Tag: Applied behaviour Analysis

What is the difference between respondent and operant conditioning? (ABA Terms) (BCBA Exam Prep)

Behavior falls under two main classes: respondent behavior and operant behavior. As a result, behavior analysts use two main procedures: respondent and operant conditioning.  Respondent Behavior  Respondent behavior is behavior that is caused by stimulus in the environment. The behavior is unlearned and a reflex. A behavior is elicited, unintentional and cannot be controlled.  This was first developed by Watson…

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Response Class v. Behavior Repertoire (ABA Terms Defined) (BCBA Exam Prep)

Response Class v. Behavior Repertoire  Response class and behavior repertoire are two terms that may appear on your board certified applied behavior analysis (BCBA) qualification exam. They are simple yet often overlooked terms.  Response Class Response class refers to all the behaviors that serve the same function. This is regardless of whether they are perceived to be “good” or “bad.” …

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Defining Characteristics of ABA? (BCBA Exam Prep)

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is not the only science of behavior. Therefore, behavior analysts had to set specific criteria for what makes something ABA. Therefore, in order for something to be considered ABA, it must meet all seven of the following criteria. If any are missing, a treatment would not be considered ABA.  Applied Any behavior being changed in ABA…

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What is parsimony? (BCBA Exam Prep) (ABA Terms Defined)

Parsimony simply means that when conducting a scientific experiment to always choose the most simple explanation. The classic example, “If you hear hoofbeats, think horse — not zebra.” Here are some examples of parsimony in ABA terms.  Every day after school, Joe gets off the bus, walks into the kitchen and cries. His mom gives him a cookie as soon…

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Experimental control/ Internal Validity/Confounding Variables (ABA Terms) (BCBA Exam Prep)

Experimental control is the degree to which the same intervention can be shown to have a predictable effect on behavior. The point of experimental control is to demonstrate a functional relationship between a behavior (dependent variable) and intervention (independent variable).  In applied behavior analysis, (ABA) behaviorists are constantly validating that interventions work by analysis and experimentation. If a behavior change…

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Parametric v. Nonparametric Analysis (ABA Terms) (BCBA Exam Prep)

Parametric analysis Parametric analysis refers to evaluation the intervention (treatment ) or independent variable in an applied behavior analysis (ABA) study or experimental design There are two ways to describe the independent variable: parametric and nonparametric. If an independent variable is nonparametric- it is either on or off. The easiest way to think of this is a light switch. The…

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What is a Contingency Contract? (ABA Terms) (BCBA Exam Prep)

 In this brief blog article, we will define a contingency contract and provide examples.  A contingency contract is a written agreement between two people that specifies a behavior that one person agrees to engage in and a reward that another person agrees to give as a result.  When Should You Use a Contingency Contact? You should use a contingency contract…

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Bridge the Gap with Jesse Saperstein

When I first started working with kids with Autism in 2008, adults with Autism would have been born before 1990. Back then only 1 out of every 10,000 people had Autism. There was no community of adults with Autism. Nobody really knew for sure if adults with Autism could go to work or to school or to college. There were…

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