A target behavior is a behavior that has been chosen for change, and a behavior that has to be positive by changing person's life in a significant way. The target behavior is aimed at focusing on what a person wants to be doing as opposed to what he/she does not want to be doing anymore.
Prior to when “a behavior can be analyzed, it should first be defined in a clear, concise, and objective manner” (Practical training solutions, 2014). The behaviors must be determined so that it can be measured and observed. When the function of the behavior is defined, appropriate intervention is about to start. Developing a behavioral tactics means choosing certain behaviors, describing them, using descriptions for formulating current situation, predictions, and planning intervention.
Behavioral assessment is the possibility to find out the function that certain behavior means to the person and to his daily life. The assessment itself includes different methods to define targets for a change: direct and indirect, and shows factors that influence intervention.
There are several steps of Behavioral assessment: inspection, assessment and overall disposition; identify problems and criteria for wanted achievement; troubleshooting target behavior to be changed; tracking the progress; to be watching after.
Antecedent – information about what happened before;
Behavior – information about current behavior;
Consequence - information about what happened after.
ABA is a discipline which relies on veracious evaluation of the behavior under review. Without gauging the behavior and assessing the data, behavior analysts neither is going to be full, nor work, as we constantly need to follow up the progress. ABC has useful features: it is descriptive, consistence, filled with attention and observations, oversight is daily repeated, different techniques are used.
In a Behavior Analysis data is a very important component and all the decisions depend on the information we receive: the data helps us understand if the goal is reached, whether we are to add new targets or change technics. Data must be useful, actual, valid, accurate, and reliable. The person is to learn what tendencies occur during the change, how often and their duration. To gain any kind of information, we are to obtain and take baseline measures - standards against which all changes will be measured. Baseline data is information needed before interference begins, “this will show you where to start and let you know if your intervention has actually been helpful” (Long, 2012). Though the phase of collecting baseline data is very important, it is often skipped. With the help of information it is possible to compare prior behavior to the one after the implementing the strategy, to decide whether the change is useful and efforts are working, or if there are any problems. To create an effective program a person need to have an idea of the problem and of the possible result. Baseline data also helps understanding if the time is good for an intervention, or should it be postponed, sometime it make you realize if the change is necessary at all. Baseline measurement refers to any problem.
Behavior intervention plan is a plan created to reward positive behavior and is based on the results of a functional behavioral assessment. The plan depicts problem behavior, its reasons, future strategies and positive behavioral supports: when a person lacks skills, which are needed to take care of a certain situation, BIP helps find ways while problem-solving. To launch the plan following is to be identified: the baseline data and measure of the behavior (repetition, intensity and duration). Baseline information will be a criteria against which effectiveness is to be evaluated. Behavior intervention plan is used to change antecedent incidents to prevent negative results, teach alternative behaviors , grant alternative acceptable behavior.
Target behavior I am currently working on is increasing my water intake to at least 1 gallon of water per day to promote healthy eating. All people understand that they need to drink more water, as with the help of water our bodily functions and gets necessary nutrient balance, influences our health, weight, mood and fitness. I do not always have an access to a bottle of water during the day, also my drinking habits let me drink a lot of soda, which is believed to have a harmful influence on our health. I believe that my current behavior which results in a lack of water, does not affect me too well.
The are many advantages of drinking a lot of water per day:
- Water transfers nutrients, keeps our temperature normal, promotes absorption and circulation;
- Water helps us rationally process the food we eat and controls our losing weight plans. More water gives people a “full” feeling, so we consume less, and at the same time gives a feeling of having increased energy;
- Drinking a lot of water is the best solution to keep youthful look and good skin, as it is as a moisturizer improves our appearance;
- Water does a great job of removing toxins from blood, from the body;
- Consumption of water is a great prevention from different diseases;
- It also helps to reduce headaches, as dehydration may cause headaches, and increases brain power;
- Drinking water saves your money, as coffee, soda and different energy drinks cost more money;
- Water strengthens the immune system, oxygenates blood, grows lymph production and even helps battle with insomnia.
I believe that if I gather my daily routine in order, build a plan, I may succeed in my target behavior. What I should consider is that it is important to make the consumption of water more convenient and easy. There are several tips in the nation that could be easily added to the habit for developing a daily water intake and which I find very useful:
- Carry a refillable bottle of water along with you everywhere you go and this will make it easier to get used to new habit. Fancy water bottles may increase the frequency of reach out for water bottle, add a straw, fruits or ice-cubes;
Track it and Set reminders: habits are to be tracked, otherwise they may be easily forgotten. This is what makes the difference between working on a change and letting things go their way. Different ways exist to control water intake: mobile apps for looking after daily tasks, alarm-reminders on the computer, using sticky notes, marks in the table calendar and water cards. A sign on the refrigerator or on the computer screen may be put;
Make water taste delicious and good: a calorie free flavored water is a solution, there are many different flavors for each taste;
Make daily rules for yourself as an easy way to increase the consumption: drink water when you get up in the morning, before, during and after every meal, before treating yourself with caffeine or something salty or spicy, every time you leave home or arrive at work, use the restroom;
When you feel hungry: sometimes when your body needs some water, you may receive a feeling of hunger, and water is always then grabbing snack as unneeded calories;
Make water intake more interesting: if plain water is not for you, it can always be spiced up by different tasty and healthy ingredients, which are added into the water to make it taste better: lemon or lime, fruits, unsweetened tea, zero calorie flavor mix. Flavored water should be prepared in advance, a pitcher of good tasting water in the refrigerator makes it easy to consume water;
Eat water enriched foods: fruits and vegetables contain a high percentage of water, some fruits provide us with 20 % daily water;
Take water breaks at the office: when job consists of sitting at the desk in front of the computer during the day, water breaks are a must;
Motivate yourself: measuring water you drink and set aims to drink more water everyday.
In the end, I understood that water is very important component for our healthy body and sweetened beverages or alcohol could never be replaced by water. Although these beverages have high water content, caffeine has a very negative impact on myself. Water intake will spread equally during the day. I need to observe what I eat during the day, and control my accessibility to water during the day and especially at the office. I will carry a bottle of water to work and offer to put water cooler in the office. When a water cooler is available close throughout the work day, that is a good sign. I will set a reminder and measure my water intake.
We should not take drinking water for granted and remember what a huge impact it has on our overall health.
References
(28 April, 2014) Practical training solutions website. Retrieved from http://practicaltrainingsolutions.net/2014/04/28/selecting-and-defining-the-target-behavior/
http://theautismhelper.com/behavior-week-identifying-target-behaviors-function/
(10 September, 2012) Long S. Function means what the individual is getting out of doing the behavior. What is the consequence of the behavior? Retrieved from http://theautismhelper.com/behavior-week-identifying-target-behaviors-function/
