The reactivity and unreliability of self-recording.

Abstract

Several therapeutic strategies in behavior modification require subjects to selfobserve and to self-record their own behavior. Self-recording appears to be reactive, with the phenomenon having two components: actual changes in behavior as a function of self-recording and possible unreliability of selfobservers. The present study was undertaken to differentially examine the reactivity and reliability of self-observations; a second purpose was to assess the role of awareness of reliability estimates in the reliability of self-observation. Unobtrusive independent observers recorded face-touching behaviors of college students in a classroom setting throughout baseline, aware and unaware (of reliability estimates) self-recording conditions and return-to-baseline condition. Subjects simultaneously self-recorded face touching during the middle two conditions. Face touching, as measured by the independent observers, was significantly affected by self-recording, indicating that it is a reactive procedure. The reliability between independent observers and self-observers decreased differentially when the self-recorders were unaware that reliability was being assessed. The importance of these findings is discussed in terms of the utility of self-recording as a data-gathering procedure.

Teaching Counseling Skills Through Self‐Management Procedures

“…Self-management research suggests that the act of observing oneself often alters the behavior observed (Lipinski & Nelson 1974). This "selfmonitoring effect" is additionally noteworthy in that change typically occurs in a desired direction (Johnson & White 1971;McFall 1970).…”

Awareness: An Understudied Cognitive Factor in Behavior Therapy

“…The results reported by different authors (Broden, Hall, & Mitts, 1971;Hayes & Cavior, 1977;Lipinski & Nelson, 1974) show the reactivity is manifest even when self-monitoring has low reliability. The unreliability of self-monitoring, as well as its reactivity, may render difficult the use of self-monitoring as an assessment tool, but as Nelson ( 1978) pointed out, we still have to identify the mechanisms by which self-monitoring changes behavior.…”

Pre-Screening Via Sleep Logs in Sleep-Disordered Patients - Adaptational Effects, Yes or No?. Finden sich Adaptationseffekte bei der Bearbeitung von Schlaftagebuchern durch Schlafgestorte?

“…The suggested reactivity of self‐monitoring usually is minimized by extending the baseline assessment up to at least 2 weeks [7]. In the literature, two types of possible biases are discussed: the validity of subjective self‐reports is questioned in terms of the increased accuracy of the estimates during self‐monitoring via sleep logs (‘instrumental’ bias) [3, 9]; the second type is related to the therapeutic effects that are induced by self‐monitoring per se (‘therapeutic’ bias) [4, 6], an effect that is discussed not only in relation to sleep logs.…”