Introduction to ABA

ABA definition

the science in which tactics derived from the principles of behavior are applied systematically to improve socially significant behavior and experimentation is used to identify the variables for behavior change

ABA as a science

science definition → a systematic approach for seeking and organizing knowledge about the world

purpose of science

• description

• prediction

• control

purpose of science → description

a collection of facts about observed events, which can then be quantified, classified, and examined for possible relations with other facts

purpose of science → prediction 

When two (or more) events occur together reliably, the occurrence of one event predicts the likelihood of the other occurring

purpose of science → control

Highest level of scientific understanding

Allows us to demonstrate functional relations

functional relations exist when…

A specific change in one event (DV) can be produced reliably by specific manipulations of another event (IV) and the change in the DV is unlikely to be due to other confounds

attitudes of science

science is first of all a set of attitudes

• determinism

• empiricism

• experimentation

• replication

• parsimony

• philosophic doubt

attitudes of science → determinism

key assumption for science

universe is lawful and orderly, in which all phenomena occur as a result of other events

events aren’t random → they’re related systematically

attitudes of science → empiricism

based on facts, observation, experimentation

attitudes of science → experimentation

a controlled comparison of the DV under the manipulation of two or more IVs

attitudes of science → replication

repeating an experiment, with the same pattern of findings each time

needed to check for consistency and ensure data was collected reliably

attitudes of science → parsimony

simplest and most logical explanation is often best

Occam’s razor

attitudes of science → philosophic doubt

scientists should continuously question truth and facts

behavior analysis

behaviorism → philosophy of the science of behavior

experimental analysis of behavior → basic research, behavioral processes

applied behavior analysis → practical application and analysis

behaviorism 

early 1900s → psychology dominated by studying mental states

J.B. Watson → father of behaviorism 

• psych should study observable behavior 

• S-R psychology → direct observations between environmental stimuli (S) and the responses evoked (R)

experimental analysis of behavior (EAB)

B.F. Skinner

• the behavior of organisms

• summary of research in Skinner’s laboratory

• formal beginnings of EAB

• described two types of behavior → respondent and operant

respondent behavior

reflexive behavior

pavlov

respondents elicited by stimuli that immediately precede them

involuntary responses that occur whenever the eliciting stimulus is presented

S-R model

operant behavior

voluntary behaviors

Skinner

behaviors aren’t elicited by preceding stimuli

behavior is shaped through its consequences

three-term contingency (ABC model)

EAB → specific methodology

Rates of behavior under different, controlled conditions

Within-subject comparisons

Experiments in 1930s-1950s → helped us understand basic operant conditioning principles still used today

radical behaviorism

both public (observable) behavior and private events (thoughts and feelings) are types of behavior

can be modified with behavioral techniques

applied behavior analysis (ABA)

1950s-1960s → replications of basic operant principles with human participants, usually in clinic or lab settings

1960s → application of behavior principles to improve socially important behaviors 

• e.g. education

1960s-1970s → establishment of many new university ABA programs in the US

1968 → journal of ABA; some current dimensions of ABA by Baer, wolf, and risley

the seven dimensions of ABA → Baer, wolf, and risley (1968)

applied

behavioral

analytic

technological

conceptually systematic

effective

generality

dimensions of ABA → applied

Investigates socially significant behaviors with immediate importance to the participant

Examples → social, language, academic, daily living, self-care, vocational, recreation/leisure

dimensions of ABA - behavioral

Precise measurement of the actual behavior in need of improvement, and documents that it was the participant’s behavior that changed

• The behavior chosen must be the behavior in need of improvement

• The behavior must be measurable

• Important to note whose behavior has changed

dimensions of ABA → analytic

demonstrates experimental control over the occurrence and non-occurrence of the behavior

a functional relation is demonstrated

dimensions of ABA → technological

the written description of all procedures used in the study is sufficiently complete and detailed to enable others to replicate it

dimensions of ABA → conceptually systematic 

behavior change interventions are derived from basic principles of behavior 

effectiveness of procedures should also be described in terms of the relevant principles 

dimensions of ABA → effective

improves behavior sufficiently to produce practical results for the participant or client

improvements of behavior must reach clinical or social significance 

dimensions of ABA → generality

produces behavior changes that last over time, appear in other environments, or spread to other behaviors

behavior is…

the interaction of a live organism with its environment which involves movement through time and space and results in a measurable change in the environment

behavior and responses

behavior → refers to a larger set of responses that share certain functions or topographies (forms)

response → a single instance of a behavior 

function vs. topography

function → the effect a behavior has on the environment

functional analysis → identifying the function of a behavior 

response class → a set of behaviors that share the same function

response topography → the physical shape or form of behavior

environment

all behavior occurs within an environment

includes all aspects except the organism involved

stimuli → particular aspects of the environment 

stimulus class

stimulus class → a group of stimuli that share the same form, temporal location, or function

can be described in terms of

• form → physical features

• function → effects of the stimuli on behavior

• temporal location → when they occur in relation to behavior

antecedents and consequences

three-term contingency (ABC)

antecedent → environmental conditions or stimulus changes that exist or occur prior to the behavior of interest

consequence → a stimulus change that occurs after the behavior of interest

respondent vs operant behavior

respondent → involuntary/unlearned/reflexive; elicited by an antecedent stimulus (unconditioned stimulus, unconditioned response)

operant → voluntary; response frequency affected by past consequences

respondent conditioning

respondent extinction → conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented though the US

higher order conditioning → neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with the CS

operant behavior 

voluntary behavior

consequences can make behaviors more or less likely to occur again

the law of effect

consequences affect likelihood of future behavior

consequences

future → a consequence only affects future behaviors

response classes → consequences select response classes, not individual responses

immediacy → consequences are most effective when delivered immediately

automaticity → consequences can modify behavior regardless of a person’s awareness

unconditioned reinforcers and punishers

unconditioned reinforcers → things that will increase the likelihood of behavior without prior experience 

unconditioned punishers → things that will decrease the likelihood of behavior without prior experience 

conditioned reinforcers and punishers

anything that functions as a reinforcer or punisher and not related to a biological need

become reinforcers by being paired with already established reinforcers 

consequence can only be called a reinforcer/punisher if it makes behavior more/less likely to occur

contingencies

outline the relation between the behavior and its consequence

consequence is delivered only following a behavior

antecedents

signal that reinforcement is available (or not) for a behavior

stimulus control → a behavior occurs in the presence of an antecedent but not its absence 

antecedent is called the discriminate stimulus

behavior is known as a discriminated operant 

motivating operations

motivating operations → things that momentarily alter the reinforcing (or punishing) properties of stimuli

continuous vs intermittent reinforcement

continuous → when a behavior is being established, all instances of a behavior are followed by a reinforcer

intermittent → the practice of reinforcing behavior on some occasions but not on others 

extinction

results in a decrease of the previously reinforced behavior and may stop altogether

extinction effects

partial reinforcement extinction effect (PREE) → a behavior that has been reinforced intermittently is more likely to persist than a behavior that has been followed by a reinforcer every time

principles vs tactics

behavior principles → describe how behavior works

behavioral tactics → how principles are used in interventions to help people learn socially significant behaviors