Assignment Name(s):

1. Shaping:

Working with a family member, roommate, or friend, use shaping to get them to do these two behaviours. The listed behaviours are the "target behaviours,"...you have to decide which approximation of the behaviour you are going to start reinforcing, then apply extinction to see if the extinction burst brings out a behaviour that is even closer to the target behaviour.

Document what happened for each attempt, including behaviours reinforced, the reactions of the other person, whether or not they were successful and how long the process took. In order to shape them, you can use the word "yes" if they are doing the approximation you want, or silence - no additional prompts! It's harder than it would seem.

Instructions to your friend:

I'm going to try to get you to do a certain behaviour, but can't tell you what it is. If you are doing something that is close to what I'm looking for, I'll say yes. If you aren't close, I will be silent. All I ask is that you do a variety of movements with your body so I can find a place to start reinforcing you.

Behaviour

1: placing right hand on forehead Behaviour 2: standing on a chair

2. Print out a T-puzzle, cut it using the guidelines into 4 pieces, and go out and find one person to try it . You can give the person the following instructions: Use these four pieces to make a capital letter "T". Make detailed observations about the following:

a. Describe the first strategy they tried...describe it in as much detail as possible.

b. How many times did they try that strategy, or another strategy, within the first minute of trying to solve the puzzle?

c. Did the person exhibit any frustration, anger, etc. while solving the puzzle? How can that emotionality be explained in behavioural terms?

d. Was the person able to solve it? How much time did it take them?

e. Did they do a lot of puzzles in their childhood? Adulthood?

f. Describe the entire event in terms of variation, selection and retention, defining the prepotent response.

Assignment 1. Antecedent Control Procedure / Self Management

Okay, all of you self-identified procrastinators....here's your CHANCE!!!

It's the perfect procedure to analyze why you wait until the last minute to do your assignments instead of just working on it before the due date. Wait...where are you going? You're going to do it LATER?!? Have I taught you NOTHING?!? Sigh.

a. Briefly describe a behaviour that you would like to be doing more of, but another behaviour is currently competing or occurring instead.

b. Apply Antecedent Control Procedure to those behaviours. In your answer:

I. identify the desirable and undesirable behaviours (define in specific terms)

II. identify current reinforcers maintaining each of these behaviours (also identify whether these reinforcers are potent and/or immediate/delayed

III. identify current antecedents for each

IV. show how you would present/remove antecedents, increase/decrease establishing operations and increase/decrease response effort for your desirable or undesirable behaviours.