Applied Behavioral Analysis is a comprehensive, scientific theory used in many

situations unrelated to autism. Its history dates back to 1938 when BF Skinner

published his book about operant science and the analysis of behavior, titled,

The Behavior of Organisms. He introduced the building block of behavior

analysis, known as A-B-C; the three-term contingency, representing Antecedent,

Behavior and Consequence. The A-B-C sequence is used to demonstrate

learning takes place based on the consequence of behavior, and asserts the

antecedent can alter future behaviors.

ABA uses the principles of scientific inquiry to assess behavior, and then applies

those findings to meet a specified goal. The scientific principles used to asses

and change human behaviors are observation, replication and evaluation based

on objective measures.

Jason M. Wallin is an experienced lecturer and ABA educator. Referencing the

1967 publication of Baer, Wolf, and Risely, he lists these seven criteria, on his

web-site, as the essential elements of an ABA-based program:

• · The program must be applied. The behaviors that one chooses to focus

upon should have some social significance.

• · The program must be behavioral. The environment and physical events

should be recorded with precision.

• · The program must be analytic. There should be clear and convincing

evidence, through carefully collected data, that the intervention is

responsible for a change in a behavior.

• · The program must be technological. The techniques that one uses

should be described completely enough to allow for duplication by another

individual.

• · The program must be conceptually systematic. There should be

relevance to established and accepted principles (for example, the

principle of operant conditioning).

• · The program must be effective. The program should seek to change the

targeted behavior to a meaningful degree.

• · The program should display some generality. A change in behavior

should be seen in a wide variety of environments, or should spread to a

wide variety of related or similar behaviors.

In this broad context, applying the scientific principles of behavior (ABA) has

been used to:

• Help people quit smoking
• Help corporations motivate staff and increase efficiency
• Help teach new, decrease undesired or modify existing behavioral

responses

In the 1980′s, ABA derived programming was being used to treat and teach

persons with autism. The Lovaas method, named after ABA pioneer Dr. O. Ivar

Lovaas, is one specific program based on the principles of ABA and used to

teach many children with autism. When a parent or teacher tells me they ‘do

ABA’, I assume they are referring to a Lovass style program.

 

You may recognize Lovaas ABA by way of Discrete Trial Training (DTT), which is

the fundamental component of many ABA programs used to teach children with

autism. In addition to Lovaas ABA, other specific modalities developed and

rooted in larger scientific model of Applied Behavioral Analysis are: Applied

Verbal Behavior, Intensive Behavioral Instruction, Pivotal Response Training and

Natural Environment Training.

 

It is important to recognize Lovaas ABA and other specific programs do not

constitute ABA as a whole. Instead, they are very specific programs, used to

teach a target population, that directly apply the components of behavioral

analysis.

 

The Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies’ web-site reports over 500

published research studies supporting the effectiveness of ABA when working

with people that have autism. So it should be no surprise as to why ABA is

widely accepted as an effective treatment.

 

ABA programs employ specific analytic teaching procedures, skill building

and instructional techniques, and comprehensive strategies targeted to

decrease, alter, replace and teach new behaviors. Your child’s therapy program

will include all of these.

 

You will also be collecting a vast amount of data, as ABA programming is

developed, monitored and adjusted based on objective and systematic

evaluation.

As we progress through each booklet, you’ll begin to see ABA fundamentals put

into action, and learn how to apply them, while developing your child’s home ABA

program. For the rest of this series, for convenience and familiarity, I will be

 

Please visit http://www.autismbuddy.com for more information.