Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the science of measuring and understanding behavior. Through a data driven understanding of human behavior, ABA is used to develop procedures that can lead to measurable and transformative changes.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) relies on evidenced-based scientific methodologies developed in the latter half of the 20th century. ABA is often described in terms of 7 distinct dimensions: Applied, Behavioral, Analytic, Technological, Conceptually Systematic, Effective, and Generality. In their seminal paper: Some Current Dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis, published in the Spring 1968 issue of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, the University of Kansas based research team of Baer, Wolf, and Riley described these dimensions and laid the foundation that is still used today. The “7 dimensions” form the core principles of modern ABA Intervention.

Applied

ABA interventions focus on the practical consequences and outcomes of behavior. Through a person-focused approach, interventions target areas that are of importance to an individual. ABA looks to gain a better understanding of why certain behaviors occur in the “real world” as they pertain to a particular individual’s experience of the world and the impact on their quality of life.

Behavioral

ABA is concerned with observable behavior and with interventions that lead to positive and meaningful changes in observable behavior. In order to develop effective interventions, the behavior analyst must first define and measure the behavior that is being targeted. This involves utilizing a data-driven approach to formulate an understanding of when, where, and why a certain behavior is occurring. While when and where may be obvious to an observer, understanding why behavior occurs requires a deeper understanding of the science of behavior.

Behavior does not occur in a vacuum. That is to say, there is always a reason why people do what they do. We may ask ourselves why an individual has adopted a particular behavior instead of another. Behavior should be seen as having a purpose, and in ABA terminology we speak of the functions behind behaviors. Functions refers to why individuals do what they do. Generally, we describe behaviors as having one of the four distinct functions: access to tangibles, attention, escape, or self-stimulatory (sensory).

The success of an ABA intervention is dependent on a correct understanding of the why. A person-focused approach allows ABA practitioners to understand why an individual does what they do, knowing that the function behind behavior often varies among individuals and even across settings.

Analytic

As we have already discussed a meaningful ABA intervention requires an individualized understanding of when, where, and why behaviors take place. Through observation and measurement of behavior, practitioners can understand the chain of events leading to and following behavior and can then represent an individual’s behavior in terms of an Antecedent >> Behavior >> Consequence framework. Behaviorists commonly refer to this as the ABCs. The ABCs describe a behavioral chain of events. The behavior of interest is part of this chain but does not on its own tell the whole story. A behavior is preceded by an antecedent. An antecedent is usually what occurs directly before the behavior of interest. The consequence refers to what happens after the behavior of interest. Understanding how an individual perceives and experiences the consequences of their behavior is critical for meaningful behavior change.

Technological

ABA interventions should be formulated in a way that can be clearly understood and replicated by others. Likewise, the impact and progress of an ABA intervention across time and setting should be clearly measured and represented. Whether a particular intervention or approach is resulting in expected outcomes should be evidenced by data. A measurable criterion for success should be devised and interventions should be adjusted accordingly based on their measurable success.

Conceptual Systems

As Baer et al. write in their 1968 article, practitioners should not simply look to develop a “Collection of Tricks” that result in behavior change but in carefully crafted approaches that are consistent with the evidenced based principles of Applied Behavior Analysis, and that can be described according to these same principles.

Effective

Simply put, an ABA intervention is only successful if it results in clearly observable and measurable behavior change. A well crafted and designed approach that is grounded in the principles of ABA is still only as successful as its results demonstrate. If the outcomes of the approach are not as predicted, then a deeper understanding of the behavior may be required as well as a change in approach.

Generality

It can be said that ABA interventions have generalized results when the observed changes are durable across time and across environments.