The ABCs: Critical Factors for Success - 2006

The ABC’s: Critical Factors for Success

Grainne A. Matthews, Ph.D.Quality Safety Edge

Behavioural Safety Now Conference 2006Basic Concepts

Copyright Quality Safety Edge © 2006 2

Wanda Myers

This presentation isdedicated to WandaMyers, M.A., of QualitySafety Edge andBehavioral ConsultantServices, Inc.


Agenda

Introduce ABC concepts

Add PICNIC concepts

Mix in pinpointing

Practice analyzing behavior


Basic ABC Model


Examples of Behavior

Son asks for $20 to buy a new videogame

Daughter does her homework beforecalling friends

Wife picks up dry cleaning on wayhome from long day at work

Husband mows grass and edges lawn


Behavior

“B” in the ABC Model stands for“bad”.

Behavior includes anything a persondoes, says, thinks, or feels.

In improving performance, it is mosteffective to focus on observablebehavior (does or says).

To focus on behavior, we must firstcarefully identify it.

YES NO


Pinpoint Performance

A pinpoint is a measurabledescription of desired performance,either behavior or results. Behavior – action

Ex. Son cooks dinner for the whole family

Results – what’s left behind Ex. Dinner is on the table


Four Criteria for Pinpoint

ObservableSee the action or the result

SpecificEnough that two people can agree

ObjectiveWithout interpretation or judgment

ActiveIf a dead man can do it, it isn’t a goodpinpoint.


Pinpoints are not…

Labels and interpretations Safe Good Careful Aggressive Angry Bad Attitude Dangerous

Ex. Son cares (interpretation) or iscaring (label)


Pinpoints

Pinpoints are interpretations &judgments

Two of the characteristics of goodpinpoints are “observable” and“specific”

“Avoids criticizing children in public”is a good pinpoint

“Does not clean up after self” is agood pinpoint

YES NO


Are These Good Pinpoints?

Arriving on time to school

Being a team player

Vacuuming carefully

Hanging up clothes

Asking permission to visit friends

Communicating clearly

YES NO


Are These Good Pinpoints?

Joe asks his mother to wash his uniform.

Sally avoids responsibility for taking care ofher dog.

Freddie offers to set the table without havingto be asked.

YES NO


Which part is a Pinpoint and which is a Label?

Sam wastes time because he listens to theneighbor chatting about the weather.

Mary doesn't trust her husband because sheasks for details about his expenses.

Sally is careless because she turns in herreport without checking her spelling.


Basic ABC Model

Establish aneedExercising on

a hot day

Indicatepresence ofconsequencesSoda machine


Antecedents

Gain power from past association withconsequences Dad’s instructions versus Mom’s

Lose power if no longer associated withconsequences Empty soda machine

Only function if impact performer Profits for company

Are necessary, but not sufficient, to ensureperformance Wouldn’t know how to do task without training,

but training doesn’t guarantee will do task


Examples of Antecedents

He saw it on TV & Momhas $20

Mom called her fromwork to remind her

Had to wear leastfavorite outfit thatmorning

Neighbor madecomment about howfast grass grows

Son asks for $20 to buy anew video game

Daughter does herhomework before callingfriends

Wife picks up drycleaning on way homefrom long day at work

Husband mows grassand edges lawn

Antecedents Behaviors


Antecedents

“A” in the ABC Model stands for“active”.

Examples of Antecedents are: Sticky note on fridge (Son buys milk) Mom gives son $20 (Son buys video game)

Antecedents are sometimes enough toprompt desired behavior.

YES NO


Basic ABC Model


Examples of Consequences

Plays video gamethat night

Her friends are alldoing their home-work when she calls

Has clothes to wearnext morning

Is hot and sticky

He saw it on TV &Mom has $20

Mom called her fromwork to remind her

Had to wear leastfavorite outfit thatmorning

Neighbor madecomment about howfast grass grows

Son asks for $20 tobuy a new videogame

Daughter does herhomework beforecalling friends

Wife picks up drycleaning on wayhome from longday at work

Husband mowsgrass and edgeslawn

Antecedents Behaviors Consequences


Consequences

Anything that follows a behavior canbe a consequence for that behavior.

Consequences are more effectivethan antecedents in influencingbehavior.

Most people don’t care how otherpeople react to them.

Consequences change futurebehavior.

YES NO


Understanding Behavior

Consequence

Improvementfor performer

Increase FutureProbability

Decrease FutureProbability

Worsening forperformer


Understanding Behavior

Positive Reinforcement Add something to the

environment of performer Behavior increases in future Ex: Kiss your husband

when he takes out the trash

Punishment Add something to the

environment of performer Behavior decreases in

future Ex: Snarl at your husband

when he asks where hissocks are

Negative ReinforcementRemove something from the

environment of performerBehavior increases in futureEx: Go to action movie

when your husband washescar

ExtinctionRemove something from the

environment of performerBehavior decreases in

futureEx: Turn off Monday Night

Football when yourhusband ignores you

Increase Behavior Decrease Behavior

Ad

d

som

ethi

ng

Rem

ove

som

eth

ing


Analyzing Behavior

Antecedents Behavior Consequences Can’t hear anything

Hot & sweaty ears

Risk of future hearingloss decreases slightly

Mow the grasswith ear plugs

Wife’s request

Has ear plugs

Mower noise

Hears kids in pool

Comfortable temperature

Risk of future hearingloss increases slightly

Mow the grasswithout ear plugs

Wife’s request

Has ear plugs

Mower noise


Effective Consequences

Effective

PICs Positive Immediate Certain (frequent)

Ex. Get $20 if you ask

NICs Negative Immediate Certain (frequent)

Ex. Hot and sticky ifyou mow lawn

Ineffective

PDUs Positive Delayed Uncertain (infrequent)

Ex. Have clean clothes to wearif pick up from cleaners

NDUs Negative Delayed Uncertain (infrequent)

Ex. Friends will be unavailableif you call later in evening

Large Small


PIC NIC Analysis

Immediate & Certain (frequent)consequences have the most effecton future behavior.

The size of consequences influencestheir effectiveness.

There is only one consequence forevery behavior.

The PICNIC balance determines futurebehavior.

YES NO


Analyzing Behavior

Choose a behavior to analyze

Identify antecedents

Identify consequences

Classify consequences as PICs, NICs,PDUs, or NDUs; large or small

Test your analysis against reality


ABC & PICNIC Analysis Guide

Step 1 Pinpoint target behaviour List all actual or all possible Antecedents List actual or all possible Consequences Mark Consequences as P/N, I/D, C/U (F/I) & rate

importance (1 – Very, 3 Not at all)

Step 2 Repeat for opposite behaviour

Step 3 Compare contingencies & test conclusion


Problem: Ineffective Contingencies

Antecedents not reliably associated withconsequences Ex. Lose hearing if you work without ear plugs

Infrequent positive, immediate, certain consequences(PIC) for safe behaviour Ex. Occasional “good job” from supervisor

Frequent NICs for safe behaviour Ex. Often take time, energy, comfort, convenience

Infrequent negative, immediate, certainconsequences (NIC) for unsafe behaviour Ex. Discipline if you work without ear plugs

Frequent PICs for unsafe behaviour Ex. Hear co workers if you work without ear plugs


Solution: Change Contingencies

Add PICs & remove NICs for safebehaviour Make it as quick, easy, comfortable, and

convenient as possible to work safely Provide evidence of decrease in risk Provide positive feedback

Remove PICs for unsafe behaviour Discourage people from praising each

other for taking risks

Why not increase NICs for unsafebehaviour?

The ABCs: Critical Factors for Success - 2006

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