Treatment program

Choice of research design and explanation:

I have chosen to use the changing criterion design. This is line with my aim to gradually reduce the time that I spend on the computer. Following the data that I have gathered (as seen in the post above), I have decided to set the initial criterion for an allowable amount of time spent on the computer to be 240 minutes. If I successfully meet this criterion for 3 consecutive days, I would then reduce this allowable limit by 15 minutes. The process is repeated until the ultimate goal is reached.

Details of treatment program:

The treatment program will last from 12 Oct to 25 Oct.

Modification of Operant Response

Upon hearing that I am going to implement this program, my friend suggested that I can try playing different game modes (or ways of playing the game) which supposedly is as fun, if not more fun, than the current game mode that I'm playing. He also noted that these new game modes take up less time as compared to the current one.

As such, I hope that with a slight modification to the operant reponse (being from playing a game in the old game mode to playing it in the new game modes), the amount of reinforcement (satisfaction and enjoyment from playing the games) would still remain the same. This would then lead to a decrease in the amount of time that I spend on the computer.

Another change to the operant response would come from a similar move of changing some of the other games that I play to alternative, less time consuming games. The effect of this move is the same as the previous, above-mentioned modification to operant response.

Punishments

I plan to employ 2 sets of punishments. The 1st set of punishment would be dealt by my fellow gaming buddies. If I fail to change the criterion after 3 consecutive days, they would not play with me for the next consecutive 3 days. As about half of the games that I play are team games (and therefore would not be as fun if I were to play it with other people), I believe that this negative punishment would be effective.

The 2nd set of punishment, also based on the failure to change the criterion after 3 consecutive days, would be dealt by me. A failure would mean I have to treat my friends in school for a round of fruit juices on the day after the 3rd consecutive day. I'm quite stingy and hence I believe that I would try my best not to get myself into such a situation. Hence, this positive punishment should also be pretty effective.

Baseline (description)

I have identified the behavior to be measured as the amount of time spent on the computer after 6pm daily. The unit of measure would be in minutes.

The timing was chosen to be from 6pm - sleep time daily as
1) The time spent in school (and consequently the time spent on the computer during the morning and afternoon) differs for different days of the week. To ensure comparability among the data gathered, only the time spent on the computer after 6pm is recorded (6pm being the time after which there are no lessons).

2) There is no initial evidence to suggest that the time spent on the computer from 6pm - sleep time differs between a weekday and a weekend (and hence the behavior is measured on all 7 days of the week).

Procedures for measuring baseline:

1.Open up the excel file "HP320" immediately after logging in to the computer (prior to commencing any other activities eg. logging in to MSN)
2.Record the day and timing of log in
3.Record the timing of log off just immediately before shutting down the computer

Time frame for measurement of initial baseline: 28 Sep - 11 Oct

Commitment to change

A commitment to change is vital to the success of the treatment program. I've taken a 2-prong approach to commit myself to the program.

Firstly, I've told my friends and family members about the program that I will be implementing. Doing so would make me constantly remind myself that my friends and family members will be looking forward to me spending more time on my studies instead of on computer games. I would commit myself to the program so as to not disappoint them.

Secondly, I am committed to the program because I want to improve my grades. My grades have dropped to the next class of honours in the past year and is now on the borderline. I believe that if this treatment program turns out to be successful, it would translate into more time being spent on my studies. Hopefully, this in turn would pull up my grades back to the previous class of honours. This is particularly important as the current global economy takes a downturn and recession is imminent.

I believe that both approaches would be effective in making me commit to the treatment program.

Goals of behavior modification program

Immediate goal:

To reduce the average amount of time spent on the computer daily (from 6pm - sleep time) by 60 minutes.

The problem behavior has lasted for many years. As such, there is a long history of reinforcement (from the enjoyment and satisfaction from playing computer games, chatting with friends and surfing the net). It is then possible that it would be difficult to reduce the frequency of the problem behavior drastically before 29th Oct (the deadline for the report). Consequently, a realistic target of a decrease in daily (from 6pm - sleep time) computer activity by 60 minutes was set.

Ultimate goal:

To reduce the average amount of time spent on the computer daily (from 6pm - sleep time) to 100 minutes, with extensions to this self imposed timing contingent on having completed the necessary tasks for the day.

I plan to continue with the program after 29th Oct and I hope that the ultimate goal of 100 minutes can be reached.

Identification of problem behavior and its causes

Problem behavior:

Since secondary school, I have been constantly logging in to my computer for hours on end, even in periods of time close to examinations and quizzes. Consequently, my grades have suffered as I do not duly complete my tutorials and spend insufficient amounts of time on revision.

Cause of behavior:

I love to play computer games, chat with my friends on MSN and surf the internet. In particular, the computer games are very time consuming eg. for games like DOTA, a real time strategy game, 1 round of the game can stretch beyond the typical duration of an hour to reach 2 hours in length.

Overview

This blog will be covering the following aspects of the HP320 behavior modification program:

1.Identification of problem behavior and its causes
- problem behavior
- cause of behavior
2.Goals of behavior modification program
- immediate goal
- ultimate goal
3.Commitment to change
- choice of method
- initial evaluation of effectiveness of method
4.Baseline
- pre-program baseline
   - identification of behavior to measure
   - unit of measure
   - procedures used in measuring baseline
   - duration of initial baseline measurement
- change in baseline during implementation of treatment program
   - daily report of progress
5.Treatment program
- choice of research design and reasons
- details of treatment program
   - reinforcers and punishments
   - schedule of reinforcement/punishment