ADDRESSING APPLIED BEHAVIORAL ANALYSIS (EXAMPLE CASE STUDIES OF BOBBY, JACKIE & EMMA)

     Human behavior is something that an Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Specialist or other professional may want to change because certain aspects are considered undesirable within normal society. Changing undesirable behaviors through ABA is also used in several situations that can include individual or group settings. Some examples of where this may apply are within a single home environment, school system, public agency, prison, or rehabilitation center. Therefore, my goal for this paper will be to review 3 individual case studies, by examining different components that are associated with of ABA. These are also as follows: 

• Case 1 involves Bobby and I will discuss Target Behavior, Operant Conditioning, Positive Reinforcement, and Schedules of Reinforcement.
• Case 2 involves Jackie and I will discuss Behavioral Theory and Selected Modification Program.
• Case 3 involves Emma and I will discuss Principles of Operant Conditioning, Application of that Theory, and Extinction.

The reason that different areas of applied behavior analysis will be addressed is also because behavior modification processes and/or techniques are usually determined, based on each individual case.

Case 1: Bobby

     Bobby Kelly’s bedroom is always unorganized and extremely messy. His father would like to create a process which encourages Bobby, to clean his room on a regular basis. In the next two sections, I will identify the target behavior and recommend a modification program which may initiate his father’s desired behavior.

Identify the Target Behavior

According to (Cooper, Heron, Heward, 2007), “a good definition of a target behavior provides an accurate, complete, and concise description of the behavior to be changed (and therefore measured)” (p. 67). After reviewing the above case, the target behavior is that Bobby’s bedroom is always unorganized and extremely messy. This behavior is causing his father emotional stress, so he would like to modify or improve this situation as soon as possible. Therefore, I will design a modification plan using operant conditioning. This process may then offer the positive desired behavior (cleans room frequently) that his father wants.

Definition of Operant Conditioning

According to (Cooper, Heron, Heward, 2007), “operant conditioning refers to the process and selective effects of consequences on behavior” (p. 33). This method works to increase desired behavior by implementing stimulus changes which may initiate a positive and/or desired response. One example is if Bobby started to clean his room because he just got a new game and needed floor space.

Definition of Positive Reinforcement

Most of the time, applied behavioral analysts will use continuous reinforcement during the first stages of behavior modification. Positive reinforcement occurs when a desired response occurs shortly after a specific stimulus is introduced. There can also be certain issues involved when selecting appropriate and effective reinforcements. Two of these might include the motivational level of each participant and ensuring age appropriate reinforcers. One example of an inappropriate reinforcement would be giving a baby rattle to a teenager like Bobby as reward.

Two Possible Schedules of Reinforcement

According to (Cooper, Heron, Heward, 2007), “a schedule of reinforcement is a rule that describes a contingency of reinforcement, those environmental arrangements that determine conditions by which behaviors will produce reinforcement” (p. 305). Two possible schedules of reinforcement along with the case implementation, advantages, and disadvantages are as follows:

1. Fixed Schedule - When using this reinforcement technique, the time requirement will always remain constant and/or the same. This schedule of reinforcement process could be implemented as a way to acquire the desired behavior for the above case (cleans room frequently). I would implement this process by telling Bobby that he will get $5.00 for each night his room is cleaned by 7:00 pm. Two advantages of this process are that it can produce faster rates of desired response and maximize the delivery rate of the selected reinforcement. Two possible disadvantages are that if ratio requirements become too large then the rate of response may decrease and this can also produce postreinforcement pause.

2. Variable Schedule - This requires a varying and undisclosed number of responses before the participant will receive a desired reinforcement. This process could also be implemented as a way to acquire the desired behavior for the above case (cleans room

regularly). I would implement this process by telling Bobby that if he cleaned his room on a regular basis, then “on occasion he would get $20.00 to go to the mall. Two advantages of this process are that it can produce a steady rate of response and does not produce postreinforcement pause. One disadvantage is that it’s rarely implemented with any type of planned or systematic approach.

Case 2: Jackie

     Jackie acquired a fear of dogs after being bit at 3 years of age. The injury also required several stitches. It has been twenty years since this incident but Jackie still remembers every detail of the event. The trauma associated with this incident has caused severe psychological distress to the point that she cannot be around or even see a dog. If this does occur, she suddenly experiences heart palpitations and nausea. Since the initial incident she has spent her life simply avoiding dogs but will soon marry a breeder. Jackie has come to seek assistance for this fear before her marriage takes place in 6 months.

Selected Behavioral Theory

ABA professionals normally use certain principles when attempting to modify socially significant behavior that is causing extreme distress within the client’s life. There are also several theories which may be used in order to determine behavior and what modification program may work best to alter these. One specific theory that could explain why Jackie has carried this lifelong fear of dogs is due to negative reinforcement. Negative reinforcement can be defined as a termination or removal of a certain stimulus which may lead to a specific response. This can occur if one wishes to change what he or she may personally or socially view as undesirable behavior. In this case, Jackie views dogs as the stimulus that will cause a painful undesired response (biting injury).

Selected Behavior Modification Program

According to (Cooper, Heron, Heward), “applied behavioral analysts use continuous reinforcement during the initial stages of learning and for strengthening behavior” (p. 323). One particular modification process which I would use to help Jackie is called classical conditioning.

The principles of this theory are often used to treat people who suffer from fears and/or phobias. I would perform this process by advising Jackie to meet a dog while offering it a steak bone. I would also train the dog to lick Jackie after the steak bone was received. I would then repeat this process at least 3 times a week until the dog became familiar and/or friendly with Jackie. Over time, the dog would teach Jackie that they are not all going to cause her a severe bite injury.

Case 3: Emma

     A 4 year old named Emma refuses to clean her room even if offered a reward or receiving time out. When it is time to clean up, Emma simply shows anger and throws a temper tantrum. These outbursts include screaming, yelling and throwing toys. On several occasions, her parents have picked her up during these outbursts and choose to clean the room themselves.

Identified Principles of Operant Conditioning

The underlying principles of operant conditioning that may be causing Emma's behavior are that her parents pick up her when she is throwing a tantrum and they clean the room themselves. This has taught Emma that if she exhibits this behavior then she will be rewarded with love and won’t have to clean her room because the parents will do it.

Application of Operant Conditioning Theory 

 I could also apply the operant conditioning theory to create a behavior modification program which may change Emma's undesirable behavior. This would involve a process which replaces the parent’s actions of picking her up and cleaning the room by themselves. One example could be to tell her that it is okay and they will pick her up when the room is clean. They could also praise her during every step of the cleaning process while she completes this task on her own. 

Extinction

According to (Cooper, Heron, Heward), “a procedure occurs when reinforcement of a previously reinforced behavior is discontinued; as a result, the frequency of that behavior decreases in the future” (p. 457). In applied behavioral analysis, this is known as extinction. Certain procedures for extinction can also be identified in three distinct forms which are linked to behavior and they are maintained by positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and automatic reinforcement. The concept of extinction could be applied in this case which involves Emma if the parents refuse to pick her up or clean the room.

Conclusion

     After reviewing different procedures which can be used in applied behavioral analysis to address human behavior, it does appear that some of these can be valuable modification techniques. Deciding which procedure to use will also be based on each individual case. Undesirable behaviors which were addressed in the 3 cases that I reviewed were refusal to clean a room on a regular basis, fearing dogs and throwing temper tantrums when asked to clean a room. The behavior modification procedures that I chose to implement for these cases are operant conditioning, and classical conditioning. These chosen procedures would also be used in an effort to improve individual behaviors versus those within a group setting.

Reference:

Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., Heward, W. L. (2007). Applied Behavior Analysis (2^nd ed). New Jersey: The Lehigh Press, Inc.