Behavior Change Assignment (takes at least four weeks!) The goal of this assignm

Behavior Change Assignment
(takes at least four weeks!)
The goal of this assignment is to apply some of the behavior change principles we’re learning about in your life outside of the classroom. We all wish we did certain behaviors more or less often. For this assignment, choose a behavior that you would like to increase or decrease (sleep more, use phone less, exercise more, eat sugar less, meditate more, etc.). Begin monitoring how often you engage in this behavior (your baseline can be zero), and continue to monitor your engagement in this behavior throughout the course of the assignment (Week 1 Baseline, Week 2,3,4,5 measure progress). Use the techniques discussed in class and/or your own research and ideas to attempt to modify your behavior accordingly. You will then write and submit a brief paper about this experience. The paper will be at least 3 pages double-spaced, including a graph on the last page. You will submit the paper via Blackboard (if you hand draw the graph, you must take a picture and upload it into the Word document you submit). Late assignments will receive a 10% penalty per day late.
1. Choose a target behavior.
2. Use a SMART goals framework to set a behavioral change goal for yourself.
3. Monitor your behavior for the next several weeks (at least 4 weeks).
4. Identify your baseline amount of engagement in that behavior WITHOUT INTERVENTION (5-7 days).
5. Employ strategies (more than one!) to change this behavior.
– do not employ methods entirely concurrently or you will not be able
to identify which may have worked
6. Evaluate the success of these methods.
7. Provide at least a 3-page write-up (the third page is a graph) of your experience including:
– the target behavior and why you want to increase/decrease it
– how you measured the behavior
– what strategies you tried
– the outcome of these strategies
– what else you would try if you were to continue
– the third page should be a graph of the frequency of the behavior
Behavior Change Assignment Rubric
Component
Explanation
Points (Total:100)
Behavior
Clearly identify a target behavior AND direction (i.e., increase or decrease) you wish to change.
5
SMART goal
Iterate a SMART goal and explain how your goal is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.
10
Baseline
Clearly state your behavior baseline (supported by the frequency graph).
5
Change strategies
Explain at least two strategies (what, how) you used to attempt to change your behavior.
25
Success/Unsuccess
Explain how each method you tried was successful or unsuccessful (or partially successful).
25
Frequency Graph
Include a frequency graph of your behavior over the course of the assignment.
10
Future
Discuss what other methods you would use to attempt to change this behavior if the assignment were to continue for six months.
20
**Partial credit may be given for each component. If you have any questions about the assignment, please email the Instructor.**