Baseline Measurements
decide how to best measure the behavior that you have chosen. For example, how much time, in minutes, do you study per day? How much mountain dew, in ounces, do you drink daily? In your writing assignment, discuss how you think you could measure the behavior. Your professor will let you know if this way would be effective for your project. Once that is approved, you will begin to measure the behavior every day for two weeks WITHOUT making any changes to the behavior. This will provide you with a baseline for your behavior so you know where you are before you change things. You will be measuring your baseline during weeks 3 and 4 of this class.In addition to how you will measure your behavior, discuss at least 5 positive reinforcers that would be effective for you (or your child, if you chose that option) personally. Remember that a positive reinforcer is something that you add in your environment that increases your behaviors after you meet a goal. For instance, you could add things like: candy, watching a movie, visiting with a friend, or walking (assuming you like all these things).Begin taking baseline measurements daily on the behavior that you have chosen to change. Remember you are not making changes this week, but just determining where you are with this behavior. You are taking the control group measurements (baseline). It is difficult to measure yourself without being aware of the need to make changes, but do try to continue on as you have been. We will make changes in two weeks.Discuss at least five negative reinforcers that would be effective for you personally. Remember that a negative reinforcement is something that is positive for you and increases your behavior; this is easy to confuse with punishment. A negative reinforcer is something that you dislike that is removed from your environment when you meet a goal. For example, you could remove things like: washing the dishes, sit-ups to country music, nagging from my spouse (assuming you dislike all these things).
