A.4. Distinguish among behaviorism, the experimental analysis of behavior, applied behavior analysis, and professional practice guided by the science of behavior analysis.
Here’s a content outline to help MYABASCHOOL’ students understand and distinguish among behaviorism, the experimental analysis of behavior (EAB), applied behavior analysis (ABA), and professional practice guided by the science of behavior analysis.
1. Behaviorism
• Definition: Behaviorism is the philosophical foundation of behavior analysis, asserting that behavior is a subject of scientific study and can be understood in terms of environmental interactions.
Key Features:
• Founded by John B. Watson and expanded by B.F. Skinner.
• Emphasizes observable and measurable behaviors over introspection or inner mental states.
• Views behavior as the product of conditioning and reinforcement.
• Goal: To create a scientific framework for studying behavior.
• Example: Understanding how environmental stimuli (e.g., a loud noise) lead to specific behaviors (e.g., flinching) and emphasizing that behaviors can be modified through conditioning.
2. Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB)
• Definition: EAB is the branch of behavior analysis that focuses on basic research, often conducted in laboratory settings, to explore the principles of behavior.
Key Features:
• Founded by B.F. Skinner to develop a systematic, scientific approach to studying behavior.
• Uses controlled experiments, typically with animals (e.g., rats, pigeons), to discover fundamental behavioral principles.
• Emphasizes behavior-environment interactions and reinforcement schedules.
• Goal: To discover general laws of behavior that apply across species and settings.
• Example: Research on reinforcement schedules (e.g., variable interval vs. fixed ratio) conducted with pigeons pecking levers to understand the effects of different reinforcement patterns.
3. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
• Definition: ABA is the application of behavioral principles to socially significant problems, focusing on improving specific behaviors in real-world settings.
Key Features:
• Developed by researchers such as Baer, Wolf, and Risley, who emphasized the practical application of behavioral principles.
• Focuses on observable behaviors that have meaningful impacts on individuals and society.
• Uses data-driven approaches to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions.
• Goal: To apply behavioral principles to improve behaviors that enhance individuals’ quality of life and support positive social change.
• Example: Using reinforcement strategies to increase communication skills in children with autism, helping them develop effective ways to communicate their needs.
4. Professional Practice Guided by Behavior Analysis
• Definition: This involves the practical implementation of ABA techniques by certified professionals (e.g., BCBAs) who apply behavior analysis principles in various settings.
Key Features:
• Guided by ethical standards and competencies established by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB).
• Practitioners apply ABA techniques in settings such as schools, clinics, organizations, and homes.
• Emphasizes client-centered interventions, ethical practice, and ongoing assessment.
• Goal: To provide effective, ethical services that lead to positive behavioral changes for clients.
• Example: A BCBA working in a clinic setting develops an individualized behavior intervention plan for a client with developmental disabilities, targeting behaviors like self-care and social skills.
Comparison Table
| ASPECT | BEHAVIORISM | EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF BEHAVIOR (EAB) | APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS (ABA) | PROFFESSIONAL PRACTICE |
| FOCUS | PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATION | BASIC RESEARCH AND THEORY | APPLICATION TO REAL WORLD PROBLEMS | PRACTICAL IMPLEMENTATIN IN CLIENT-CENTERED SETTINGS |
| MAIN CONTRIBUTORS | JOHN B. WATSON, B.F. SKINNER | B.F SKINNER | BAER, WOLF, RISLEY | BACB CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS |
| SETTING | CONCEPTUAL | LABORATORY | NATURAL, EVERYDAY ENVIRONMENTS | CLINICAL, EDUCATIONAL, ORGANIZATIONAL |
| GOAL | UNDERSTAND BEHAVIOR SCIENTIFICALLY | DISCOVER GENERAL BEHAVIORAL LAWS | IMPROVE SOCIALLY SIGNIFICANT BEHAVIORS | PROVIDE ETHICAL AND EFFECTIVE CLIENT SERVICES |
| EXAMPLE | CONDITIONING STUDIES | REINFORCEMENT SCHEDULES WITH PIGEONS (ANIMALS) | TEACHING SOCIAL SKILLS IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM | DEVELOPING BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION PLANS |
Summary
• Behaviorism serves as the philosophical foundation that defines behavior as a subject of scientific study.
• Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB) focuses on controlled, basic research to discover general principles of behavior.
• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) uses these principles to address socially significant behaviors in natural settings.
• Professional Practice involves applying ABA principles in real-world settings to help individuals make meaningful behavioral changes, guided by ethical standards.
Here are real-world scenarios to help students understand behaviorism, the experimental analysis of behavior (EAB), applied behavior analysis (ABA), and professional practice guided by behavior analysis
Scenario 1: Behaviorism in Action
Scenario: A teacher notices that students tend to lose focus and become restless during long lectures. She decides to experiment with giving short breaks during the class to see if it helps improve their focus.
Behaviorism Perspective:
• Principle: From a behaviorism perspective, the teacher is analyzing how environmental changes (introducing breaks) affect observable behavior (student focus).
• Goal: Behaviorism focuses on understanding behavior through observable actions and how the environment influences these actions.
• Example of Conditioning: If the breaks improve focus, students may come to associate the classroom environment with more positive reinforcement, leading to a conditioned response of staying focused.
Key Takeaway: Behaviorism emphasizes observable and measurable behaviors and seeks to understand how environmental factors shape these behaviors.
Scenario 2: Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB)
Scenario: In a laboratory, a researcher is studying how different schedules of reinforcement affect behavior. She sets up an experiment where pigeons peck a lever to receive food and manipulates how often food is delivered after a peck (e.g., every 5 pecks vs. random intervals).
EAB Perspective:
• Principle: This scenario illustrates EAB, which involves controlled experiments to understand basic principles of behavior.
• Goal: The researcher’s goal is to determine the effect of reinforcement schedules on behavior frequency, which is foundational knowledge that applies to various settings.
• Example of General Laws: Findings like the effectiveness of a variable ratio schedule (where reinforcement occurs unpredictably) are used widely in behavior analysis.
Key Takeaway: EAB focuses on basic research in controlled settings to identify general laws of behavior, which lay the groundwork for applied behavior interventions.
Scenario 3: Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Scenario: A behavior analyst is working with a young child with autism who struggles with communicating needs. The analyst implements a plan where the child is reinforced with a small reward (like a favorite snack) every time they use a simple communication card to request something.
ABA Perspective:
• Principle: ABA applies behavioral principles (in this case, reinforcement) to address socially significant behaviors—in this example, enhancing communication skills.
• Goal: The behavior analyst’s goal is to improve the child’s ability to communicate needs in a way that positively impacts their daily life and relationships.
• Outcome: The intervention is successful, with the child learning to use the communication card independently, which improves their quality of life.
Key Takeaway: ABA uses principles from behavior analysis to create real-world changes in behavior that are meaningful for individuals and society.
Scenario 4: Professional Practice Guided by Behavior Analysis
Scenario: A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) works in a school setting, helping a student with ADHD who has difficulty staying on task during independent work time. The BCBA collaborates with teachers to implement a token system, where the student earns tokens for completing each task and can exchange them for a preferred activity.
Professional Practice Perspective:
• Principle: This scenario involves professional practice, where the BCBA uses ABA techniques and adheres to ethical guidelines to create an individualized plan for the student.
• Goal: The BCBA’s goal is to apply ABA in a way that addresses the student’s unique needs, working within an ethical framework to ensure effective and respectful support.
• Outcome: The student becomes more engaged in class, improving their academic performance and behavior, with ongoing assessment and adjustments by the BCBA.
Key Takeaway: Professional practice guided by behavior analysis involves certified practitioners applying ABA techniques in real-world settings, with a focus on individualized, ethical, and impactful interventions.
Scenario 5: Distinguishing Among the Principles in One Scenario
Scenario: A psychologist wants to help a client with severe social anxiety. She draws on concepts from behaviorism, EAB, ABA, and professional practice to create a comprehensive treatment plan.
• Behaviorism: The psychologist recognizes that the client’s social anxiety is influenced by their environment, especially situations where social interactions may have led to negative feedback, reinforcing avoidance behaviors.
• EAB: She reviews research from EAB on reinforcement and exposure, considering findings about how gradual exposure to feared stimuli can help reduce anxiety.
• ABA: Using ABA principles, the psychologist designs a plan that applies systematic reinforcement for small steps toward social interaction, such as making eye contact or greeting someone.
• Professional Practice: As a licensed therapist, she implements this plan with careful monitoring and ethical guidelines, ensuring the client’s comfort and consent at each stage of treatment.
Key Takeaway: This scenario shows how each area—behaviorism, EAB, ABA, and professional practice—contributes to understanding and addressing behavior. The psychologist uses behaviorism as a foundation, EAB for research insights, ABA for practical intervention, and professional practice to apply it ethically.