Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
is a scientific approach to understanding and changing human
behavior. ABA focuses on how behaviors are influenced by the environment, as well as how
learning occurs. Behavior refers to skills and actions needed to talk, play, and live day to day life.
These principles apply to everyone, but they can be used systematically through interventions to
help individuals learn and apply new skills in their daily lives.
What is the goal of ABA? The goal of ABA is to enhance the independence and/or quality of life
for the individual. ABA can help individuals improve their communication, social, academic, and
adaptive skills, as well as reduce challenging or inappropriate behaviors.
Who is a candidate for ABA?
ABA can benefit individuals with various developmental or
behavioral needs, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD), Down syndrome, and other conditions. ABA can also be used to teach new
skills or habits to anyone who wants to learn or change their behavior.
ABA therapy can often be broken down into several different components, including:
- Discrete Trial Training (DTT)
- Strategies for generalizing the behavior to other environments.
- Strategies to prompt certain behaviors while minimizing others.
- Reinforcement methods
- Decisions that are based on outcomes.
Discrete Trial Training (DTT)
DTT involves breaking down a goal into its individual, much smaller,
and achievable pieces. Each piece is then taught to the individual using a structured and
repeated format. The steps include:
- Providing a cue or instruction (also called a discriminative stimulus)
- Waiting for a response
- Giving feedback or a reward (also called a consequence) when the response is correct or
close to correct.
The cue or instruction can be verbal, visual, or physical, depending on the skill and the learner’s
needs. The feedback or reward can also vary depending on the learner’s preferences and
motivation. For example, the feedback or reward can be:
- Praise or encouragement.
- Gestures or smiles
- Tokens or stickers
- Access to a preferred activity or item
The feedback or reward is also called a reinforcer because it increases the likelihood of the
correct response in the future.
Strategies for generalizing the behavior to other environments
Generalization is the ability to
apply a learned skill or behavior in different settings, situations, or with different people.
Generalization is an important goal of ABA, because it ensures that the individual can use their skills in their natural environment and across their lifespan. To promote generalization, ABA
therapists use various strategies, such as:
- Teaching the skill in different places, such as at home, at school, or in the community
- Teaching the skill with different materials, such as different toys, books, or tools
- Teaching the skill with different people, such as parents, teachers, peers, or strangers
- Fading or reducing the cues, feedback, or rewards over time, so that the individual can
perform the skill independently and without external support. - Reinforcing the skill when it occurs spontaneously or naturally, without being prompted
or instructed.
Strategies to prompt certain behaviors while minimizing others
Prompting is a technique to help
the individual learn a new skill or behavior by providing extra guidance or assistance. Prompting
can be used to elicit the correct response, to prevent errors, or to remind the individual of what
to do. Prompting can be done in different ways, such as:
- Gestures or pointing
- Modeling or demonstrating
- Verbal hints or cues
- Physical guidance or assistance
Prompting should gradually fade out over the shortest period possible, so that the individual can
perform the skill or behavior without needing the prompt. Prompting should also be matched to the individual’s level of ability and learning style, so that the prompting is effective and not too
intrusive.
Reinforcement methods
Reinforcement is a key concept in ABA, as it is the process of increasing
the frequency or intensity of a desired behavior by providing a consequence that the individual
finds rewarding or satisfying. Reinforcement can be positive or negative, depending on whether
something is added or removed following the behavior. For example:
- Positive reinforcement occurs when something is added after the behavior, such as
praise, attention, or a preferred item or activity. Positive reinforcement makes the
behavior more likely to happen again in the future. - Negative reinforcement occurs when something is removed after the behavior, such as a
demand, a task, or an unpleasant stimulus. Negative reinforcement also makes the
behavior more likely to happen again in the future, because it allows the individual to
escape or avoid something they do not like.
It is important to distinguish reinforcement from punishment, as they have opposite effects on
behavior. While reinforcement seeks to increase a behavior, punishment seeks to decrease a
behavior. Punishment can also have negative side effects, such as fear, anxiety, aggression, or
resentment. Therefore, ABA therapists prefer to use reinforcement over punishment, as it is
more effective and ethical. ABA therapists also assess the individual’s preferences and interests
and use them as reinforcers to motivate and engage the individual in learning.
Decisions that are based on outcomes
A fundamental principle of ABA is that it is data-driven,
meaning that it is based on objective and observable information. ABA therapists collect and analyze data on the individual’s behavior and progress and use it to make decisions about
intervention. For example, data can be used to:
- Identify the strengths and needs of the individual.
- Set realistic and measurable goals and objectives.
- Monitor the effectiveness and quality of the intervention.
- Modify or adapt the intervention as needed.
- Evaluate the outcomes and achievements of the individual.
Data can be collected in various ways, such as frequency counts, duration records, latency
measures, or rating scales. Data can also be displayed in various formats, such as graphs, charts,
or tables. Data helps ABA therapists to provide evidence-based and individualized services that
meet the needs and goals of the individual.