Self-Monitoring

Self-Monitoring (SM)

Systematic observation and recording by a person of his or her behavior or other experiences

SM (cont’d) Recording frequency, duration, latency,

interresponse interval, or magnitude of an experience (e.g., activity, thought, feeling)

Sometimes collection of information about conditions under which the experience occurs “Client log” or “structured diary”

SM (cont’d) Self-report but…

SM involves self-reports of behaviors and experiences over time made in the client’s normal environment when they occur

Standardized self-report scales involve self-reports of behaviors and experiences that occurred at another time and in another place

IRSs can be used either way

Purposes Pinpoint and define problems in a way

that reflects the unique perceptions and circumstances of clients

Explore and clarify unique contexts in which problems occur

Measure and monitor client progress Enhance client functioning

Decide What to Measure Pinpoint and define problems Quantify problems Record contextual information Put qualitative and quantitative

information together

Decide When and Where to Measure Interval-contingent sampling

Client observes and records at predefined times each day (e.g., morning and afternoon) or at regular intervals (e.g., every two hours)

Best used when behavior or other experience is ongoing (such as anxiety) or occurs frequently (such as obsessive thoughts)

Decide When and Where to Measure (cont’d) Event-contingent sampling

Client observes and records in response to predefined events or situations (e.g., after an interaction with a particular person)

Best used for self-monitoring experiences surrounding specific events that don’t occur too frequently or that don’t occur at regular intervals

Decide When and Where to Measure (cont’d) Signal-contingent sampling

Client observes and records information at random times, typically signaled by an electronic device (e.g., smart phone)

Select SM Instruments See Chapters 10 and 11 http://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/freedownlo

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Engage and Prepare Client Explain that self-monitoring provides a

record of events that might be forgotten Describe, demonstrate, and practice in

advance Ensure that the client is willing and able Provide individualized forms or devices

(e.g., Smartphones—“self-monitoring” and “smartphone” to see what’s new)

Review information with the client

Maximizing Accuracy of SM

Strategies discussed in Chapters 8 and 11

Verifying Accuracy of SM Obtain and compare information from

different sources and different measurement methods

What the client chooses to report and how it’s reported can be as important as “objective reality”

Set Goals and Objectives

See Chapters 10 and 11

Advantages of SM Rich source of quantitative and

qualitative information about overt and covert experiences

When collected in real time and in the client’s natural environment has the potential to provide accurate and relevant information to guide practice

Advantages of SM (cont’d) When expanded to collection of

contextual information can provide basis for generating intervention and prevention hypotheses

Can change behavior in a beneficial direction

Precautions in Using SM Potentially reactive

Reactivity: degree to which measurement procedures produce changes in what is being measured

Places relatively heavy burden on clients

Difficult to verify accuracy of SM