week 4

Discussion

Address
the topics below. Your original response should be at least 350 words and
should reflect the fact that you have completed the assigned readings for the
week. Remember, this is your chance to illustrate not only your understanding,
but also your mastery of the materials for the unit. Use your words wisely so
the posting has substance and includes examples and explanations. Limit the use
of direct quotes, and do your best to critically synthesize and evaluate the
literature in your own words wherever possible. Make sure to include in-text
citations and a reference list as appropriate.

(512) Discussion
topic 1 of 2

This
week you are reading about variations on the basic ABA withdrawal design, namely the
ABAB, ABABAB, BAB, ABC, and ABAC. Select one of these variations, and describe
the research questions, hypotheses, and conditions of a hypothetical study in
which this alternative design would be appropriate to use. Support your
selection by providing a strong rationale as to why this approach should work
in your study, and how it is an improvement over the basic ABA withdrawal
design.

(512) Discussion
topic 2 of 2

Select
one of the withdrawal designs that you are reading about this week (not the same one
you wrote about in a first discussion topic this week), and construct a research
study that attempts to change a subject’s behavior using this single subject
design. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the method that you
selected. How is your chosen method superior to the other withdrawal designs?
In your answer, be sure to include specific threats to the internal validity of
your study and to address ethical and sociocultural issues associated with this
research design as they relate to your particular subject.

(517) Discussion topic 1 of
2:

Operant
and respondent conditioning are both used to modify behaviors. Compare and
contrast operant conditioning and respondent conditioning. Be sure to identify
why each work with some behaviors and not with others. Select two behaviors,
one that could be modified through operant conditioning and one that could be
modified through respondent conditioning. Thoroughly discuss why each behavior
chosen is more appropriate for its selected intervention (i.e., a respondent or
operant) and why the alternative intervention would not be appropriate.

(517) Discussion topic 2 of
2:

Describe
the types of behaviors that are most likely to be modified through the use of
operant conditioning. Choose a real-life behavior and identify an effective way
to modify this behavior through the use of operant conditioning (specifically
discuss how to change the behavior through the use of reinforcement or
punishment). Be sure to thoroughly analyze and discuss an example that is not
previously described in the readings or the first Discussion topic.