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Behavior Modification Project: Baseline Phase Report Assignment

This document describes a behavior modification project to increase spiritual disciplines of reading scripture and listening to sermons. During the baseline phase, the participant recorded how many times per day she engaged in these behaviors from November 15-21. For reading scripture, she did so 1-2 times per day, while listening to sermons was 0-1 times. Factors like stress, relationships, and time management negatively impacted the behaviors, while accountability and prayer encouraged them. The treatment phase will utilize positive motivators to increase the frequency of the spiritual disciplines to daily.

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Liliana Mejia
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728 views

Behavior Modification Project: Baseline Phase Report Assignment

This document describes a behavior modification project to increase spiritual disciplines of reading scripture and listening to sermons. During the baseline phase, the participant recorded how many times per day she engaged in these behaviors from November 15-21. For reading scripture, she did so 1-2 times per day, while listening to sermons was 0-1 times. Factors like stress, relationships, and time management negatively impacted the behaviors, while accountability and prayer encouraged them. The treatment phase will utilize positive motivators to increase the frequency of the spiritual disciplines to daily.

Uploaded by

Liliana Mejia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Behavior Modification Project:

Baseline Phase Report Assignment

Liliana Mejia

School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University

PSYC 320: Behavior Modification

Professor Deborah Newman

November 22, 2021


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Spiritual Discipline Behavior Modification: Baseline Phase

Target Behavior

The goal for this experiment is to increase the behavioral deficit of spiritual discipline

through both direct and indirect learning methods in myself, a female college student. Through

this self-modification process, I chose to observe two behaviors: reading Scripture and listening

to sermons. The first will be referred to as direct learning; the latter is identified as indirect

learning. Both of these behaviors take intentional, active focus and are desired to increase and

happen once every day. The frequency is what I recorded, and I am thrilled to see the results in

the next two weeks.

Observation Period

During this observational period, I wrote down each time that I read Scripture and each

time that I listened to a sermon. Here it is recorded in a graph; I used a multiple-baseline-across-

behaviors design. The bottom numbers represent the date being displayed. The observation

period to form this baseline graph occurred from November 15 through November 21, 2021.

Experiment Narrative

The setting was natural and in an unstructured method. Because this study was done

through self-modification, it was motivated primarily by me, the participant, not any outside

source, and therefore is reliable. The recording method was simple and ideal; I wrote down the

date and what behavior was completed on that specific day (see figure 1). Measurements were

recorded each night before bed with a check yes or no for both target behaviors. There is also a

space for checking “did complete twice,” and obviously this is for when and if that does occur.

My hope is that once the treatment plan is implemented, there will be a dramatic rise in

motivation— primarily because of how much I benefit from these spiritual practices.
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Dimension

The dimension I focused on was just frequency for this experiment. Fortunately, there

was not a huge deficit in this area in my life, but I still strongly desire to see a large increase in

frequency and initiate a more consistent daily practice. Though there are many important factors

in practicing Spiritual disciplines, for the purpose of this study, I only paid attention to the

establishment of a firm habit every day for increasing both my target behaviors— direct and

indirect learning.

Target Behavior Observations

It was intriguing to me to find that reactivity, when recording alters the behavior

(Miltenberger, 2016), definitely had a large impact on this baseline phase. The antecedent I

observed in this study could be identified as spiritual conviction. Being raised in a Christian

family and attending church regularly has had a significant impact on how I viewed the

importance of reading Scripture and learning about the Bible— both directly and indirectly. The

Holy Spirit has convicted me recently and drawn me back to the importance of renewing my

mind and not just reading His word to learn, but to truly strengthen our intimacy.

Triggers that negatively affect my habits of spiritual discipline include the stress of my

educational progress as well as relational conflicts and poor time management. I have noticed

that whenever these three factors play into my daily thoughts, I draw away from the Word of

God and throw myself into my college work instead of the presence of God. I aim to change this

instinctual response in myself through this experiment.

Various stimuli that help my target behaviors occur are accountability from friendship

and prayer. Through accountability, I am reminded of the importance of Scripture and the eternal

perspective it provides. I am encouraged to keep running the race and I observe the evidence of
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the fruit of the Spirit blossoming in their life which provides rich inspiration. Through prayer,

God pricks my spirit, and beholding Him draws me closer to Him and refills my desire. Psalm

119: 9-10 (ESV, 2001) describes the value of intaking the very words of the Creator: “How can a

young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I

seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!” The treatment method I will soon use

will attempt to take advantage of these positive motivators and increase the likelihood of both

my direct and indirect learning practices and soften my heart again to the sweet voice of my

Father.

Figure 1 Behavioral

Modification Graph
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References

English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online. https://esv.literalword.com/

Miltenberger, R. G. (2018). Behavior modification: Principles and procedures. W. Ross

MacDonald School Resource Services Library.

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