SPE526 Concepts and Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis
Name: Chengan Yuan
Applied Learning Exercise
Module #: 2
Instruction: Complete this worksheet by responding to the prompts below in the right-hand column. Submit your worksheet as a
Word attachment in Canvas.
Please remember that professional writing quality (2 pts)is also evaluated based on the following criteria:
● Writing is in professional style– free of grammatical, spelling, or typographical errors
● Correct, consistent use of precise behavior analytic terminology in lieu of colloquialisms, mentalistic concepts, or general
statements regarding specific behavior analytic concepts.
● Use APA-style in-text citations and references. For APA-Style guidance on in-text citation and reference, visit:
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/general_format.html
SPE526 Concepts and Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis
Prompts
Applied Behavioral Issue (5 pts)
Based on the content covered in this module and the module’s
ALE instruction, find an applied behavioral issue:
● An applied behavioral issue can be any behavioral
excess (e.g., happening too much) or deficit (e.g., not
happening enough).
● This issue must be experienced or observed by you.
Provide a thorough description of this behavioral issue which
should include:
● a definition of the behavior, make sure that a statement
as to excess or deficit is made (2 pts)
○ clear description of the behavior that is
happening too much and a decrease is
desirable, or the behavior that is not happening
and an increase is desirable.
● the rationale for selecting the behavior (i.e., why is
this an issue?) (1 pt)
● details regarding all relevant contexts including
antecedent conditions, and/or probable consequence
conditions (1 pt)
● no identifiable information of the involved individuals.
(1 pt)
Applied Learning Exercise
Your response
Behavior definition and issue: When the client’s name is called,
he will turn his head to the person who has called him.
However, as the client currently does not have this skill and an
increase in responding to name is desirable.
Rationale: increase in responding to name can facilitate successful
instruction and acquisition of new skills (e.g., Rosales-Ruiz &
Baer, 1997).
As the behavior is currently absent, no antecedent or consequence
condition can be reported.
However, in the future, it is desirable that the response will occur
upon the antecedent, his name being called.
SPE526 Concepts and Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis
Applied Learning Exercise
Behavior-Analytic Procedure (2 pts)
Based on the content covered in this module and the module’s
ALE instruction, find a behavior-analytic procedure that:
● is aligned with module content
● is selected from the textbooks
● is appropriate to address the behavioral issue
Provide the name of the selected behavior-analytic procedure
with citation.
Positive reinforcement procedure (Mayer, Sulzer-Azaroff, &
Wallace, 2019)
Procedure Description (3 pts)
Based on the textbook, provide a clear and precise
description of the procedure that:
● is replicable (i.e., other people can look at the
description and implement it correctly).
● is in your own words (i.e., paraphrase the description
from the textbooks)
Each time the client’s name is called, if he turns to look at the
person who has just called him, a reinforcer will be immediately
delivered.
Concepts and Principles Alignment (10 pts)
Provide a clear and precise description of the alignment
between the procedure and the behavior principles. The
description should state:
● the behavioral principle(s) that is aligned with the
procedure (2 pts)
● the key attributes of the principle(s) (4 pts)
● how these attributes are aligned with the procedure. (4
pts)
This procedure is based on the principle of positive reinforcement
(Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2007; Mayer et al., 2019).
The positive reinforcement refers to a process where 1) an added
stimulus 2) that follows a response 3) increases the frequency of the
response 4) in the future.
In this case, the delivery of the reinforcer is the added stimulus and
it is a consequence of responding to name, and the purpose is to
increase the response in the future.
SPE526 Concepts and Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis
Applied Learning Exercise
Rationale (3 pts)
Provide a rationale for the procedure, including:
● the predicted effects of the procedure according to the
behavioral principle(s)(1.5 pts)
● why the predicted effects are ideal for the applied
behavioral issue (1.5 pts).
According to the principle, the predicted effect is that the
responding to name should increase in the future. This is an ideal
effect because increase in responding to name is desired as
discussed previously.
Reference(s)
Cooper. J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2007). Applied behavior analysis(2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
Mayer, G. R., Sulzer-Azaroff, B., & Wallace, M. (2018). Behavior analysis for lasting change (4th ed.). Cornwell on Hudson, NY:
Sloan Publishing.
Rosales-Ruiz, J., & Baer, D. M. (1997). Behavioral cusps: A developmental and pragmatic concept for behavior analysis. Journal of
Applied Behavior Analysis, 30, 533-544.