Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the study and application of principles of behavior discovered through the Experimental Analysis of Behavior to socially significant behaviors in the natural environment.
It is a way to manage behaviors so that people can engage more positively with their environments, while managing the challenging behaviors that might create issues for them across multiple environments.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the study and application of principles of behavior discovered through the Experimental Analysis of Behavior to socially significant behaviors in the natural environment.
It is a way to manage behaviors so that people can engage more positively with their environments, while managing the challenging behaviors that might create issues for them across multiple environments.
The MADSEC Autism Task Force (2000) provides the following description of Applied Behavior Analysis:
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is the science of human behavior. Over the past 50 years, several thousand published research studies have documented the effectiveness of ABA across a wide range of:
Children and adults with mental health conditions, developmental disabilities, and learning disorders.
Parents, teachers and staff.
Schools, homes, institutions, group homes, hospitals, and business offices.
Language; social, academic, leisure, and functional life skills; aggression, self-injury, oppositional and stereotyped behaviors.
In 1968, Baer, Wolf, and Risley defined ABA in terms of seven dimensions. They first determined that ABA is Applied, meaning that it deals with behaviors that are of value to families, communities, and society at large in relation to the subject of study.
Next, ABA is Behavioral, meaning that it studies actions or behaviors that are observable and measurable.
Third, they note that ABA is Analytic, meaning that it requires an objective demonstration that the behavior change observed was caused by the procedure. ABA thus uses a variety of experimental controls to design studies in a way that eliminates confounding factors and demonstrates that the behavior changes along with the procedure.
In 1968, Baer, Wolf, and Risley defined ABA in terms of seven dimensions. They first determined that ABA is Applied, meaning that it deals with behaviors that are of value to families, communities, and society at large in relation to the subject of study.
Next, ABA is Behavioral, meaning that it studies actions or behaviors that are observable and measurable.
Third, they note that ABA is Analytic, meaning that it requires an objective demonstration that the behavior change observed was caused by the procedure. ABA thus uses a variety of experimental controls to design studies in a way that eliminates confounding factors and demonstrates that the behavior changes along with the procedure.
Rather than statistical analysis, ABA uses experimental controls, such as demonstrating that the behavior decreases when a procedure is introduced and returns to higher rates with that procedure are withdrawn. They go on to describe ABA as Technological. This means that all procedures in ABA are described completely, such that they can be carried out by anyone with the appropriate training and resources.
After that, they identify ABA as a Conceptual System. This means that, in addition to completely describing the procedures used, it identifies the concepts or principles from the Experimental Analysis of Behavior upon which the procedures are based. This helps to make ABA part of a conceptual system of Behavior Analysis, such that it may be developed and grown in a meaningful way. Baer et al. then state that ABA is Effective, meaning that the procedures used produce large effects of practical value in ways that are both time and cost-efficient.
Finally, they describe ABA as having Generality, meaning that the effects of the procedures are long-lasting and appear across a variety of environments.
Rather than statistical analysis, ABA uses experimental controls, such as demonstrating that the behavior decreases when a procedure is introduced and returns to higher rates with that procedure are withdrawn. They go on to describe ABA as Technological. This means that all procedures in ABA are described completely, such that they can be carried out by anyone with the appropriate training and resources.
After that, they identify ABA as a Conceptual System. This means that, in addition to completely describing the procedures used, it identifies the concepts or principles from the Experimental Analysis of Behavior upon which the procedures are based. This helps to make ABA part of a conceptual system of Behavior Analysis, such that it may be developed and grown in a meaningful way. Baer et al. then state that ABA is Effective, meaning that the procedures used produce large effects of practical value in ways that are both time and cost-efficient.
Finally, they describe ABA as having Generality, meaning that the effects of the procedures are long-lasting and appear across a variety of environments.
Companies that provide treatment based on Applied Behavior Analysis use procedures shown to be effective in the ABA research literature. These programs are applied and behavioral in that they address measurable behaviors that are of value to each client and the communities in which they participate.
Staff implementing ABA programs take data throughout the intervention to either demonstrate the effectiveness of the procedures or allow for analysis of the procedures such that they can be modified as needed. All interventions used in an ABA program will be technological in that they are completely described, and also conceptually systematic. Finally, care is taken to ensure that all procedures are effective and that they produce results with generality.
Baer, D.M., Wolf, M.M., & Risley, T.R. (1968). Some current dimensions of applied behavior analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1, 91-97
Companies that provide treatment based on Applied Behavior Analysis use procedures shown to be effective in the ABA research literature. These programs are applied and behavioral in that they address measurable behaviors that are of value to each client and the communities in which they participate.
Staff implementing ABA programs take data throughout the intervention to either demonstrate the effectiveness of the procedures or allow for analysis of the procedures such that they can be modified as needed. All interventions used in an ABA program will be technological in that they are completely described, and also conceptually systematic. Finally, care is taken to ensure that all procedures are effective and that they produce results with generality.
Baer, D.M., Wolf, M.M., & Risley, T.R. (1968). Some current dimensions of applied behavior analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1, 91-97
ABA Therapy is not in any way a static form of treatment. In fact, it evolves constantly to meet the needs of the person receiving it. Generally ABA functions around the idea of 3 steps known as “ABC,” ANTECEDENT, BEHAVIOR and CONSEQUENCE. First, there is an ANTECEDENT.
This is what is causing the behavior. It could be anything from a loud sound, a comment a person makes, an internal issue happening with the person, etc. Second is the BEHAVIOR, this is the reaction to the antecedent. A person hears a loud noise that startles them and their behavior (reaction) is that they get upset and act in a challenging way given whatever situation they are in. Lastly, is the CONSEQUENCE.
This is meant to be a deterrent to the challenging behavior. The overall goal is for whatever the behavior is to be managed as the person is taught other ways of reacting to antecedents that cause them to act in ways they would rather not. An example of all of this put together is when a person hears a loud noise. This startles them so they start yelling about it. As a result, maybe they get in trouble, lose privileges, get talked to at work, etc. The hope is that whatever the consequence is it will deter the person from engaging in the behavior that is causing them to have problems. Ultimately, the overall goal is for them to realize that by reacting in a more positive way, that is best for them and the people around them.
ABA uses experimental controls, such as demonstrating that the behavior decreases when a procedure is introduced and returns to higher rates when that procedure is withdrawn. ABA is technological. This means that all procedures in ABA are described completely, so that they can be carried out by anyone with the appropriate training and resources. ABA Therapy affords people the ability to have what they are learning generalized over multiple environments. In this way, they can have sessions in an ABA clinic, school, or in the community and as long as the person with them is trained in ABA Therapy, the person receiving the therapy can achieve success in multiple settings.
If we want somebody to engage in a certain behavior, positive reinforcement can be used to encourage that behavior to happen. For example, a parent has a child that doesn’t want to go to school. Maybe that child loves going to the mall. A system can be developed where, if the child goes to school without complaining, for every day they don’t complain they will get a star on a token board. If they get 5 stars across 5 days of going to school, on the fifth day they will be taken to the mall. All positive reinforcement systems are different, some people are reinforced more, while others are reinforced less. The one constant is that positive reinforcement is used to manage (and possibly) eliminate a challenging behavior.
At Autism Behavior Services, Inc. we take an evidence based approach to ABA Therapy. We mix problem solving with well designed studies, clinician experience, and the goals of our clients, to provide the most effective treatment possible. ABA Therapy programs are constantly being evaluated and updated so that we can make sessions as meaningful as they can be for the people we work with. We take a very collaborative approach to ABA by providing parent training, social emotional resources, and constant evaluations with our clients, their families, and the team as a whole.
Most insurance companies cover ABA services.
Doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other medical professionals can provide referrals to ABA service providers. Another excellent resource is if you know somebody with Autism, or know someone receiving Autism services near you, that can be an excellent starting point toward finding the ABA Services you seek. There are Autism centers near you in every city. Sites such as Yelp and organizations like the Better Business Bureau can allow you to access more information about the ABA services you seek.
ABA Therapy can take place in a clinical setting, school, the home, or in the community. Generally, only one therapist is needed to run the ABA Therapy program but in some cases there may be more. When people are younger they tend to need more hours per week of therapy as it can be more intensive at a young age. As the person gets older, the amount of therapy needed per week tends to fade back as the person has most likely mastered certain ABA concepts. Again, everybody is different so their level of need differs as well.
Goals are evaluated based on the progress and need of the person receiving the therapy. Generally, the goals first established are set up to meet a behavioral deficit. As the person obtaining the therapy shows a mastery of the goals, they are re-evaluated by the team and changed to meet the needs of where the person has progressed to. Again, ABA Therapy is very fluid and the same concept applies to goals set for a particular person.
Behavior Analysis is the scientific study of both human and non-human behavior and learning. It consists of three major branches:
Behaviorism, the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, and Applied Behavior Analysis.
Behaviorism is the philosophy that all behavior is performed or acquired in relation to the environment.
The Experimental Analysis of Behavior uses assumptions of behaviorism to study relationships between behavior and the environment under laboratory conditions.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the study and application of principles of behavior discovered through the Experimental Analysis of Behavior to socially significant behaviors in the natural environment.
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