Operant conditioning principles used to reduce oversleeping

ABSTRACT
A study was conducted which used operant conditioning principles to reinforce the positive behaviour of not over sleeping in a uni student. The subject was a healthy female who was reinforced positively with ice cream, self praise and social reinforcement. Punishments for occasions of oversleeping were applied by taking away TV privileges. Results indicated that although there were some lapses toward oversleeping throughout the program, there was an overall decrease in oversleeping. This supports the hypothesis that application of behavioural principles will decrease the undesirable behaviour.


INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this study is to implement behaviour therapy techniques of operant conditioning for behaviour modification of over sleeping in a university student. The study will comply with the ‘guidelines for effective application of positive reinforcement and punishment (Marin et al, 1999).
It is predicted that the frequency of oversleeping will decrease in the...