An Evaluation of Behavioral Skills Training to Teach Assertiveness Skills to College Students

Assertiveness skills are related to a variety of life factors including stress levels, social relationships, social fears, and anxiety. The previous research has shown that engaging in nonassertive behavior can have negative effects, and assertive behaviors can lead to a healthier life (Eldeeb, Enstar, & Eldosoky, 2014; Elliot & Gramling, 1990; Larijani, Aghajanie, Baheiraei, & Neiestanank, 2010; Morgan, 1974). The purpose of the current research was to determine if behavioral skills training (BST) was effective in teaching assertiveness skills to college students and if the skills would generalize to novel situations. BST is a method for teaching skills that uses instructions, modeling, rehearsal and feedback. In the current study, BST was used to identify and teach nine different assertive behaviors and help the participants differentiate between nonassertive, assertive, and aggressive behavior. The current study used a multiple baseline design to implement the BST intervention for three participants. Results showed that each participant met and exceeded an 80% mastery criterion for three trained role-play scenarios. Results also showed that assertiveness skills were generalized to three novel scenarios presented to each participant. Social validity was assessed and results showed that participants not only found the intervention helpful, but that they were more assertive in a variety of social situations following BST. It has been determined that BST is an effective method for teaching assertiveness skills to college students.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Applied Behavior Analysis

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Warrington, Savannah

Contributors dc:contributor

• Sadie Lovett
• Mary Radeke
• Stephanie Stein

• Behavioral Skills Training
• Assertiveness
• College Students
• Applied Behavior Analysis
• Counseling Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Industrial and Organizational Psychology
• Interpersonal and Small Group Communication
• Personality and Social Contexts
• School Psychology
• Social Psychology

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/223

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.cwu.edu:etd-1189