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• What are the 3 branches of Behavior Analysis?

  1. Behaviorism: The philosophy of the science of behavior
  2. Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB): Focuses on the use of systematic and controlled experimentation to investigate the underlaying mechanisms of behavior and its relationship with the environment. EAB is a subfield of behavior analysis.
  3. Applied Behavior Analysis: The process for improving behavior. A branch of psychology that focuses on the scientific study of behavior and its application to improve the quality of human life

• What happened in the 1930s - 1950s in the history of behavior analysis?

  • Began in the early 1930s with the research of B.F. Skinner
    
  • B.F. Skinner is known as the father of behavior analysis
  • First branch was created = Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB)
  • B.F. Skinner used rats and pigeons in experiments. Trained them to press a lever. Food was presented following the press of the lever. Demonstrated a relation between environment and behavior.
  • B.F. Skinner expanded on Ivan Pavlov's research.
  • B.F. Skinner developed 2 perspectives of behavior
  • Respondent 
  • Operant
  • Radical Behaviorism = everything we see and everything is internal, it is everything, the umbrella of behavior

• What is Operant Behavior?

  • Any behavior that is affected primarily by the history of consequences; occurs under certain environmental conditions due to previous learning history.
    
  • Changing behavior entails the manipulation of environmental changes before (antecedent) and after (consequence) a behavior. 
    

• What is respondent behavior?

  Respondent behavior is the same type of behavior that is brought about by classical conditioning, e.g., salivating dogs in Ivan Pavlov's experiment.

• What happened in the 1950s - 1960s in the history of applied behavior analysis?

  • Researchers expanded upon the methods of EAB from animals to human subjects.
    
  • Applying principles of behavior to socially important behaviors.
    
  • Important applications of behavior were developed during this time: token systems, noncontingent reinforcement, instructional and curriculum design.
    
  • First university programs in ABA were developed
    
  • Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA) published
    
  • “Some Current Dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis” 7 Dimensions of ABA by Baer, Wolf & Risley (1968)
    

• What happened in the 1970s - 1980s in the history of applied behavior analysis?

  • Expansion of behavior applications to individuals presenting with severe disabilities, mostly in laboratory or residential settings (autism, schizophrenia, intellectual disability, etc.)
    
  • Ivar Lovaas
    
  • Lovaas Institute
    
  • Focus on management of severe challenging behavior
    
  • Development of Functional Analysis strategies
    

• What is Ivar Lovaas known for and why is he controversial?

  • Developed Discrete Trial Training (DTT)
    
  • Contributed to the creation of early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI)
    
  • This model includes up to 40 hours per week of individualized instruction beginning when individuals are toddlers and continuing for 2-3 years.
    
  • Controversial: used aversive punishment (ECT - electroshock therapy)
    

• What has happened since the 1990's in the context of history of applied behavior analysis?

  • In 1999, the surgeon general of the United States supported the use of ABA for those with autism
    
  • Many other organizations followed suit in position statements for the use of ABA for those with autism
    
  • Development of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) in 1998
    
  • Today there are hundreds of organizations dedicated to supporting individuals on the autism spectrum and their families
    
  • States have incorporated laws for insurance companies to cover the cost of these services
    
  • There are hundreds of colleges and universities worldwide offering Masters and Doctoral level ABA programs
    

• What are the 7 Dimensions of applied behavior analysis? GET A CAB

  1. Generality = Mastered. Behaviors occur in new situations, with new people, or in new places.
  2. Effective = Successful. Intervention produces changes that are socially and clinically significant. Effective is more clinical.
  3. Technological = Universal, anyone can replicate the intervention and get the same results.
  4. Applied = Meant to improve socially significant behaviors, important to the individual. Applied is more social. 
  5. Conceptually Systematic = Based on the core principles of behavior, consistent language, based on empirical investigations, research driven.
  6. Analytical = Experimental control, there is a functional relation, allows for replication; data-based decision making allows for informed decision making.
  7. Behavioral = Observable, objective, and measurable.

• What is conceptually systematic?

  • All interventions used stem from the core basic principles of behavior.
    
  • If implementing reinforcement, it must be derived from the research.
    
  • Research-driven, based on empirical investigations
    
  • Terms we are using is consistent across all technicians
    
  • Keeping language consistent