psychology

Overview

Instructions

You will submit the 1–3-page Behavior Modification Project: Baseline Phase Report Assignment, which will consist of a description of the following parts with Level One headings, and a graph appropriately labeled (see chapter 3 of your textbook). This writing of the reports for Behavior Modification should be clear, measurable, and concise. Write in complete sentences, but do not use “fluff”.

1. Target Behavior: A clear and measurable behavioral definition of your target behavior (use examples if needed to clarify) should be stated with research support for an operational definition of the behavior. Someone should be able to know exactly what is being observed and measured from this description.

2. Observation Period & Dimensions: Show the dates (and times if relevant) of your baseline phase. Discuss what dimension(s) were used to measure the behavior (Frequency, Intensity, Duration, Latency). Be sure to explain how the dimensions were measured. Clarify the logistics, setting, and process of your experiment’s baseline observation phase (natural or analogue setting, structured or unstructured observation, recording method and instrument, etc.).

3. Results: Discuss the actual results of the data. This section provides the specifics of the data. Include a graph of the data. Normally the date is the x axis and the dimensions is the y axis. The graph should be embedded into the paper in APA formatting.

4. Baseline Observations: Clearly and completely, but concisely, summarize your observations of the target behavior during the baseline phase. Descriptions should be made of triggers (settings/stress/work/conflict) that bring on the target behavior, and stimuli that help it. Consider possible environmental aspects that may contribute to the data. Critically analyze the different data points for potential interpretations.

Note: This assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.

APA Formatted Title Page Comment by Conner, Kevin Wayne (Psychology): Please review the APA manual for formatting for the title page.

Proper Sleep as a Behavior Modification: Baseline Phase Comment by Conner, Kevin Wayne (Psychology): Center and Bold

Target Behavior

The behavior being observed is sleep time. This is defined by being in bed with the light out and with the intention of commencing sleep. Only the time will be recorded of when the intention to sleep starts and when wake time takes place. Quality sleep is defined as the restful sleep time that is not impacted by constant getting out of bed (Sandman et al., 2021). This will be noted, however, the focus is on a consistent sleep and wake time.

Observation Period & Dimensions

This experiment’s unstructured observation was regularly recorded (on a nightly basis) in a natural setting. Measurements were recorded on paper each night, noting the time just before turning off the light and the wake time. Once the observation period was complete, the data was translated into graph showing the duration of sleep each night (figure 1). The observation period during which the sleep schedule was measured daily for seven days occurred from November 12 to November 19, 202.

Results

With a consistent waking time of 7 am, and a goal of at least eight hours of sleep per night, the target time to go to bed is 11 pm. Duration was measured from the time of being in bed with the light out at night, to awakening by alarm at 7 am each morning. Disturbances in sleep were noted. The data indicated that only two days indicated eight hours of sleep. Five days indicated a range of five to seven hours of sleep.

Figure 1 Duration of nightly sleep during baseline phase of behavior modification project. Comment by Conner, Kevin Wayne (Psychology): Label the graph appropriately with APA formatting.

Baseline Observations

With a waking time of 7 am each morning, the bedtimes recorded ranged from 12:30 am to 4 am during the baseline phase. There were no instances of achieving the target of going to bed by 11 pm and consistently getting eight hours of sleep, demonstrating an obvious behavioral (and sleep) deficit. On four of the seven days it was noted that the participant watched preferred shows and social media prior to going to sleep. One day the participant was answering emails prior to trying to sleep. It is possible the screen use prior to sleeping made it difficult to sleep. Two of the days the participant slept later in the day because there was not a need to wake for work. While health is less controllable, before bed habits must be modified to reach sleep targets during the modification phase.

Reference Comment by Conner, Kevin Wayne (Psychology): Provide APA formatted Reference page.

Sandman, R. J., Baker, F. C., & Jackman, G. (2021). Counting sheep: Factors influencing sleep quality. Journal of Sleep and Rest, 19(5), 1-10.

Amount of Sleep During Basline

Hours 44877 44878 44879 44880 44881 44882 44883 6 7 5 5 6 8 9

Date

Hours of Sleep