Posted by: captpeterpan | August 22, 2008

Behavior Change Principles

These are the principles of behavior change process according to Walker and Shea (1999):

1. Reinforcement is dependent on the exhibition of the target behavior.

2. The target behavior is to be reinforced immediately after it is exhibited.

3. During the initial stages of the behavior change process, the target behavior is reinforced each time it is exhibited.

4. When the target behavior reaches a satisfactory level, it is reinforced intermittently.

5. If tangible reinforcers are applied, social reinforcers are always applied with them.

Walker, James E. and Shea, Thomas M. (1999). Behavior management: A practical approach for educators. New Jersey: Merrill.

Challenge my thoughts: Post a question if there is a principle that needs to get clarified, or you want my thoughts to help you further analyze a given principle. Your question must be thought-provoking enough to merit a response.


Responses

  1. sir, the principles in behavior change process in your web are well stated and thank you because i understand them.. now, i just want to ask, because i want to know.. “are those principles in behavior change process are being experienced or acknowledge here in Philippines?
    thank u sir..

  2. Don N. Maluntag
    Sped-3A

    My thoughts about this topic: The following principles stated above are actually the set of rules in the behavior change process. It was noted earlier that a successful behavior modifier relies heavily on these principles when planning, designing and implementing a behavior change process.

    Well, these principles were indeed discussed clearly by citing and providing sample cases wherein we find it easy how these principles are being applied.

  3. sir, the principles in behavior change process in your web are well stated and thank you because i understand them.. now, i just want to ask, because i want to know.. “are those principles in behavior change process are being experienced or acknowledge here in Philippines?
    thank u sir..

  4. Sir the last 2 principles are still not totally clear for me..
    like the process of reinforcing intermittently, and also what do you mean about social reinforcers how do i apply it.

    Sir it doesn’t mean that i didn’t listen to the discussion but sincerely it’s still unclear for me. hope to hear you response…

  5. In my point of view, the following principles are necessary so as to have a successful behavior change process. I can say that these principles are well explained and very much clear to me.

  6. Do tangible reinforcers and social reinforcers always go hand in hand following the same schedule of reinforcements?

  7. JuVy S. PiNedA
    BEED/SPED III-A
    What must be given first…the social reinforcers or the tangible one?IN what situation we must apply first the tangible reinforcers and vice-versa.

  8. the principles of change behavior are all clear and i thin is really effective but there is something really made me confuse the principle no.4 can you elaborate moare about it? or some example.

  9. I agree with the statement but cite some examples of each statement that was given.

  10. Shianey, I am glad that you understood the lesson quite well and there isn’t any principle that you want clarified. Indeed, all principles are applied in any behavior change plans or intervention programs in the US or in the Philippines, anywhere else. When you graduate and become a SPED teacher, help teachers design programs following the said principles.

    Don, thank you. Please help Jeffrey understand this lesson as he still needs some clarification.

    Jeffrey, intermittently reinforcing the target behavior refers to shifting to a reinforcement schedule that is not continuous, one that is very less frequent. A fixed ratio or fixed interval schedule may be used before you shift to a variable ratio or variable interval schedule. Tangible reinforcers should be attenuated over time. Do you know why it is important to shift to an intermittent reinforcement schedule? Reply to this question before I give you your reward.

    Janine… thanks!

    Janine Paula and Juvy, your question is interesting. Ideally they have to be paired, but it is not a prescription that we always have to pair them. Tangible and social reinforcers are paired because we want to intrinsically reward the child. Phasing out reinforcers principles tell us that as they go hand in hand, they may initially have the same schedule during the initial stage, later tangible reinforcers are on a fixed schedule while social reinforcers are on a variable schedule.

    jennifer, I already cited examples in our class discussion. What specific principle should be clarified?

  11. Sir, now i know that the principles you posted here are very important in managing a child. All of this principle will always be present in times of observing and having an intervention plan for our subject (case) . And also in making a case study these principles should be followed because these are the key for a good intervention and for identifying and using a better reinforcers. Thank you sir for these discussion.

  12. sir as a sped teacher what would be the best positive reinforcement that we could give for our special students fallowing the Behaviour Change Process Principles?

  13. i understand them well now sir. i just want to ask question sir. are those principles are suitable in the philippine settings or in other country only?

    thank you sir.

  14. Sir,

    Out of all the principles, how would you know when the social reinforcer is at a satisfactory level? Would that be based on the baseline data? But, the other principles I understand them plus, it would be nice to have some examples.

  15. You did everything you could just so the behavior of the child would be modified but what if the he/she doesn’t want to participate or get involved in the process of laying out your reinforcement?

  16. Sir, honestly as a second year student taking SPED, it is my first time to encounter such a difficult lesson in behavior management. From my opinion at first these principles are hard to understand but when you cited some examples it provided me a concept on how they are being applied in the actual situation. i appreciated your efforts of explaining the lesson but im a little confused about the third, fourth, and the last one. And i think i need a little help in understanding more of those reinforcement schedules.thank you sir

  17. sir,

    if you were to revise the content of these principles what would you want to change…?

    Do you think that these principles can cater all… as in ALL externalizing and internalizing behaviors???

  18. sir,

    why does the social must be always?why not the tangible? if i use tangible always.is there any task that can cause problem?
    thank you sir


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