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Lesson 2 - Applied Behavior Analysis - Definition & Techniques - Education & Teaching Class

Applied behavior analysis is an evidence-based treatment method for autism that uses behavioral principles to produce positive behavioral changes. Some techniques used include naturalistic teaching strategies, discrete trial instruction, and applied verbal behavior, which break skills into components and use reinforcement to shape behaviors.

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Xlian Myzter Yosa
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58 views

Lesson 2 - Applied Behavior Analysis - Definition & Techniques - Education & Teaching Class

Applied behavior analysis is an evidence-based treatment method for autism that uses behavioral principles to produce positive behavioral changes. Some techniques used include naturalistic teaching strategies, discrete trial instruction, and applied verbal behavior, which break skills into components and use reinforcement to shape behaviors.

Uploaded by

Xlian Myzter Yosa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Applied Behavior Analysis: De nition & Techniques

In this lesson, we will discuss applied behavior analysis, one of the most common and evidence-based methods used to treat Autism. Learn
about the techniques that are used and more. Then, test your knowledge.

Introduction
Tom and Nina have recently adopted a seven-year-old girl named Lisa who has Autism. Tom and Nina found a school they
thought would be a great t for Lisa. They were understandably shocked when they found out Lisa wasn't doing well at
her new school. On several occasions, Lisa threw small items when she became angry. If even the slightest changes were
made in the class schedule, Lisa became upset. Lisa also had trouble interacting and playing with her classmates, reading
social cues, and making friendships with other students. Lisa refuses to remain in her seat for longer than 15 minutes.
Lisa's school counselor believes Lisa could bene t from applied behavior analysis.

De nition
One of the most common and evidence-based methods
used to treat Autism is applied behavior analysis. Applied
behavior analysis is a eld in which systematic
interventions are employed in order to produce positive
and meaningful changes in behavior and to provide
evidence that the interventions being used are responsible
for the behavioral changes. It is important that the
interventions used in applied behavior analysis lead to
behaviors that are not only meaningful, but also socially
signi cant. This means that the individual that is engaging
in the behavior has to gain immediate and long-lasting
bene ts from participating.

Applied behavior analysis involves using behavioral


principles in everyday life situations in order to eventually
increase or decrease target behaviors. Like the name suggests, target behavior refers to a behavior that has been
selected or ''targeted'' for change. For example, target behaviors for Lisa might include:

Lisa will remain in her seat during class for at least 1 hour,

Lisa will work cooperatively with peers in small group settings (i.e. share materials, allow peers to share their opinions),

Lisa will identify and understand various non-verbal social communication behaviors (i.e., tone of voice, facial expressions, special
boundaries, and body orientation) by stating their implied meaning.

Applied behavior analysis is useful in helping people acquire skills in several areas, including language, social, self-help,
and play skills. Research suggests that applied behavior analysis is e ective in treating individuals with pervasive
developmental disorders (i.e. Autism and Asperger's) and intellectual disability.

Let's look at some of the techniques that may be used to treat Lisa in applied behavior analysis.

Naturalistic Teaching Strategies


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Naturalistic teaching strategies utilize events that naturally
occur and motivational techniques in order to facilitate
learning. The focus of these strategies is teaching the
behavior in the context of the natural environment. These
strategies are often employed at home, school, daycares,
and during play.

Examples of naturalistic teaching strategies include:

Prompting: a parent or applied behavioral analysis gives the


individual cues or guidance in order to get the individual to elicit the
desired response. For example, Lisa's teacher may say ''Now it is
time to let Bobby share, Lisa. So, I need you to be quiet, '' in order to help Lisa learn to let other members of the group express their
ideas.

Fading: prompts are gradually reduced as the individual learns the behavior until the prompts are completely eliminated.

Shaping: behavior is modi ed by reinforcing a series of behaviors that increasingly approach the targeted behavior. For example,
Lisa's teacher may give her a sticker for sitting in her seat for 40 minutes. When Lisa sits in her seat for 50 minutes, Lisa gets another
sticker. Lisa continues to receive stickers every time she gets closer to the target behavior of sitting in her seat for a full hour.

Pivotal response training: program that targets ''pivotal'' behaviors (i.e. motivation to socially interact with others, the ability to
respond to multiple cues, and self-management) that will facilitate widespread improvement in several other behaviors.

Discrete Trial Instruction


During discrete trial instruction, an instructor breaks down a speci c skill into smaller components and teaches them one
at a time until the skill is learned. For example, in order to improve Lisa's communication skills, an applied behavioral
analysis might break communication down into several smaller components and teach them to Lisa in separate, small
presentations.

Applied Verbal Behavior and Other Strategies


This technique focuses on teaching language by focusing on the function of language (i.e. language as a means of
obtaining help or communicating needs to others).

Other techniques that may be used include:

Having adults or peers model target behaviors

Using video modeling in which target behaviors are recorded on videos and serve as how-to guides for target behaviors

Creating a schedule and teaching an individual how to follow it

Teaching an individual to manage his or her own behavior using self-management

Using story-based interventions that utilize written stories related to the target behavior that aim at teaching social skills and
improve the individual's ability to understand the perspective of others.

Lesson Summary
Applied behavior uses behavioral principles in order to produce meaningful and positive behavioral change. Some of the
techniques used in applied behavior analysis are naturalistic teaching strategies, discrete trial instruction, and applied
verbal behavior. Naturalistic teaching strategies utilize events that naturally occur and motivational techniques in order to
facilitate learning. Discrete trial instruction breaks down a speci c skill into smaller components and teaches them one at
a time until the skill is learned. Applied verbal behavior focuses on teaching language by focusing on the function of
language.

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