They are still saying No!

A relatively small minority of children and adolescents, for whom the usual avenues of behavior management have proved futile, need something more, what we refer to as behavior modification! Very simply, the subject of the request that resulted in the now infamous “No!” is the thing we need to address. Typically, either that thing is a behavior that needed to commence or cease, or else there would not be an issue. Most importantly, it has to be a specific behavior because we need to see (or measure) whether something is happening or something is stopping. “Clean your room” or “Do your homework” are reasonable requests, which result in some semblance or degree of compliance by a vast majority of children and adolescents for whom the usual avenues of behavior management will suffice. However, for our small minority of children and adolescents who refuse to comply with directions and for whom we need to engage in behavior modification, those directions are vague and all encompassing. In order to initiate an effective behavior modification program the first step is task analysis.

Analyze the task into specific measurable components. Task analysis is a technique utilized by teachers and coaches to teach any skill. From solving a quadratic equation to shooting a jump shot, the whole task is broken down, or analyzed, into discrete components and taught to the student or the athlete. Ensure that the equation equals zero, list the values of a, b and c, bend knees and place elbow of the shooting hand directly under the ball serve as some examples. Notice these are discrete tasks that can be observed or measured. Once mastered, the components are put back together, or synthesized, into the complete task, enabling the student to successfully solve a quadratic equation using the formulae or an athlete to shoot a jump shot. Parents, although they may not be aware of the name, also perform task analysis to some degree and with some success most of the time. Teaching a child how to tie a shoelace or ride a bike are prime examples.