Behavior Modification Project Baseline Phase

BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION PROJECT:BASELINE PHASE REPORT ASSIGNMENT

INSTRUCTIONS
OVERVIEW
To assess your baseline as you begin the experiment, you need to observe your target behavior
before you ever treat it or try to modify it – in other words do not change anything you do. Thus,
you will conduct a functional analysis of your target behavior as it naturally occurs. The baseline
observation of your target behavior should be done for at least one week.
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.