Self-monitoring
Project Home

Definitions

Recording
Methods

SORCK
Analysis

Classification
of Behaviour

Behavioural
Interventions

Comments on
Previous
Assignments

References

Take a quiz

Definitions for the Self-Monitoring Project

1. Definition of behaviour: usually defined as a tripartite model of (1) motor actions (2) physiological-emotion reactions and (3) cognitive-verbal responses.

2. Overt behaviour: observable behaviour.

3. Covert behaviour: behaviour that is not observable.

4. Operant perspective on the maintenance of behaviours: is based on the assumption that a response (or behaviour) can be modified by regulating its consequences.

5. A narrative record: Firstly, it is a recording of information about when the behaviour occurred, where, with who, and what happened before or after the behaviour. This should be done for about three days BEFORE you do your behavioural analysis to check that the behaviour that you have selected is suitable for the self-monitoring exercise and also to help come up with an operational definition of the behaviour.

Secondly, it is information you have about the behaviour which is used to conduct the functional analysis. It then follows that to do the analysis you need to record information relevant to every section of the SORCK table.

6. Operational definition: the definition of your behaviour that you use as a guide to determine what you are recording in the self-monitoring project and what you are doing the behavioural analysis on. It should be clear and unambiguous in stating what must occur for the behaviour to be considered to be present and also what instances may be questionable.

7. Data: the information that you collect to use in your behavioural analysis.

8. Behavioural classification: the process of defining a behaviour as either a behaviour excess, deficit, inappropriate stimulus control or asset.

9. Positive reinforcement: an increase in the probability of a response due to the presentations of a positive stimulus or in the case of secondary reinforcement, a stimulus associated with positive consequences.

10. Punishment: a decrease in the likelihood of a response due to the presentation of an aversive stimulus, or in the case of negative punishment, the removal of a positive reinforcing stimulus.

11. Extinction: non-reinforcement of a previously reinforced response which produces a decrease in the response.

12. Negative reinforcement: an increase in the probability of a response due to the removal of an aversive stimulus.

Note: terms 9-12 are defined in relation to the effect that they have on behaviour

13. SORCK analysis: an analysis method developed by Kanfer and Saslow (1969) which allows you to classify an individuals behaviour in terms of excesses, deficits, inappropriate stimulus control and assets. The analysis also provides a structure by which you can analyse the pattern of antecedent and consequent events which maintain the problem behaviour. The SORCK analysis is based on the operant perspective on the maintenance of behaviours.

14. Interventions based on behavioural analysis: interventions that are used to help choose the target behaviour(s), selection and refinement of intervention tactics, and evaluate the treatment effectiveness. The interventions are based on the operant perspective on the maintenance of behaviours.