Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Many parents and caregivers who seek behavioral services ask about Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). On its surface, it can seem like a complex, difficult to understand concept but in reality, it is grounded in basic science that can be observed in society.

ABA is widely known as a treatment for people with developmental disabilities, most notably autism spectrum disorders. However, ABA contributes to a full range of areas including: behavior regarding physical illnesses (e.g., medication regimens, long-term care procedures, etc.), education, physical therapy, health and exercise, skill and language acquisition, parenting, severe mental disorders (e.g., treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, etc.), sports, and animal training.

ABA is defined as the science in which the principles of the analysis of behavior are applied systematically to improve socially significant behavior, and in which experimentation is used to identify the variables responsible for change in behavior. It is one of the three fields of behavior analysis: The other two are behaviorism, or the philosophy of the science; and experimental analysis of behavior, or basic experimental research.

The common description among Behaviorists comes from seminal article by Baer, Wolf, and Risley’s (1968). Although it is over 40 years old and we have learned a great deal throughout the years about how to apply the information better, the definition of the field from Baer, Wolf and Risley is still the standard among behaviorists and researchers. It describes the seven dimensions of ABA: application; a focus on behavior; the use of analysis; and its technological, conceptually systematic, effective, and general approach.

Baer, Wolf, and Risley’s (1968) seven dimensions are:

Applied: ABA focuses on areas that are of social importance. Behaviorists and researchers take into consideration short-term behavior change and long- term effects of that change on the individual, his or her family system, and how any change will affect the interactions between the two.

Behavioral: ABA must be behavioral. In other words, the behavior must change not just the individual’s perceptions of the behavior. Additionally, behavior must be objectively measured.

Analytic: The Behaviorist or researcher needs to demonstrate believable control over the behavior that is being changed. To execute this, the behaviorist must design the program to show that the intervention is truly causing the behavior change.

Technological: If any other Behaviorist or researcher were to read a description of the intervention or study, that person could “replicate the application with the same results.” This means that the description must be very detailed and clear, with language that is commonly understood.

Conceptually Systematic: The interventions and how they are used define this area. The intervention and the interpretation of their effectiveness should be drawn from the terms of the principles from which they were derived.

Effective: These techniques must show that they improve behavior under scrutiny. Specifically, it is not a theoretical importance of the variable, but rather the practical importance (social importance) that is essential.

Generality: The treatment should last over time, in different environments, and work with other people not directly treated by the intervention.