Abstract
Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a science that involves applying interventions based on the principles of behavior analysis to change socially significant behavior. ABA is often erroneously viewed as an intervention, as opposed to a science. In this chapter, we discuss the science of ABA using the framework of the seven defining characteristics of the science, as described by Baer, Wolf, and Risley. We also provide a historical account of the science, focusing on its foundation in experimental analysis of behavior. As we discuss the defining features of ABA, we also identify some of the common misconceptions about ABA and attempt to clarify so as to dispel these misconceptions. Finally, given that therapies based on the principles of behavior analysis are the crux of evidence-based treatment for autism, we discuss the role of practicing behavior analysts in the treatment team. Because behavior analysis is a relatively young field, and there has recently been very large growth in the number of behavior analytic practitioners, known as Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs). We provide information on what a BCBA is, what their training consists of, and what skills they bring to the treatment team. It is our hope that this will assist the practitioner of parent–child interaction therapy (PCIT) in determining how behavior analysts can collaborate with them in the treatment process.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Alberto, P. A., & Troutman, A. C. (1990). Applied behavior analysis for teachers. (3rd ed). New York: Macmillan.
Allen, K. E., Hart, B., Buell, J. S., Harris, F. R., & Wolf, M. M. (1964). Effects of social reinforcement on isolate behavior of a nursery school child. Child Development, 511–518.
Andzik, N., & Cannella-Malone, H. I. (2017). A review of the pyramidal training approach for practitioners working with individuals with disabilities. Behavior Modification, 41, 558–580.
Axelrod, S., McElrath, K. K., & Wine, B. (2012). Applied behavior analysis: Autism and beyond. Behavioral Interventions, 27, 1–15.
Ayllon, T., & Michael, J. (1959). The psychiatric nurse as a behavioral engineer. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 2, 323–334. https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.1959.2-323
Azrin, N., & Lindsley, O. (1956). The reinforcement of cooperation between children. The Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 52, 100–102. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0042490
Baer, D. M., Wolf, M. M., & Risley, T. R. (1968). Some current dimensions of applied behavior analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1, 91.
Baer, D. M., Wolf, M. M., & Risley, T. R. (1987). Some still-current dimensions of applied behavior analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 20, 313–327.
Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) (2014). Professional and Ethical Compliance Code for Behavior Analysts. Retrieved from https://www.bacb.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/170706-compliance-code-english.pdf
Bijou, S. (1958). Operant extinction after fixed-interval schedules with young children. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1, 25–29. https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.1958.1-25
Carr, J. E., & Nosik, M. R. (2017). Professional credentialing of practicing behavior analysts. Policy Insights From the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 4, 3–8.
Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2007). Applied behavior analysis (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.
Deochand, N., & Fuqua, R. W. (2016). BACB certification trends: State of the states (1999 to 2014). Behavior Analysis in Practice, 9, 243–252.
Dixon, D. R., Vogel, T., & Tarbox, J. (2012). A brief history of functional analysis and applied behavior analysis. In L. Matson (Ed.), Functional assessment for challenging behavior (pp. 3–24). New York: Springer.
Englemann, S. (1968). Relating operant techniques to programming and teaching. Journal of School Psychology, 6, 89–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-4405(68)90002-2
Ferster, C. B., & DeMyer, M. K. (1962). A method for the experimental analysis of the behavior of autistic children. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 32, 89–98.
Iwata, B. A., Dorsey, M. F., Slifer, K. J., Bauman, K. E., & Richman, G. S. (1994). Toward a functional analysis of self-injury. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 197–209. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1994.27-197 (Reprinted from Analysis and Intervention in Developmental Disabilities, 2, 3–20, 1982).
Johnston, J. M., & Pennypacker, H. S. (1993). Strategies and tactics of behavioral research. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum Associates.
Johnston, J. M., & Shook, G. L. (1987). Developing behavior analysis at the state level. The Behavior Analyst, 10, 199–233.
Kazdin, A. E. (1977). Artifact, bias, and complexity of assessment: The ABCs of reliability. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 10, 141–150.
Keller, F. S. (1968). Goodbye, teacher…. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1, 79–89.
Krantz, P. J., & McClannahan, L. E. (1993). Teaching children with autism to initiate to peers: Effects of a script-fading procedure. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 26, 121–132. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1993.26-121
Lalli, J. S., Vollmer, T. R., Progar, P. R., Wright, C., Borrero, J., Daniel, D., … May, W. (1999). Competition between positive and negative reinforcement in the treatment of escape behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 32, 285–296.
Lindgren, S., Wacker, D., Suess, A., Schieltz, K., Pelzel, K., Kopelman, T., … Waldron, D. (2016). Telehealth and autism: Treating challenging behavior at a lower cost. Pediatrics, 137, 167–175. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2015-2851O
Long, E., Hammack, J., May, F., & Campbell, B. (1958). Intermittent reinforcement of operant behavior in children. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1, 315–339. https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.1958.1-315
Mace, F. C. (1994). The significance and future of functional analysis methodologies. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27(2), 385–392.
Mace, F. C., & Critchfield, T. S. (2010). Translational research in behavior analysis: Historical traditions and imperative for the future. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 93, 293–312.
Malott, R., & Shane, J. T. (2015). Principles of behavior. Psychology Press.
Michael, J. L. (2004). Concepts and principles of behavior analysis. Kalamazoo, MI: Association of Behavior Analysis International.
Moore, J. (2008). Conceptual foundation of radical behaviorism. Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY: Sloan Publishing.
National Autism Center. (2015). National Standards Project: Findings and conclusions (Phase 2). Randolph: National Autism Center.
Neef, N. A., & Peterson, S. M. (2005). Developmental disabilities: Scientific inquiry and interactions in behavior analysis. In K. A. Lattal & P. N. Chase (Eds.), Behavior theory and philosophy (pp. 369–389). New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.
Neef, N. A., & Peterson, S. M. (2007). Functional behavior assessment. In J. O. Cooper, T. E. Heron, & W. L. Heward (Eds.), Applied behavior Analysis (2nd ed., pp. 500–524). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Patterson, G. R. (1982). Coercive family process (Vol. 3). Castalia Publishing Company.
Peck, S. M., Wacker, D. P., Berg, W. K., Cooper, L. J., Brown, K. A., Richman, D., … Millard, T. (1996). Choice-making treatment of young children's severe behavior problems. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 29, 263–290.
Skinner, B. F. (1938). The behavior of organisms: an experimental analysis. Oxford, England: Appleton-Century.
Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and human behavior. Simon and Schuster.
Skinner, B. F. (1957). Verbal behavior. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Skinner, B. F. (1974). About behaviorism. New York: Vintage Books.
Smith, T., & Eikeseth, S. (2011). O. Ivar Lovaas: Pioneer of applied behavior analysis and intervention for children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41, 375–378. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-010-1162-0
Stahmer, A. C., Ingersoll, B., & Carter, C. (2003). Behavioral approaches to promoting play. Autism, 7, 401–413.
Stokes, T. F., & Baer, D. M. (1977). An implicit technology of generalization. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 10, 359–367. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1977.10-349
Stratton, K. K., & Gadke, D. L. (2016). Becoming a BACB-Approved Course Sequence School Psychology Program. Communiqué, (1), 45.
Suess, A. N., Romani, P. W., Wacker, D. P., Dyson, S. M., Kuhle, J. L., Lee, J. F., … Waldron, D. E. (2014). Journal of Behavioral Education, 23, 34–59. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-013-9183-3
VanDerHeyden, A. M., Snyder, P., DiCarlo, C. F., Stricklin, S. B., & Vagianos, L. A. (2002). Comparison of within-stimulus and extra-stimulus prompts to increase targeted play behaviors in an inclusive early intervention program. Behavior Analyst Today, 3, 188–197. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0099967
Vollmer, T. R., Sloman, K. N., & St. Peter Pipkin, C. (2008). Practical implications of data integrity and treatment fidelity monitoring. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 1, 4–11.
Wolf, M., Risley, T., & Mees, H. (1963). Application of operant conditioning procedures to the behaviour problems of an autistic child. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 1, 305–312.
Wolf, M. M. (1978). Social validity: The case for subjective measurement or how applied behavior analysis is finding its heart. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 11, 203–214.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Peterson, S.M., Morris, C., Kestner, K.M., Quigley, S.P., Aljadeff-Abergel, E., Goetz, D.B. (2018). Applied Behavior Analysis: Foundations and Applications. In: McNeil, C., Quetsch, L., Anderson, C. (eds) Handbook of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Children on the Autism Spectrum. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03213-5_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03213-5_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-03212-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-03213-5
eBook Packages: Behavioral Science and PsychologyBehavioral Science and Psychology (R0)