Can Self Modification Experiments Work?

Since we are performing our own self-modification experiments, I thought it would be interesting to investigate the efficacy of these types of experiments. In the article entitled “Effectiveness of a College-Level Self-Management Course on Successful Behavior Change” the authors investigated several studies having to do with these types of experiments. The main hypothesis that they based their study around was the theory that if a self management course was high in intensity, then the desired behavior modification was likely to happen. They used three separate groups of students, totaling 84 in all, to carry out their experiment.

 In order to conduct studies, scientists often need to create sub-groups within the total subject pool in order to measure one variables affect on the other. In this study, three groups were made to fulfill this requirement. First, the researchers bunched 26 students into what they labeled “Experimental Group I” which they deemed would be a high intensity group. These students were enrolled in a three hour course entitled “Self Directed Behavior” in which they would work closely with the professor and their peers to analyze their behavior management. The researchers then put 36 students into another group entitled “Experimental Group II” which they used as a low intensity group. These students were enrolled in a course entitled “Behavior Therapy” in which they still worked with the professor on their behavior modification, but there were significantly less assignments and projects given. The remaining 22 students were put into a “Control Group.” These students they were not enrolled in a self management course.

 In an attempt to dispel confounding variables, the researchers asked the same professor to teach these Self-Management courses. The researchers also made sure that the length of the course was the same for both groups, and the amount of credits received were the same, in order to keep the incentives similar. Once all the variables were identified and controlled to the extent the researchers desired, they began the experiment.

Over the three month period, the students in the two self-management courses completed several assignments to help them stop an undesirable habit. Some students hoped to stop biting their nails, other students tried to stop smoking, while even more students hoped to lose weight. Whatever the habit, students completed several assessments to determine the progress they made along the way. The students in the high intensity course were also asked to complete presentations on their progress every two or three weeks, to further the importance placed on the behavior modification.

Since the researchers were able to control each variable so well, the results ended up being clear and precise. Within the high intensity-low intensity dynamic, the ability for students to recognize their progress was very obvious. There was a distinct difference in the ability of the high intensity students to modify their behavior compared to the low intensity students. There was also a large gap between the students taking a behavior modification course’s ability to affect their behavior when compared to the students who were attempting to modify behavior on their own.