What is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)?

 

Applied Behavior Analysis is a systematic, controlled, and empirical investigation of behavior. It is a scientific approach to understanding behavior and how it is affected by the environment. Applied Behavior Analysis focuses objectively defined, observable, and measurable behavior. The science of behavior analysis focuses on seven guiding principles which are applied, behavioral, analytic, technological, conceptual, effective, and generality. ABA teaching methods are based on empirical research findings, and are constantly modified and improved upon, as science is constantly progressing.

 

ABA methods have been used successfully with many kinds of learners of all ages, with and without disabilities, in many settings. A wide variety of ABA techniques have been developed for building useful skills in students with autism of all ages. ABA can help students with autism learn specific skills, communication skills, develop relationships, care for themselves, learn in school, succeed at work, participate fully in family and community activities. Those techniques can be used in both structured (classroom instruction) and "natural" everyday situations (playtime, mealtime, etc.). Instruction can take place in 1-to-1 as well as group instruction.

 

Empirical evidence over the past thirty years document the efficacy of the approach and indicates that applied behavior analysis employs the most effective methods for educating students with autism.

 

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Prompting

 

Prompts (Billingsley & Romer, 1983; Snell, 1983a) are supplementary stimuli used to increase the likelihood that a student will emit a correct response in the presence of the SD (instruction), which will eventually control the behavior. Prompts are given before or during the performance of a behavior; they help behavior occur so that the teacher can provide reinforcement.

 

Some examples of prompts:

• verbal prompts/verbal directions

• modeling (modeling the behavior for the student so that it can be imitated)

• physical guidance (student bodily assisted through an action)

• movement cues (gesturing, looking at, touching the correct response)

• positional cues (positioning the correct choice closer to the student)

• Redundancy cues (when one or more stimulus/response dimensions are paired with the correct choice (i.e. changing the color, size, or shape of the target item).