Observe and listen closely to an adult who is in a supervisory or instructional capacity interacting with a child or group. You might find these interactions at an after school program, instructional class, softball or soccer game, basketball practice, daycare center, or Boy Scout or Boy’s and Girl’s club session. You might also observe them in families dining at a restaurant, checking out in a grocery store line, or attending church. You will probably need to observe in a variety of settings in order to find all three types of reinforcement included in this observation report. Observe adult-child or coach-player interactions for at least 30 minutes in each setting, being sure to sit where you can hear words and see reactions. Read the questions below so that you know what to listen for in your observations. Take “field notes” by writing down examples of reinforcement that you hear.
Review your field notes. Then synthesize the observations to respond to each question below. Type your response to each question in bold beneath each question. Be sure to use the content and academic language from the lesson in your answers. Academic language that is appropriate for this report includes: social reinforcement, tangible reinforcement, activity reinforcement, positive reinforcement, scheduling, reinforcement menu. Save the document as a Word document, then submit it through the CourseDen Dropbox. Please refer to the Stages of Reflection document if you are unclear about what to write or how to write your answers for this assignment.
1. Describe the locations where you conducted observations and how much time was spent observing at each site: who was there, what were they doing, when and where did you observe, how was it being conducted. Briefly describe the people and setting at each site.
2. What are social reinforcers? Define the concept. Then, describe two specific examples of social reinforcers that you observed, and describe how the recipient responded to the social reinforcement.
3. What are activity reinforcers? Define the concept. Then, describe at least one specific example of an activity reinforcer you observed and describe how the recipient responded to the activity reinforcer.
4. What are tangible reinforcers? Define the concept. Next, describe at least one specific example of a tangible reinforcer that you observed and describe how the recipient responded to the tangible reinforcement.
5. Reflect on and describe your reactions to this observation experience. How did you feel or react to the use of reinforcement in these settings? Value the experience for you: was it a meaningful, helpful, relevant experience for you or not? Please explain and support your value judgment with examples that you observed.
6. Analyze the event. Based on your observations, what type of reinforcement seemed to be most effective? Use academic language from the lesson and provide examples from your observation that support your analysis.
7. Reflect on the event. Think back on your own experience growing up…and even now! What types of reinforcers worked best to shape your behavior and habits? Which types of reinforcers did not work for you? Share a specific example and be sure to use academic language.
