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3.1: Prelude

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    57833

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    The current chapter will present an overview of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) as an effective teaching method. ABA is an approach that, when used properly, can work to teach a wide range of behaviors to a wide range of participants. ABA is a research-based science, derived from the experimental analysis of behavior and the application of those procedures. Multiple studies demonstrate that people’s lives can be improved by learning academic skills (Gardner, Heward, & Grossi, 1994), social skills (Garcia-Albea, Reeve, Brothers, & Reeve, 2014) and communication (Luczynski & Hanley, 2013) and by the reduction of problematic behaviors (Roantree & Kennedy, 2012). The foundation of ABA rests on the analysis of environmental influences, such as what happens before and after a problematic behavior (antecedents and consequences) to predict when behaviors will increase, decrease, or remain the same. These principles of reinforcement and punishment will be summarized to highlight the main procedures that teachers may find effective in the classroom. Finally, this chapter will end with a case example that will walk through how a teacher applies the principles and procedures highlighted in this chapter.

    Chapter Objectives

    • Define Applied Behavior Analysis and explain the characteristics within a 5-step model
    • Describe the principles and procedures that increase or decrease behaviors
    • Provide an example of the application of ABA in the classroom

    This page titled 3.1: Prelude is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Samuel Sennott, Sheldon Loman, Kristy Lee Park, Luis F. Pérez, Michael J. Kennedy, John Romig, & Wendy J. Rodgers (Portland State University Library) .