effects of using punishing stimuli and punishment procedures.
b. Explain how reinforcement and punishment procedures should be selected.
- Which should be prioritized and why?
- Could/should they both be incorporated into a treatment package and how?
Your paper should be 5-8 pages in length and written in APA style. It should include at least 5 peer reviewed references. These can be books or articles where you got your information to help answer the questions, or peer-reviewed journal articles that provide examples of interventions or procedures you discussed in your paper (e.g., an article that used extinction to reduce a problem behavior).