Define the behavior operationally.

Learning Goal: I’m working on a psychology writing question and need an explanation and answer to help me learn.

In this week, you are learning the concept of operant extinction and how it is applied to change behavior. Make sure you complete the Operant Extinction interactive activity in this week, which will provide you with some valuable experience you can apply to this assignment.

Operant extinction procedures are frequently used effectively in ABA treatment plans. However, as you observed in the interactive media presentation you completed, they can also be incorrectly implemented. This improper implementation can result in unknowingly reinforcing the very behavior we want to decrease. As a future ABA professional, it is important for you to learn how to correctly identify maintaining antecedents and consequences that reinforce unwanted behavior, and to correctly apply extinction techniques that effectively reduce the target behavior.

In order to successfully complete this assignment, you will first identify a behavior frequently exhibited by yourself or by someone close to you, to which you would like to apply an extinction procedure.

• Define the behavior operationally.
• Describe the antecedent to the behavior.
• Describe the consequences of the behavior.
• Describe positive and negative reinforcement contingencies that occur as a result of engaging in the behavior. (Hint: Think about what is maintaining your identified behavior and what you will be withholding when you implement the extinction procedure.)
• Identify procedures that can end up reinforcing the unwanted target behavior, and explain the potential results of improperly implementing these procedures that were meant to help extinguish the unwanted target behavior.
• Identify the extinction techniques that you feel will most effectively reduce the target behavior, and explain why you feel these will be most effective. (Hint: Think back to your identified positive and negative reinforcements to help you identify what you should be withholding to change the behavior through an extinction procedure.)

ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS

• Written communication: Should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.
• APA formatting: References and citations are formatted according to current APA style guidelines. Visit Evidence and APA for help with APA.
• Resources: At least two scholarly or professional sources.
• Length: 4–5 pages, in addition to a title page and reference page.
• Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
  

  CRITERIA	NON-PERFORMANCE	BASIC	PROFICIENT	DISTINGUISHED
  Define the maintaining antecedents, the targeted behavior to be extinguished, and the consequences that reinforce the behavior. 20%	Does not define the maintaining antecedents, the targeted behavior to be extinguished, and the consequences that reinforce the behavior.	Attempts, but does not successfully define some or all of the maintaining antecedents, the targeted behavior to be extinguished, or the consequences that reinforce the behavior.	Defines the maintaining antecedents, the targeted behavior to be extinguished, and the consequences that reinforce the behavior.	Provides clear, detailed, and correct definitions of all of the maintaining antecedents, the targeted behavior to be extinguished, and the consequences that reinforce the behavior.
  Identify procedures that could potentially reinforce the unwanted target behavior. 20%	Does not identify procedures that could potentially reinforce the unwanted target behavior.	Identifies a procedure that could potentially reinforce the unwanted target behavior.	Identifies procedures that could potentially reinforce the unwanted target behavior.	Identifies and explains a thorough list of procedures that could potentially reinforce the unwanted target behavior.
  Distinguish positive and negative reinforcements that occur as the result of engaging in the target behavior. 20%	Does not describe positive and negative reinforcements that occur as the result of engaging in the target behavior.	Identifies rather than describes an incomplete list of positive and negative reinforcements that occur as the result of engaging in the target behavior.	Describes positive and negative reinforcements that occur as the result of engaging in the target behavior.	Provides a comprehensive list of positive and negative reinforcements, each of which is accompanied by a clear and detailed description, that occur as the result of engaging in the target behavior.
  Determine the extinction techniques that will most effectively reduce the target behavior. 20%	Does not determine the extinction techniques that will most effectively reduce the target behavior.	Describes extinction techniques, but the techniques as described will not effectively reduce the targeted behavior.	Determines the extinction techniques that will most effectively reduce the target behavior.	Determines the extinction techniques that will most effectively reduce the target behavior, accompanied by a well supported rationale for selecting these techniques.
  Write coherently to support a central idea, with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a psychology professional. 10%	Writing does not support a central idea. Does not use correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a psychology professional.	Writes to support an idea but is inconsistent, with numerous errors of grammar, usage, and mechanics.	Writes coherently to support a central idea, with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics as expected of a psychology professional.	Writes coherently, using evidence to support a central idea, with correct grammar, usage, and mechanics, as expected of a psychology professional.
  Successfully implement APA style. 10%	Does not apply proper APA formatting and style.	Written communication is adequate, but has some APA errors and inconsistencies.	Successfully implements APA style with only minor errors in format.	Applies scholarly writing skills, with proper APA formatting and style in the body of the paper and the references list.