The Effectiveness of a Cognitive-Behavioral Counseling Program in Modifying the Negative Behavior Among Students of Aqabat Jaber School Camp in the Governorate of Jericho

Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of a counseling program in modifying the negative
behavior of male students aged 11-15 years. The researcher used the semi-empirical approach with two
measurements, pre and posttest measurements. A purposive sample of 52 students was selected and divided into two
groups, experimental and control groups. Each group comprised a number of 26 male students respectively. The
researcher developed the behavioral modification and counseling program questionnaire.
The study showed that there were statistically significant differences in reducing the level of negative behavior in the
experimental group attributed to the counseling program. The experimental group mean reached a score of 87.08 and
the control group’s mean was 227. The results also indicated that the experimental group has a statistically
significant difference for the minimum permissible level of negative behavior (110), where the mean for negative
behavior reached 87.08, a decrease of 22.92. The effect of the independent factor on the dependent factor was
significant, given that the d-value was 2.07, which is greater than the value 0.8. The study recommended for the
group counseling program to be employed and circulated due to its positive results in modifying behavior.