Behavior Describing

Mission Training Presentation on Behavior

Overview

  • The presentation focuses on the following topics related to behavior:
    • Definition of behavior
    • How to describe behavior
    • Difference between behavior and the products of behavior
    • Characteristics of a good behavioral definition
    • Importance of environmental events in describing behavior
    • Key aspects important for measuring behavior

Definition of Behavior

  • Behavior: Anything a person does or says
    • Includes observable actions: running, walking, talking, sitting, standing

Importance of Describing Behavior

  • Purpose of behavioral descriptions:
    • Identifies the target behavior for change
    • Ensures consistent execution of intervention plans
    • Clear definitions help all involved in recognizing and applying behavioral interventions
    • Necessary for accurate measurement of behavior change
    • Record or measure behavior to assess intervention effectiveness

Common Mistakes in Describing Behavior

  • Mistaking products of behavior for behavior itself:

    • Example: Passing an exam is a product of studying; studying is the actual behavior.
    • Example: Losing 20 pounds is a product of exercising; exercise is the behavior.

  • Confusing labels with descriptive behavior:

    • Example: "Meltdown" is a label and lacks specificity for measurement.

  • Making judgments instead of objective descriptions:

    • Judgmental terms (e.g., cranky, bratty) do not provide measurable behavior.
    • Example: If two people record the behavior of a child as "cranky", they may differ without a clear definition.

Characteristics of a Good Behavioral Definition

  • Must be:
    • Explicit: Clearly states the behavior to be changed
    • Objective: Observable; does not rely on personal opinions
    • Clear: Free of confusing words or terms with multiple meanings
    • Complete: Includes what counts as an instance of behavior and what does not
    • Agreement: Allows for consensus among observers about behavior occurrence

Examples of Good Behavioral Definitions

  • Nail Biting: Defined as when Mark's finger is in his mouth and his teeth are closed together on the fingernail, cuticle, or skin around the nail, excluding when he uses his fingers to eat food.

  • Tantrum: Defined as when Julia cries and sobs, lies on the floor, and kicks the floor, walls, or pounds toy objects on the floor, excluding crying that follows an injury.

Importance of Environmental Context

  • The surrounding environment is significant in understanding behavior:
    • Sometimes the behavior itself is not the issue; the context may be problematic.
    • Example: A child repeatedly saying "hi" may not align with appropriate social behavior in certain contexts.
    • Conditions under which behavior should occur must be defined.

Key Aspects in Describing Behavior

  • Frequency: How often a behavior occurs
  • Duration: How long the behavior lasts
  • Intensity: The strength of the behavior
  • Latency: The time that passes before the behavior occurs again

Recap of Key Details in Behavior Description

  • Behavior is defined as anything a person does or says.
  • Importance of clear, observable, and measurable terms in behavioral definitions.
  • Environmental conditions surrounding behavior must be documented for a comprehensive description.