Understanding Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
ABA, or Applied Behavior Analysis, uses the science of learning to improve behaviors that matter. It’s often used to help children with autism develop communication, social skills, and manage challenging behaviors. ABA uses specific methods to help them learn new skills and reduce unwanted behaviors.
ABA therapy has its own vocabulary, and it can be tricky to understand at first. But if you learn the key terms, you’ll be better able to follow what’s happening in therapy and work with the therapists.
This guide explains some of the most common applied behavior analysis terms, methods, and assessment tools, so you can better understand ABA therapy and participate in the process.
The ABCs of Behavior
If you’re learning about applied behavior analysis, you’re probably going to hear about the ABCs of behavior. This is a foundational concept, so it’s important to understand what these letters stand for!
Antecedent (A)
An antecedent is what happens before a behavior. It’s the thing that triggers a behavior. Here are a few examples:
- A teacher giving an instruction to students
- A child seeing a candy bar in the store
Behavior (B)
Behavior is any action that can be seen and measured. One way to think about it is that “behavior is the movement of a person in the environment.”
Applied behavior analysts often use what’s called the “dead man’s test” to determine if something is a behavior. If a dead person can do it, it’s not a behavior. Here are a couple of examples:
- A child saying “I want candy!”
- A student raising their hand in class
Consequence (C)
A consequence is what happens after a behavior. Consequences can either make a behavior more or less likely to happen again in the future.
It’s important to note that consequences aren’t necessarily punishments. In ABA, consequences are simply events that support or manage behavior. Here are a couple of examples:
- A child receives candy after asking for it (reinforcement)
- Screen time is taken away after hitting a sibling (punishment)
Reinforcement: Encouraging the behaviors you want to see
Reinforcement is a fundamental principle in ABA. It’s all about increasing the likelihood of a behavior happening again.
Positive Reinforcement
Definition: Adding something desirable after a behavior occurs, making that behavior more likely to happen again.
Examples:
- Praising a child after they finish a chore.
- Giving a sticker for good behavior.
Negative Reinforcement
Definition: Removing something unpleasant after a behavior occurs, also making that behavior more likely to happen again. It’s important to remember that negative reinforcement is not punishment.
Examples:
- Turning off a loud, annoying alarm once a task is completed.
- Letting a child skip their chores because they finished their homework.
Reinforcer Assessments
Definition: Procedures used to figure out which items or activities are most likely to be reinforcing for a particular individual.
Importance: You can only truly know if something is a reinforcer by observing its effect on future behavior. If giving a sticker doesn’t make the behavior more likely to occur in the future, then it’s not actually a reinforcer for that person.
Schedules of Reinforcement
Definition: The pattern used to deliver reinforcement after a behavior.
Example: Variable Ratio Schedule of Reinforcement (VR): Reinforcement is given after an average number of responses. For instance, a VR5 means reinforcement is delivered on average after every 5th response, but it could be after 3 responses, then 7, then 5, etc.
Teaching Methodologies and Techniques
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) uses a variety of teaching methodologies and techniques to help people learn new skills and reduce challenging behaviors. Here are some of the most common:
Discrete Trial Training (DTT)
Discrete Trial Training is a structured way to teach. It breaks down skills into smaller steps, using a clear “antecedent, behavior, and consequence” (ABC) sequence. The therapist presents a stimulus (SD), prompts a response, and then provides reinforcement if the response is correct or correction if it’s not.
Natural Environment Teaching (NET)
Natural Environment Teaching focuses on teaching skills in the settings where they’ll actually be used, and it uses naturally occurring motivators. For example, if a child wants juice during snack time, the therapist might teach them how to request “juice” at that moment.
Task Analysis and Chaining
Task analysis means breaking down a complex task into smaller, more manageable steps. Chaining involves teaching those steps in a specific order.
There are two main types of chaining:
- Forward Chaining: Teach the first step, then add the next step, and so on.
- Backward Chaining: Start with the last step and work backward. For example, if you’re teaching someone to put a puzzle together, you might help them complete all the steps except the last one, then prompt them to put that last piece in place. As they master that last step, you’d remove your prompts, then start prompting the second to last step, and so on.
Prompting and Fading
A prompt is a cue or assistance that helps a learner perform a behavior. Fading is the process of gradually reducing the intensity or frequency of prompts as the learner becomes more independent.
Common types of prompts include:
- Most-to-Least Prompting: Start with the most intrusive prompt (like physically guiding the learner) and gradually fade to less intrusive prompts (like a verbal cue).
- Hand-over-Hand (HOH) Prompting: Physically guiding the learner’s hand to perform the behavior.
- Visual Prompt: Using a picture or visual cue to prompt the behavior.
Shaping
Shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations of a target behavior. Basically, you reward small steps in the right direction until the behavior gradually takes the desired form.
Discrimination Training
Discrimination training teaches someone to distinguish between two or more stimuli. You reinforce responses to one stimulus and don’t reinforce responses to the other.
How does applied behavior analysis address challenging behaviors?
When applied behavior analysis is used to address unwanted behaviors, the process often goes something like this:
Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)
A Functional Behavior Assessment is a way to figure out the purpose of a challenging behavior. It involves gathering information, observing the person closely, and designing a plan of action. An FBA involves:
- Defining the target behavior (what are you trying to change?)
- Identifying what happens before (antecedents) and after (consequences) the behavior
- Figuring out the function of the behavior (why does the person do it?)
Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)
A Behavior Intervention Plan is a written plan that explains how to address problem behaviors. It includes:
- Definitions of the target behaviors
- Hypotheses about why the person does the behavior
- Strategies for preventing the behavior
- Strategies for dealing with the behavior when it happens
- Goals for the client and their caregivers
Extinction
In applied behavior analysis, “extinction” means withholding reinforcement from a behavior that used to be reinforced. The goal is to make the behavior less likely to happen in the future.
A tricky thing about extinction is something called an extinction burst. This means that when you first stop reinforcing a behavior, the behavior might actually get worse before it gets better.
Differential Reinforcement
Differential reinforcement means reinforcing one behavior while ignoring another. There are a few different kinds of differential reinforcement:
- Differential Reinforcement of Other Behaviors (DRO): Reinforcing the absence of the target behavior for a certain amount of time.
- Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behaviors (DRA): Reinforcing a replacement behavior that is more appropriate than the target behavior.
Functional Communication Training (FCT)
Functional Communication Training means teaching someone to use different behaviors to get the same thing they were getting with the problem behavior. This often involves teaching communication skills.
Verbal Behavior: How We Communicate
One key area of ABA focuses on understanding how and why we use language. This is often called verbal behavior, or VB.
Verbal Behavior (VB)
Verbal behavior is a way of looking at language that comes from the work of B.F. Skinner. It focuses on what language does for us.
Mand
- Definition: A mand is simply a request.
- Example: When you’re thirsty and say, “I want juice,” that’s a mand. You’re asking for something you need.
Tact
- Definition: A tact is a label or comment about something you see, hear, smell, taste, or touch.
- Example: If you see a dog and say, “That’s a dog,” you’re using a tact.
Intraverbal
- Definition: An intraverbal is when you respond to something someone else says.
- Example: If someone asks, “What is your name?” and you answer, “My name is [your name],” that’s an intraverbal.
Echoic
- Definition: Echoic behavior is when you repeat what someone else says.
- Example: If someone says “apple,” and you say “apple” right after them, that’s echoic behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 4 behaviors of ABA?
While “4 behaviors of ABA” isn’t a standard term, it’s likely referring to the characteristics of behavior targeted in ABA therapy. These can be described as observable, measurable, definable, and recordable. In short, the behaviors we work with must be clearly defined so we can track progress.
What are the 4 branches of applied behavior analysis?
The four branches of ABA are: Behaviorism (the philosophy of the science), Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB; basic research), Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA; application of principles to socially significant behavior), and Professional Practice (delivery of ABA services).
What are the 7 dimensions of ABA?
The “7 dimensions of ABA” are often considered the guiding principles. These are: Applied, Behavioral, Analytic, Technological, Conceptually Systematic, Effective, and Generality. They ensure interventions are practical, observable, data-driven, clearly described, based on ABA principles, produce meaningful change, and are sustainable.
What are the 4 pillars of ABA?
Again, there isn’t a universally agreed-upon “4 pillars” concept. However, some common interpretations focus on: Measurement (collecting data), Assessment (identifying needs), Intervention (implementing strategies), and Evaluation (analyzing outcomes). These represent the core steps in the ABA process.
The Bottom Line
Understanding the language of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is super important if you want to communicate effectively and actively participate in therapy. Some key concepts to wrap your head around include the ABCs of behavior (antecedent, behavior, consequence), reinforcement, different teaching strategies, and ways to deal with challenging behaviors.
ABA relies heavily on collecting data so therapists can track progress and make smart, informed decisions about treatment. It’s all about using that data to guide what happens next.
If you’re a parent or caregiver, keep learning about ABA! The more you understand, the better you can support your child’s development. Don’t hesitate to reach out to ABA professionals for more information and support. They are the best resource to answer specific questions about your child.