Module B: Intro to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

What is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

an evidence-based approach that uses observation, data collection, and planned interventions to understand and improve socially significant behavior

What are the 7 Dimensions of ABA

Applied

Behavioral

Analytic

Technological

Conceptually Systematic

Effective

Generality

1st Dimension - Applied

focuses on socially significant behaviors

2nd Dimension - Behavioral

focuses on observable and measurable behavior

3rd Dimension - Analytic

demonstrates a cause-and-effect relationship between behavior and interventions using data analysis

4th Dimension - Technological

ABA procedures must be clearly written and replicable by others

5th Dimension - Conceptually Systematic

Interventions must be based on principles of behavior analysis rather than personal opinions or non-evidence-based practices

6th Dimension - Effective

ABA interventions must produce meaningful and significant behaivor change

7th Dimension - Generality

Behavior change should persist over time, across different settings and people

Three-term contingency includes what

Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence

Antecedent (ABC)

events or stimuli that occur immediately before a behavior and signal the availability of reinforcement

Behavior (ABC)

the observable and measurable response of an individual

Consequence (ABC)

events that follow behavior and alter future probability through reinforcement and punishment

Motivating Operations (MOs)

an environmental variable or condition that temporarily alters how much an individual "wants" a reward (value-altering effect) and how hard they will work to get it (behavior-altering effect)

Purpose of ABA service

to produce socially significant and durable behavior change that enhances quality of life.

This includes increasing communication, social, academic, vocational, and independent living skills while reducing behaviors that interfere with participation in different settings

Reinforcement

consequence process that increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring in the future

Positive Reinforcement

desirable stimulus is added to increase behavior

Negative Reinforcement

aversive stimulus is removed to increase behavior

What are the two forms of negative reinforcement

Escape and Avoidance

Escape

Behavior that occurs to avoid or remove something in the environment

Avoidance

behaviors prevent or delay an aversive event from occurring in the first place

What are the four functions of behavior

Access, Escape, Sensory, Pain Attenuation

Access to Tangibles

gaining something from the environment

Sensory (Automatic Reinforcement)

Actions that a person engages in to gain internal stimulation or regulation within their own body, without the need for social interaction or external reinforcement

Pain Attenuation

escaping internal discomfort or pain

Mand

a verbal behavior that is controlled by a motivating operation (MO) and reinforced by a specific consequence

Tact

labeling things in the environment

Echoic

imitating sounds and words

intraverbal

answering and conversing

Textual

reading written words aloud

transcription

writing spoken words

The four phases of behavior-analytic interventions

Baseline, Intervention, Generalization, Maintenance

Baseline

behavior is measured before any intervention

Intervention

the behavior plan is implemented

Generalization

occurs when behavior change transfers across settings, people, and responses without additional teaching

Maintenance

sustaining behavior change even when intervention is reduced

focus of ABA

on observable and measurable behaviors