ABA Field Training & Data Collection Overview

Vocabulary flashcards covering administrative reminders, ABA principles, instructional methods, behavior functions, interventions, and data-collection terms found in the lecture notes.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

A science that applies principles of behavior to improve socially significant actions.

3-Term Contingency

The ABCs of behavior: Antecedent → Behavior → Consequence.

Antecedent

What happens immediately before a behavior occurs.

Behavior

An observable, measurable action performed by the client.

Consequence

What happens immediately after a behavior, affecting its future likelihood.

Reinforcement (SR)

A consequence that increases the future occurrence of a behavior.

Punishment

A consequence that decreases the future occurrence of a behavior.

Discrete Trial Teaching (DTT)

Structured teaching using SD → Response → Consequence with clear data collection.

Discriminative Stimulus (SD)

An instruction, question, or cue signaling that reinforcement is available for a correct response.

Response (R)

The client’s behavior that occurs within 3 seconds of the SD.

Prompting Hierarchy

Ordered levels of assistance used to help the client respond correctly.

Most-to-Least Prompting

Begins with maximum assistance and systematically fades to independence; used for new or difficult skills.

Least-to-Most Prompting

Begins with minimal assistance and increases only if needed; used for mastered or well-known skills.

Full Physical Prompt (FP)

Hand-over-hand guidance of the client’s entire response.

Partial Physical Prompt (PP)

Guidance of part of the response, allowing some independent movement.

Full Vocal Prompt (FV)

Providing the entire correct verbal response aloud.

Partial Vocal Prompt (PV)

Giving only part of the correct verbal response (e.g., first sound).

Full Visual Prompt (FVi)

Showing the exact visual cue or answer (e.g., picture, written word).

Partial Visual Prompt (PVi)

Providing a faded or incomplete visual cue.

Model Prompt

Demonstrating the correct response for the learner to imitate.

Gesture Prompt

Pointing or motioning toward the correct response.

Positional Prompt

Placing the correct item nearer to the client to indicate the answer.

Indirect Verbal Prompt

Hints or questions that lead the learner toward the correct response without stating it.

Target in Isolation (ISO)

Teaching one target at a time, possibly with neutral distractors, until criteria are met.

Random Rotation (RR)

Mixing new and mastered targets in varied positions while rotating which one is requested.

Verbal Behavior

Behavior reinforced through the actions of another person (e.g., speaking, signing, writing).

Mand

A request made when the client lacks or wants something, reinforced by receiving that item.

Tact

A label of something the client contacts with their senses, reinforced by social praise.

Echoic

Repeating what is heard; reinforcement typically social praise.

Intraverbal

A conversational response to another’s verbal stimulus (e.g., answering a question).

Naturalistic Teaching Strategies (NATS)

Instruction embedded in the learner’s natural interests, materials, and environment.

3 P’s of Transitioning

Prime, Preference Assessment, and Premack Principle—tools for smooth activity changes.

Prime

Informing the client about upcoming changes before they occur.

Preference Assessment

Identifying potential reinforcers via observation, testing, or asking.

Premack Principle

“First X, then Y”; using a preferred activity to motivate completion of a less-preferred task.

Flow of Session

Check-in, data prep, pairing, lessons alternated with short play, debrief, and data closeout.

Function of Behavior

The purpose the behavior serves: Escape, Attention, Tangible, or Sensory (Automatic).

Escape Function

Behavior aimed at postponing or avoiding non-preferred tasks or sensations.

Attention Function

Behavior intended to gain looks, words, or interaction from others.

Tangible Function

Behavior performed to obtain items or activities.

Sensory (Automatic) Function

Behavior that produces its own reinforcing sensory input (e.g., hand flapping).

Extinction

Withholding reinforcement that previously maintained a problem behavior.

Escape Extinction

Preventing task avoidance; the task continues until completed.

Attention Extinction

Withholding social attention (planned ignoring) following the problem behavior.

Tangible Extinction

Not providing the desired item or activity after the problem behavior.

Sensory Extinction

Blocking or removing the sensory feedback produced by the behavior.

Differential Reinforcement

Reinforcing desirable behaviors while withholding reinforcement for problem behaviors.

DRA (Differential Reinforcement of Alternative)

Reinforce an appropriate alternative that serves the same function as the problem behavior.

DRI (Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible)

Reinforce a behavior that cannot occur simultaneously with the problem behavior.

DRO (Differential Reinforcement of Other)

Reinforce the absence of the problem behavior during a specified interval.

Antecedent Intervention

Modifying events before a behavior to reduce the need for the problem response.

Choice Making

Allowing the client to select aspects of tasks, materials, or order to increase cooperation.

Warnings

Telling the client how much time remains before a transition or next activity.

Priming (Antecedent)

Previewing tasks or materials so the client can familiarize before performance.

Functional Communication Training (FCT)

Teaching the client an appropriate communication response to access reinforcers.

Behavior Momentum

Presenting several easy, mastered tasks before a challenging task to build compliance.

Environmental Modification

Changing the physical setting or routine to decrease problem behavior likelihood.

Altering Instruction/Task Delivery

Adjusting task length, format, or difficulty before presenting it to the client.

Non-Contingent Reinforcement (NCR)

Delivering known reinforcers on a fixed schedule independent of problem behavior.

Event (Frequency/Rate) Recording

Counting how often a behavior occurs; timer starts at session onset.

Duration Recording

Measuring how long a behavior lasts from onset to offset.

Partial Interval Recording

Recording whether the behavior occurred at any time during each interval.

ABC Data

Narrative or structured notes of Antecedent, Behavior, and Consequence for problem events.

Full Physical Prompt (FP) Code

Data sheet shorthand indicating hand-over-hand assistance was provided.

Timesheet Submission Deadline

Weekly timesheet must be submitted by Sunday at 11:59 pm.

Render Appointment

Marking a field-training appointment as completed in Measure PM after the session.

Regional Scheduling Line

The phone line called to report lateness or session cancellations.