Psychology 473: Behavior Modification
11:00 MWF; 104 Old Main
Rita M. Curl-Langager, Ph.D.
Professor
Minot State University
500 University Avenue West
Minot, North Dakota 58707
Rita.Curl-Langager@minotstateu.edu
12:00-1:00 MWF
and by appointment
230H Memorial Hall
701-858-3585
Text: Martin, G., & Pear, J. (2007). Behavior modification: What it is and how to do it (8th
ed.). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
How Behavior Modification is Used: Collect popular press articles, professional articles,
brochures, or book references that (1) describe programs using behavioral approaches or
(2) explain how to use behavioral approaches to achieve a specific outcome. Please turn
in project materials in a large envelope or folder.
50 points
Observation: Please pair up with another person from class to do this assignment. Observe adult
or child behavior at home by watching friends, family members, or television characters.
Read Chapter 21 before you begin. First, design and implement an observation system.
Define the behaviors you will observe and design an observation code; identify about
four behaviors and define them operationally. Second, establish interobserver reliability
with your partner as explained in Chapter 21 for each behavior and observe the defined
behavior across five observation periods. Finally, write a summary of your observation
following the format in Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association
(5th ed.). Write a four-page observation summary and include a graph that summarizes
the collected data.
75 points
Self-Control Project: For this project, you must choose one of your own behaviors that you
would like to change and design a program to accomplish your goal! Begin by defining
the behavior and collecting data about yourself for at least two weeks before you make
any changes in your routine. Decide on an intervention approach and implement the selfcontrol program you design. If the first intervention doesn't work, that is, your behavior
does not change, you must modify and continue the program to achieve the stated goal
for your personal outcome. I will provide complete details for this project in class and on
a separate handout.
100 points
Homework: Do study questions, (practice exercises and self-modification exercises for those
who really want to apply the information) for each chapter in a spiral notebook. You will
be responsible for completing questions for the chapter before we discuss the chapter in
class. You may ask questions in class about any material that was unclear and expand on
your written answers as we discuss them. Do not plan to complete the questions in
their entirety during class. Notebooks will be collected five times (randomly)
throughout the semester and at the end of the semester.
@ 15 points
Participation: You will be expected to participate in class throughout the semester. Please be
prepared to ask questions (especially if there are questions you were unable to answer),
summarize information from the textbook, present ideas that are logical extensions of the
material, and provide examples from you own experiences or observations of others.
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Psychology 473
Fall 2009
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Write out the question before you arrive to class. I will ask you to turn these in
periodically as part of the participation score.
50 points
Quizzes: Four quizzes will be given on dates specified in the timeline.
Tests: Four tests will be given on dates specified in the timeline.
@ 25 points
@ 100 points
Timeline:
8/26 Introduction and Overview
8/28 Chapter 1 – Introduction
8/31 Chapter 2 – Areas of Application: An Overview
9/ 2 Chapter 3 – Positive Reinforcement
"How B-Mod is Used" Project Due
9/ 4 Chapter 3, continued
9/ 7 Labor Day
9/ 9 Review and Quiz 1—Chapters 1-3
9/11 Chapter 4 – Conditioned Reinforcement
9/14 Chapter 21 – What to Record and How
9/16 Chapter 5 – Extinction
9/18 Chapter 6 – Intermittent Reinforcement
Discussion of Observation Project
Behavior Definitions Due
9/21 Chapter 6, continued
9/23 Review Chapters 1-6, 21
9/25 Test 1—Chapters 1-6, 21
9/28 Chapter 7 – Reinforcement to Decrease Behavior
9/30 Chapter 7, continued
10/ 2 Chapter 8 – Stimulus Discrimination and Stimulus
Generalization
Observation Paper Due
10/ 5 Chapter 8, continued
10/ 7 Chapter 9 – Fading
10/ 9 Review and Quiz 2—Chapters 7-9
10/12 Chapter 10 – Shaping
10/14 Assessment Day
10/16 Chapter 11 – Behavioral Chaining
10/19 Chapter 11, continued
10/21 Chapter 12 – Punishment; Review Chapters 7-12
10/23 Test 2—Chapters 7-12
10/26 Chapter 26 – Self-control
Discussion of Self-control Project
10/28 Chapter 13 – Escape and Avoidance Conditioning
10/30 Chapter 14 – Respondent Conditioning
Psychology 473
Fall 2009
3
11/ 2 Chapter 15 – Respondent and Operant Conditioning
11/ 4 Chapter 15, continued
11/ 6 Review and Quiz 3—Chapters 13-15, 26
11/ 9 Chapter 16 – Generality of Behavior Change
11/11 Veteran’s Day
11/13 Chapter 17 – Rules and Goals
11/16 Chapter 18 – Modeling, Guidance, and Situational Inducement
Review Chapters 13-18
11/18 Test 3—Chapters 13-18, 26
11/20 Chapter 19 – Motivation
11/23 Chapter 20 – Behavioral Assessment: Initial Considerations
11/25 Self-control Project Due / Oral Presentations
11/27 Thanksgiving Holiday
11/30 Chapter 21 – Direct Behavioral Assessment: What to Record and How
12/ 2 Review and Quiz 4—Chapters 19-21
12/ 4 Chapter 22 – Functional Assessment
12/ 7 Chapter 27 – Cognitive Behavior Modification
12/ 9 Chapter 30 – Ethical Issues
12/11 Review
12/14 Final Exam—Monday, 10:00 – 11:50 a.m.—Comprehensive Final
Possible Points:
Tests Quizzes B-Mod Used Observation Self-control Homework Class
Participation -
400
100
50
75
100
75
Total Points
850
Grades:
50
A 90% or above (100% = Top Scores for each graded item)
B 80 - 89%
C 70 - 79%
D 60 - 69%
F 59% or lower