Classical and Operant Conditioning for Maladaptive Behaviour

Classical and Operant Conditioning for Maladaptive Behaviour Applying classical and operant conditioning therapies  to change maladaptive human behaviour Psychologists who study the behaviourism approach suggest that behaviours of a human are learnt through either classical or operant conditioning. These behaviours can be changed through therapies. This assignment assesses the values of applying classical and operant conditioning therapies to change maladaptive human behaviour. Operant conditioning is when behaviours are learnt through consequences; doing something to get something. â€Å"Operant conditioning creates a higher probability of repeated behaviour through reinforcement† (Collin et al, 2012). A human would receive positive or negative reinforcement or even punishment for their behaviour. Consequently this would lead to repeated behaviour, changed behaviour or even stop the behaviour depending on the reinforcement received. B.F Skinner explained operant conditioning by conducting experiments in a box that he designed called the ‘Skinner box’ (1948, cited in Barker, 2002). For example a hungry rat was placed in a box, there was only a lever and a food dish inside. The rat knocked the lever and soon learnt that he received food for his action and kept repeating the behaviour to gain more food. This is an example of positive reinforcement because the rat received food for its action. Skinner (1948, cited in Collin, 2012) later int roduced electric grids to the Skinner box which would give the rat an electric shock when the lever was activated. The rat’s behaviour of pressing the lever decreased. This experiment showed that the receiving of negative reinforcement caused the rat to change its previous behaviour. There are several therapies that use operant conditioning, one is called token economy. Behaviour is modified through reinforcement and also punishment; it has been used in many types of care units, such as mental hospitals, eating disorder clinics or even juveniles acting up (Barker, 2002). The patients involved in token economy would receive rewards in forms of tokens or points for good behaviour, this is positive reinforcement. On the other hand if bad behaviour was shown by the patients tokens would be taken away, this is negative reinforcement. Tokens can then be used for outings, privileges, goods, food or even extended visits with their family (Allen, 2013). When patients demonstrate good behaviour and are therefore rewarded with tokens it is hoped that the positive behaviour would be repeated with the aim of gaining more rewards. Eventually their pattern of behaviour would consequently change and would happen naturally. However if tokens were taken away for bad behaviour this would be negative reinforcement. The patient would realise that if they behaved badly, negative consequences would follow such as less tokens to spend on privileges or extra food. Eventually this would hopefully change the behaviour of the patient and their bad actions would decrease. One study that showed token economy was carried out in an adolescent service at Boston hospital by Kris and Schiff (1968, cited in Thomas, 1974). They delivered the token economy therapy in the hospital for adolescents in the form of point cards. Each point gained was worth one penny which then could be accumulated and spent on food, privileges and outings. Each patient had a small plastic point card with their name and identification number embossed. Each time a patient earned points they would be given a point’s receipt and their point card would be stamped. All points would be added up at the end of the week and the reward of money would be given. The adolescents could gain 30 points by carrying out room maintenance such as bed making and also 10 points for arriving on time for lessons. Points would be taken away for lateness and untidy rooms. The study demonstrated positive and negative reinforcement. The adolescents learnt that the cleaner their room and the quicker they went to class the more points they received, this is positive reinforcement. The behaviour would change and they would be better behaved and follow instructions. When points were taken away for lateness or no room maintenance being completed they would learn that these actions needed to be completed and they would change their behaviour and start showing up for lessons and also making their beds, this is negative reinforcement. This interesting study showed improvement in adolescent’s behaviour at the hospital however it should be noted that in some cases the adolescents were seen to steal receipt books and point stamps to try and give themselves points. The disadvantages for this study was that it wasn’t very cost affective, the printing of point cards and receipts was very expensive. Also there was over a hundred staff members employed at this hospital and it was hard to train each staff member properly on the token economy point system and some staff would feel harassed and under pressure if working alone which meant they would give points out just so the adolescents would stop harassing them. (Thomas, 1974). Another research was completed by Allyon and Azrin (1968, cited in Allen, 2013) who used token economy therapy to control the behaviour of 45 people with schizophrenia who had been in an institution for roughly sixteen years. The patients were given tokens for combing their hair or even making their own beds. The results of the therapy showed patients’ chores each day rise from five a day to over forty. The patients that were receiving positive reinforcement by gaining tokens for completing more chores each day. Token economy has positive and negative points to change maladaptive human behaviour. Token economy may work inside clinics or institutions but may not necessarily relate to life at home and living independently. Going from being praised for good behaviour and then having no one at home praising them may let the person slip back into their old way of behaving. Token economy may hide the underlying reason for someone’s behaviour. It may make the behaviours and actions go away for a short period due to the person wanting to receive tokens to use for food and privileges but the underlying reason why they are behaving in the first reason will still be there. Using this therapy in institutions and clinics would require a lot of commitment and training from staff. It may not be cost effective to put every staff member through training. Also some staff may not be as committed as others and give out tokens to favoured patients or give out tokens to stop feeling harassed or under press ure. It would be important for staff to be consistent in their actions. Corrigan (1995, cited in Allen, 2013) claims that the therapy is humiliating and abusive to patients and is unethical. Token economy does change behaviour quickly and is good at changing unwanted behaviour which shows in the study completed by Allyon and Azrin (1968, cited in Allen, 2013). Classical conditioning is learning through association. Behaviours are learnt by associating one thing with another. Pavlov (1902, cited in Collin, 2012) showed classical conditioning by experimenting on dogs and their responses to food. He carried out several tests which involved dogs and the salivation glands. He used dogs and put them in restraints, when the dog salivated at different times he measured the amount of saliva produced. An unconditioned stimulus such as food was presented to the dogs which then provoked an unconditioned response; salivation. Pavlov then introduced a neutral stimulus such as a bell with the unconditioned stimulus; the food. The dogs started to salivate at the noise of the bell which was accompanied by food. After repeated tests the dogs started to salivate at the sound of the bell without any food which was a conditioned response; salivation without no food presented. This means the dog had learnt to associate the bell with food and would salivate befo re the food was given. Systematic desensitisation (SD) therapy uses the principle of classical conditioning to reduce people’s fears and phobias. Through several sessions a client would go through relaxation and becomes aware of the bodily cues associated with relaxation. The client then has more sessions to be trained step by step on how to relax in the presence of their fear. (Barker, 2002) One study which was carried out was by Lang and Lazovik (1963, cited in Banyard and Grayson, 2000) which was called ‘Fear today, gone tomorrow’. The study was a simple experiment which used twenty four students who had a strong phobia of snakes. The students were given a list of twenty situations, including holding a snake to seeing a picture of a snake and were told to list them from least feared to most feared in a fear hierarchy. The students then started there SD, which included eleven forty five minute sessions which started with hypnosis and deep muscle relaxation and then slowly they worked through their fear hierarchy by imagining them. They were allowed to move onto the next fear once they could show they were relaxed during and after the previous one. Once all the sessions were completed the students had to carry out the ‘snake avoidance test’. A snake was placed in a glass box 15 feet away and the students got marked out of 19 on how close they co uld get to the snake or to see if they could touch it. The results were compared to students that hadn’t received SD therapy and they showed that the students that had completed the sessions could stand much closer to the snake and even some students could hold or touch the snake. The idea of SD therapy is to associate the fear with relaxation. In the above study it shows that the students that went through SD could associate the deep relaxation with the snakes and in some cases even hold them. The students remaining calm meant they associated there calmness with a fear, which in turn the students could move on to their next fear and keep moving through them. SD is effective where the behaviour is a learned phobia or anxiety of a specific thing, McGrath et al (1990, cited in Allen, 2013) claims that SD works for around seventy five percent of people with phobias that are specific. However it only treats symptoms of the phobia or anxiety and doesn’t help the underlying issue or reason and other therapies would need to be used to look into these reasons. It doesn’t work well with depression or schizophrenic clients. SD is a very slow process due to the amount of sessions needed to work through the relaxation process and then the fear its self but t he longer the therapy and technique take the more effective it is. Overall token economy and systematic desensitisation therapies do work but do have their negative points. Both therapies only resolve the symptoms and don’t resolve the underlying reasons why the person’s behaviour happened originally. This means eventually they could stop working especially if their environment changes and the treatment stops. Other therapies for other approaches would need to be considered to really understand and change the maladaptive behaviours of a person. Reference List Allen C. (2013). Psychopathology and Treatment Workbook. Northampton College. Northampton. Banyard P and Grayson A. (2000). Introducing Psychological Research. Second Edition. Palgrove Publishers. New York Barker L. Psychology. (2002). Pearson Education Inc. New Jersey Collin C. (2012). The psychology book. New York. DK Pub. Thomas E. J. 1974. Behavior modification procedure. Chicago. Aldine Pub. Co. [Online]. Accessed from: http://books.google.co.uk [20/3/14] Bibliography List Cardwell M and Flanagan C. (2012). Psychology AS – The Complete Companion Student Book. 3rd Edition. Oxford University Press. Oxford. Comer R. J. (1992). Abnormal psychology. New York. Freeman Rebecca Sharp

Enrolment System of Psu – Lingayen

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1. Background of the Study Computers are almost indispensable to most industries especially if it deals with voluminous records. Hence, in most academic institutions, the use of computers is an immense help in managing records and files. With the volume of files such as those from students’ records, finances, inventories, and others needed for its operation , the use of computer has made tasks simpler, faster and more efficient. Although most schools here in the Philippines have their computers, its functions are not fully maximized. Many still rely on the manual system of storing and retrieving files, thus in turn, make work laborious, time consuming, less efficient and requiring more manpower. The Pangasinan State University- Lingayen Campus currently uses the manual system of enrollment. For years, this system has been employed and has indeed been a tedious process on the part of the students as well as the staff in charged of enrollment. This entails the long process of filling up forms in three copies (student copy, accounts copy and registrar’s copy), class scheduling, assessment of fees, and issuance of student records. The continued adoption of this usual manual enrollment system has caused numerous errors, unnecessary delays, and has ultimately made the entire enrollment system a slow process to contend considering the influx of students each year. The design, development and implementation of EnrollmentAutomate: Pangasinan State University Computerized Enrollment System is introduced to address this long-standing slow process of enrollment. 2. Objectives of the Study This project study aims to design, develop and implement EnrollmentAutomate: Pangasinan State University Lingayen Campus Computerized Enrollment System. Specifically, the following statements will determine and describe: 1) the processes involved in the present system; 2) the situation regarded as unwelcome and needing to be dealt with and overcome; 3) a computerized solution to improve the current situation, taking into the account the task, purpose or specific activities as claimed by (a) registrar; (b) department heads; (c) campus executive officer. 3. Scopes and Delimitation The EnrollmentAutomate will be used by the Departments heads or the officer – in – charge for registration or assessing students during the enrollment period. It includes the enrolling of students, browsing of offered subjects, viewing the schedule and printing of the registration form where enrollment fees are included. In addition, some features which allows student to scan registration form, students enrolled, offered subject, schedule viewer, printing queue are included. 4. Significance of the Study The EnrollmentAutomate will give the Pangasinan State University-Lingayen Campus a better and well-organized flow of enrollment system. It will also make the work of the personnel in charge easy, fast, reliable cost and time efficient. Personnel. An increase productivity and minimized workload to be able to meet the other needs of the students. Students. An assurance for fast and accurate services provided by the university. 5. Definition of Terms Automate. It refers to the process of using technology to execute a task with less human action. Campus Executive Officer or Department Head. This is the person responsible for the admission of new enrollees, transferees, shifters and second – course enrollees. Enrollment. This refers to an act of recording the person’s information to the official record of Pangasinan State University. EnrollmentAutomate. It refers to the proposed computerized enrollment system for Pangasinan State University Lingayen Campus. Information. This refers to the collection of related data. Technology. It refers to the tools, machines, and instrument that can help people execute their task efficiently and effectively. CHAPTER II REVIEW RELATED LITERATURE A. Related literature Nowadays the computer is one of the most efficient IT machines being used in every schools, offices, factories, and even households that society need to make work easier and faster. In a manual system, records are filed with the aid of folders and envelopes and are stored in cabinets; whereas computer-base system deals with databases and database technology. Database is helpful in providing resources and ideas as an accurate basis of information regarding a problem. In school, it plays a vital role in student registration, class scheduling, and assessment of fees. Student registration is the first laborious task in the enrollment system. Using database will lessen the time of work for students and hasten the work of personnel-in-charge. Class Scheduling is a difficult task for the personnel, however, with the use of database time consumed to organize scheduling is minimized. Important functions of the database system include the ability to locate and access any item in the database, to sort the data records into a desired order, and to link database files. The database approach is designed to overcome many of the disadvantages of file processing system. Databases are designed from an organization-wide viewpoint to minimize data redundancy. Databases are managed by a commercial system called the Database Management System (DBMS) MySQL (Structured Query Language) is a standard data definition and manipulation language for relational databases. A popular command driven interface that allows users to access data from a database by using designated keywords and attribute names. B. Related Studies There are number of previous studies which are related to the study being conducted and one of them was designed for Pangasinan National High School (PNHS) an automated Student Enrollment System developed by July P. Dela Cruz et. al which provides efficient and maintainable system for enrollment. The PSU-Open University System’s Registration and Assessment System (PSU-OUS RAS), which was designed in Visual Basic 6. 0, was used to retrieve and update the information and reports regarding registration and assessment. The system was developed by Johnabel Calixtro et. al on March 2006. The San Fabian National High School Information System developed by Jennilyn C. de Luna et. al on March 2006 and was designed using Visual Basic Programming Language. The system aimed to help the school clerk in storing student and personnel records to lessen the difficulties in searching, viewing, processing of records and regenerating reports. The Polong National High School and Faculty Information System by Canave, Deo et. al was designed to automate and eliminate the manual way of filing records as well as preparing and generating accurate reports and information of the faculty of the said school in the fastest possible way. C. Theoretical Framework Implementation of computerized enrollment system will speed up the enrollment process. To provide quick access from needed data, and to process efficiently once located, databases have been derived for computer use. Database is a collection of data or information in a form that may be accessed by a computer in several ways. It may be loaded into a mainframe computer for network access within an individual or an organization, such as system in admission, enrollment, grading and cashier. Designing a database considers several important phase to pass through data definition, data refinement, and establishing relationship. The first phase is identifying the important attributes. It also involves detailed examination in order to determine exactly what kind of information will be stored in the database. Next is to refine the initial list to form an accurate description that will be needed in the database. The last phase is to draw a relationship between the fields that can help to determine which fields are important from the not so important. Manipulating a database includes such function as querying the database to retrieve specific data, updating the database to reflect changes in the mini world, and generating reports from the data. As stated by Philipp J. Pratt in his book â€Å"Database Management & Design,† A user at a terminal interacts with the environment through the use of logical transactions. A logical transaction, or simply, a transaction, is a user request to accomplish a single task. The application program processes the transaction by interacting with the DBMS on a logical record basis. CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY To come up with a better understanding and perception about the problems regarding the creation of the system, the proponent underwent some methods to gather important facts and details about the proposed enrollment system. First, the proponents conducted extensive interviews on the personnel-in-charge with the manual enrollment system. Thus, the proponents found out some problems encountered by the manual system. In addition, they also obtained some suggestions and supplement which may help them in processing enrollment and upgrading the system. The proponents also requested sample of enrollment form. A copy of the manual system that was once used by the administrator was also inquired into in order for them to better understand the processes involved in creating for an automated enrollment system. Lastly, as additional foundation to knowledge and resources, the proponents made some researches in the Internet and interviewed the registrar and students to gain some guidelines in creating the proposed system. The proponents researched about some helpful topics and codes which may help them in designing the system as well. Some related literatures regarding the study were also looked into and adopted some of these in creating the new system. A. Current System The existing processes are shown on figure A. 1. It illustrated the transactions being made by the student during the enrollment. It may note in existing enrollment system that the student must follow several steps to get enrolled. A student must determine the student type whether he/she is an old or new, then proceed filling up registration form. After filling up he/she selects subjects and schedule to enroll. After which, the enrollee go to faculty-in-charge for course check and assessment then proceeds to cashier. Permit Complete Permit Passed all Requirements Student InformationSubject Selected Pay Fees Fig. A. 1 Current System B. Context Data Flow Diagram The objective is to create a data flow model of the proposed system. The context diagram illustrates that it consists of several steps which provide the inputs into a system and receive outputs from the system. After the student must undergo with Admission System the enrollee must proceeds to enrollment process, first must passed all requirements like CET and interview. Then fill up pre enrollment form after that select subject, secondly go to personnel in charge for course check then the personnel-in-charge will encode to computer for assessment and verification. After getting the form proceeds to cashiering system. B. 1 Context Data Flow Diagram Bibliography Books Pratt, Philipp J. , A Guide to SQL (fifth edition). Ground Valley State University Unpublished Thesis Julio M. Cervantes, Implementation of a Computerized Enrollment System, Unpublished Masteral Thesis. Hannam University, Daejon, South Korea,February 2005 Vincent John P. Fernandez, et al, Pangasinan State University OUS Registration & Assessment System. Unpublished Undergraduate Thesis. PSU-CAST, Lingayen, Pangasinan,March 2006 Jennilyn C. de Luna et al, San Fabian National High School Information System. Unpublished Undergraduate Thesis. PSU-CAST, Lingayen, Pangasinan,March 2006 Deo Canave et. l, The Polong National High School and Faculty Information System. Unpublished Undergraduate Thesis. PSU-CAST, Lingayen, Pangasinan. March 2005 ———————– Cleared Permit Student New Student Fill up Registration Form Checked Registration Form Course Check Subject Select Assessment Cashier Student Applicant EnrollmentAutomate Old Student New Student CET passers slip Passed Interview bsb Fill up Pre-enrollment form Clearance Permit Fill up Pre-enrollment form Files Assessment Select subject by Department Select subject by Department Course Check Course Check

Benefits of a Database & Information Gathering Techniques

Assignment Three: Benefits of a Database & Information Gathering Techniques Ian Keller Strayer University Introduction to Relational Database Management Systems CIS 111 Professor Jonathan C. Thrall April 26th, 2012 Databases are very important to every person in the world today. Whatever you do in you daily routine you are bound to come in contact with some form of database and our world has become so dependent on it that most people won’t even realize the importance of databases. A database is a bunch of files that are usually integrated electronically together to make up one big file.The database stores all of these files in one location and numerous people can access this information all at the same time if they have the proper access from the database administrator. Things that many people do every day that involve database involvement are things like calling a creditor on the phone to talk about a utility bill, performing transactions with you bank online, over the phone or in person, and also using a credit card to pay for supplies at a local retail store. All of these things require access to some sort of database.Database design is basically separated into categories the first being external where data can have multiple views and how the data can be stored into a physical form. Another category is conceptual where internal and external data communicate between each other (Ricardo, 2012). Accounting, bookkeeping information, personal financial records, stocks and personal property inventories are only some examples of how databases are managed and can be created for a multitude of things and all of these different types of files and data can be managed through a Database Management System (DBMS).The better the DBMS system is the better that system will support the organization. When you have a DBMS that supports the organization, that organization will be able to increase productivity, profits and overall status of business. There are many differe nt DBMS designs and some have been proven to work very well. One of those types is the Relational Database System. A DBMS that falls into this category would have to be a DBMS that is capable of maintaining a good relationship among any new data and generate good communications between it and the existing data already in the system (Differentiating 2012).A DBMS has many benefits which will help to keep the organization’s profits at a continuous incline. A well designed and implemented DBMS can organize accounts, maintain records, process requests and prioritize past, present and future events. It will provide the ability to store millions of files of multiple types in one single location and because all those files are in one location, it will also provide the ability to have multiple employees located in multiple areas and non-employees who may be temporarily working for the said organization for a period of time.With a personalized password and few clicks of the mouse all p ersonnel mentioned above can be given complete or partial access to the database for an indefinite or temporary period of time. As with any system benefits also can be drowned out with some disadvantages as well and one of the disadvantages that have is that with many DBMS structures it can be confusing and difficult to navigate through some of the commands. The complexity is much more advanced than many of the Microsoft programs that many employees may be familiar with.This particular problem also causes the system to be very time consuming to unfamiliar users. Security is also a concern as with any electronic device especially ones with internet capability because nothing in this world of technology is â€Å"hacker proof†, meaning the system just like any other, is vulnerable. Another type of database is a Flat File database. This type of database stores data in the form of plain text meaning just what it says; only text can be stored. Every line contained in this type of d atabase constitutes one record.The fields in this kind of database are separated by commas, tabs or delimiters. A flat file is a database that uses a simple structure but as simple as it is the more data added to it, the less efficient it can become. The benefit of the flat file database is that most Microsoft programs such as Microsoft Access, can imported from a flat file converting it so multiple data as well as data types can be used (Flat File 2012). When creating a database from the beginning it can seem very overwhelming at first.There is so much to think of but there are tools available to you that can help guide you through the process. Many database systems have an important role and if they aren’t customized for that particular organization, then the benefits would not be as great. Tools that are available to the organization that help a great deal with construction a database for the first time are available in many forms. Starter packages such as the CASE (Comput er-Aided Software Engineering) package, is a package that contains information to help.This package contains steps for creating a system analysis, project management, and design plans. If the information is used correctly it will help the organization learn how collect the information and determine what information to collect. There is also Project Management Software that can organize your data once it’s collected so the data is prioritized correctly. Last a system catalog can be implemented to work alongside the other aids mentioned above which all work hand in hand to create, manage and maintain the organization’s information.The advantage about most of these programs is they updated automatically with each other (Ricardo 2012). In the rapidly advancing world today, it really is not practical to not have a database program implemented for whatever activities you frequent. Whether it is a business, organization, government agency, community club or even at personal i nformation at home, having files of multiple types organized and merged into one file location is just a smart way of doing business whether the business be personal or professional.Reference Differentiating a good database design from a bad database design.. (n. d. ). Free management Articles – Management resource guide. Retrieved april 26, 2012, from http://www. management-hub. com/database-design. html Flat file definition. (n. d. ). The tech terms computer dictionary. Retrieved april 26, 2012, from http://www. techterms. com/definition/flatfile Ricardo, c. m. (2012). Databases illuminated (2. ed. ). Sudbury, ma: Jones & bartlett learning.

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