Behavior
Modificati
on:
Procrastina
tion1
Behavior Modification: Treatment Phase
Amber Ramos
Psyc 320
Behavior
Modificati
on:
Procrastina
tion2
Target Behavior
Our project will focus on how to stop procrastinating and how to avoid it. Observations at home
and work were used to determine procrastination in this study.
Treatment Method
The best treatment method is to keep reminding the patient what needs to be done and
when. Commit to the work and take small steps at a time, changing their behavior, making sure
the work needs to be done, and breaking down barriers. By doing one small thing at a time, I
have been able to change my behavior, i.e., reminding myself what to do and acting whenever.
Experiment Narrative
The target tracked what needed to be done and how long it took to accomplish them. It
begins at nine o'clock in the morning and lasts until six o'clock at night. Dates and times are
shown on the record. The treatment method used was one. The treatment took place between
November 17th and November 24th. As part of the treatment, the target was taught how to
mentally decide what to do first and what to do at a time to become a non-procrastinator. The
target can also complete other tasks one at a time this way.
Dimension
Throughout the experiment, only the frequency of procrastination was observed and
recorded. For example, notes were taken each day from the moment the target got up in the
morning until they returned home at night.
Summary
Before starting their day, the target wrote down everything they needed to accomplish.
They would note their tasks and the deadline for completing them in their daily agendas. Writing
Behavior
Modificati
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Procrastina
tion3
down the tasks for the day started on the first day of treatment. However, he struggled to stick to
it. Procrastination made it easier to follow the treatment plan of doing one thing at a time once it
was done. As a result, no tasks were accomplished during the day.
As the target moved forward with the treatment plan on day two, they decided one thing
at a time would be done. They completed one task by the end of the day since they were still
distracted. Although they were proud of themselves for completing one task on time, they were
still pleased with their performance. Three through seven were tough days for the target, but one
or more tasks were completed every day.
Behavior
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Procrastina
tion4
References:
Ferrari, J. R., & Emmons, R. A. (1995). Methods of procrastination and their relation to
self-control and self-reinforcement: An exploratory study. Journal of Social Behavior and
Personality, 10(1), 135. Retrieved from http://ezproxy.liberty.edu/login?url=https://search-
proquest com.ezproxy.liberty.edu/docview/1292265804?accountid=12085
Grunschel, C., Patrzek, J., & Fries, S. (2013). Exploring reasons and consequences of
academic procrastination: An interview study. European Journal of Psychology of Education,
28(3), 841-861. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/23581525
Miltenberger, R. G. (2015). Behavior modification: Principles and procedures (5th
ed.).Stamford, CT: Cengage.
