5 components of an effective behavioral objective

Full Answer Section

       

1. Timeframe: Within what timeframe should the behavior be achieved? (e.g., by next week, by the end of the semester, within a month)

Scenario 1: Tiara will take her medications as prescribed without assistance. Objective: Tiara (Target Audience) will swallow all four (Criteria) of her prescribed medications (Behavior) on the nightstand (Conditions) by herself (without assistance) before bedtime each night (Timeframe) for one week. Scenario 2: Mason will complete his math classwork. Objective: Mason (Target Audience) will complete and turn in (Behavior) at least 80% (Criteria) of his daily math classwork assignments (Behavior) during math class (Conditions) by the end of the week (Timeframe). Importance of Observable and Measurable Objectives: Writing observable and measurable objectives is crucial for setting future goals because they provide a clear and specific roadmap for success. These objectives allow for:

• Tracking Progress: By outlining observable and measurable elements, you can objectively track whether a goal is being achieved. This allows for adjustments and interventions if needed.
• Motivation and Reinforcement: Seeing progress towards a well-defined goal can be motivating for the individual and allows for targeted praise or reinforcement as milestones are reached.
• Improved Communication: Clear objectives facilitate better communication between caregivers, educators, therapists, and the individual working towards the goal. Everyone involved has a shared understanding of what success looks like.

 

Sample Answer

   

The five components of an effective behavioral objective are:

1. Target Audience: Who is the objective for? (e.g., Tiara, Mason, Sandra)
2. Behavior: What specific behavior do you want to observe? (e.g., take medication, complete math classwork, play with classmates)
3. Conditions: Under what circumstances will the behavior occur? (e.g., medication on the nightstand, during math class, at recess)
4. Criteria: What is the standard for acceptable performance? (e.g., take all pills without prompting, complete 80% of classwork assignments, engage in social interaction for at least 10 minutes)