Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

• Behavior analysis is the science of behavior.
• It studies the influence of the environment on behavior.
• Behavior is the subject matter in behavior analysis.
• Behavior analysis consists of three branches: philosophy (behaviorism), basic research (experimental analysis of behavior), and application (applied behavior analysis).

Behaviorism Origin

• The origin of behaviorism can be traced to 1938.
• B.F. Skinner published "Behavior of Organism".
• Skinner introduced the 3-term contingency, known as operant conditioning, by examining the ABCs.
• Skinner's work showed that organisms chose behavior based on the consequences that followed.
• The experiments were limited to animals, but his work set the stage for behaviorism.

Developments 1950-1960

• Researchers began applying the principles of operant conditioning to humans.
• In 1968, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) was established as its own field.
• The Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis was published.
• Baer, Wolf, and Risley published their article "Some Current Dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis."
  • The 7 characteristics of ABA in this article are still used to judge whether a practice is truly a sound ABA strategy.
  • These principles are generality, effective, technological, applied, conceptually systematic, analytic, and behavioral.

ABA Analysis

• Behavior analysts look at the antecedents, the behavior, and the consequences.
• In an analysis, it is important to determine the why, not just the what, of a behavior.
• The problem behavior may appear the same but manifest for different reasons.
• The primary functions of behavior are escape/avoidance, attention, access, and self-stimulatory needs.

Intervention and Components

• Core components of ABA intervention are antecedent interventions, teaching replacement behaviors, and consequence strategy.
• Data is used to analyze the effectiveness of the intervention.

Challenges

• Behavior analysts often work with challenging behavior and with people with autism.
• ABA is used as an intervention with autism because it is scientifically validated and a research-proven intervention.
• ABA is endorsed as a safe and effective treatment for autism because of the recent proven interventions.
• Intensive early intervention with at least 30 hours of ABA has shown dramatic results in some children, who become indistinguishable from peers.
• Older children and adults continue to benefit from ABA services to learn functional language, self-management, social skills, daily living tasks, and to decrease problem behaviors.

ABA Therapy

• ABA therapy can be comprehensive and encompass a full range of life skills.
  • Self-care: dressing, toileting, brushing teeth
  • Sociability: initiating eye contact, responding to name, greeting, taking turns
  • School readiness: engagement in activities
  • Communication by using words, requesting, answering questions, etc.

Other Applications of ABA

• Uses for ABA include:
  • Environmental studies.
  • Sports.
  • Organizational behavior management.
  • Substance abuse and addiction.
  • Reduction of bullying behavior and increasing prosocial behavior in schools.
  • General education.

Certification Process

• To become certified by the National Board of Certification, an individual has to meet eligibility requirements, apply, and take and pass the BCBA exam in order to then maintain it.
• Maintaining certification involves certification maintenance with CEUs (continuing education units).
• Licensure is required by the Board of Medicine in Virginia.
• Certification renewal takes place every 2 years.