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.