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ABA 505-Behavior Change Procedures

Assignment 2

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).

 

Please note: Your assignment should be submitted in a  Word Document format  using Times New Roman 12. The assignment must use APA format (See link to APA publication style in the course site resources.)  Please include an appropriate heading on your paper and references to support methods or procedures used.

 

🟥 Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your paper easily!

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Step 1 — Structure Your Paper (5–8 Pages, APA)

Length: 5–8 pages (excluding title and reference pages)
Format: APA 7th edition, Times New Roman 12 pt, double-spaced, 1-inch margins

Suggested Sections:

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1. Title Page (APA format)

Include:

• Title of paper

• Your name

• Course and instructor

• Date

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2. Introduction (½–1 page)

• Introduce the topic: operant learning and behavior change procedures

• Explain the purpose: analyzing procedures, processes, principles, and effective use of reinforcement and punishment

• Optional: mention classroom application for context

Example Intro:

Operant learning provides a framework for understanding how environmental contingencies influence behavior. In applied behavior analysis (ABA), interventions are designed to increase desirable behaviors and decrease undesirable behaviors using consequence-based procedures. This paper provides a detailed analysis of basic operant learning concepts, including reinforcement, punishment, and extinction, as well as characteristics of effective consequences and considerations for treatment selection in classroom settings.

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3. Basic Procedures, Principles, and Processes (2–3 pages)

A. Define the Four Basic Consequences

• Positive Reinforcement: adding a stimulus to increase behavior

• Negative Reinforcement: removing a stimulus to increase behavior

• Positive Punishment: adding a stimulus to decrease behavior

• Negative Punishment: removing a stimulus to decrease behavior

B. Define Extinction Procedure

• Extinction: withholding reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior

• Resulting effect: gradual decrease in the behavior over time

C. Application: Reducing Inappropriate Peer Talking

• Pick 3 of the 5 procedures above (e.g., positive punishment, negative punishment, extinction)

• Explain practical classroom implementation

  • Example:

    • Extinction: teacher ignores inappropriate talking (withholds reinforcement)

    • Positive Punishment: brief verbal reprimand immediately following the talking

    • Negative Punishment: removal of a privilege (loss of free time) contingent on talking

D. Identify Behavioral Process or Principle for Each Intervention

References:

• Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson.

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4. Characteristics of Effective Consequences (1–1.5 pages)

A. Characteristics

• Immediacy/contiguity: consequences should follow behavior immediately

• Contingency: behavior must reliably produce the consequence

• Intensity: punishment should be sufficient to change behavior but not harmful

• Consistency: same consequence for the same behavior increases effectiveness

B. Identifying Effective Consequences

• Preference assessments to determine motivating stimuli

• Observational data or pilot testing to evaluate whether consequences produce desired effects

References:

• Mayer, G. R., Sulzer-Azaroff, B., & Wallace, M. D. (2022). Behavior analysis for lasting change (4th ed.). Sloan Publishing.

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5. Use of Reinforcement versus Punishment Procedures (1–1.5 pages)

A. Potential Side Effects of Punishment

• Emotional side effects: fear, aggression, avoidance

• Suppression rather than learning alternative behavior

• Possible negative impact on relationships

B. Selecting Procedures

• Reinforcement should be prioritized to increase desired behavior before applying punishment

• Punishment can be incorporated safely and ethically when reinforcement alone is insufficient

• Combination: reinforcement for alternative behaviors + mild punishment for inappropriate behaviors

References:

• Cooper et al., 2020

• Mayer et al., 2022

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6. Classroom Application / Case Example (½–1 page)

• Provide a realistic classroom scenario demonstrating your application of the procedures

• Include extinction, positive/negative reinforcement, and/or punishment strategies

• Show how consequences are applied and measured

Example:

A student frequently interrupts during lessons. The teacher ignores the interruption (extinction), praises the student when they raise their hand (positive reinforcement), and briefly removes a preferred classroom activity following repeated interruptions (negative punishment). Over time, the student decreases interrupting and increases appropriate participation.

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7. Conclusion (½ page)

• Summarize key points:

  • Four types of consequences

  • Extinction procedures

  • Characteristics of effective consequences

  • Ethical and effective selection of reinforcement and punishment

• Reinforce importance of function-based interventions in ABA

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Step 2 — Suggested References (APA 7th Edition)

1. Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson.

2. Mayer, G. R., Sulzer-Azaroff, B., & Wallace, M. D. (2022). Behavior analysis for lasting change (4th ed.). Sloan Publishing.

3. Tiger, J. H., Hanley, G. P., & Bruzek, J. (2008). Functional communication training: A review and practical guide. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 1(1), 16–23. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03391806

4. Hanley, G. P., Iwata, B. A., & McCord, B. E. (2003). Functional analysis of problem behavior: A review. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 36(2), 147–185. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.2003.36-147

5. Vollmer, T. R., & Iwata, B. A. (1992). Alternative reinforcement in behavioral treatment: Review and recommendations. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 13(6), 401–415. https://doi.org/10.1016/0891-4222(92)90028-H

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Step 3 — Writing Tips

1. Use headings for each section to improve readability and align with APA style.

2. Include in-text citations whenever describing procedures, principles, or examples.

3. Keep 5–8 pages for the body content; title and reference pages are separate.

4. Use classroom examples to demonstrate applied understanding.

5. Proofread for clarity and APA formatting, including tables if used for procedures/principles.

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