What is ABA?

Remichia Castro

Capella University: PSY7708

Professor Hyde

4/24/2020
 In order for a behavior plan to be successful it needs to meet the requirements of the

seven guides presented by Baer, Wolf, and Risley (1968). Utilizing the seven dimensions can

help to ensure that the plan will be functional, and meet the criteria Baer, Wolf, and Risley found

to be successful. The two articles discussed in this unit both present a challenge in determining

which of the two is behavior analytic, however, using the seven dimensions is am effective blue

print for determining which meets the mark.

Identifying the Behavior Analytic Article

While both articles address behavior, one specifically meets the characteristics of applied

behavior analysis (ABA). Following the Baer, Wolf, and Risley (1968) the article is expected

meet the following requirements “applied, behavioral, analytic, technological, conceptually

systematic, effective, and capable of appropriately generalized outcomes (Cooper et al., 2013,

p. 16). Based on the requirements of the ABA characteristics the article that fits the requirements

is Krentz et al., (2016), Using Token Reinforcement to Increase Walking for Adults With

Intellectual Disabilities. Krentz et al., discusses in detail the behavior they were focused on

changing, and recorded their findings in a way that would be easy to replicate. Both articles were

informative, and discussed behavior; however, Krentz et al., demonstrated the ability to change

the behavior through manipulation, whereas in Marsic et al., (2014), the focus was on the

relationship between the behavior and the external forces. Although both articles discussed

behavior, one did not meet the requirements of the ABA characteristic list.

Identifying Which Dimensions are Present in the Article

The Krentz et al., (2016), article was identified as the behavior analytic article because it

addressed a substantial amount of the ABA characteristics. For starters it tackles the applied
dimension because it addresses a behavior that can improve or enhance people’s lives (Cooper et

al., 2013). Without being active many individuals can find themselves enduring serious health

issues and by working to help individuals with intellectual disabilities develop the behavior to

walk more often, Krentz et al., (2016), is addressing the applied dimension. The article clearly

displays its understanding of the behavioral dimension. According to (Baer, Wolf, and Risley,

1968 as cited in Cooper et al., 2013), conduct studies of behavior not about behavior. This

supports that the articles study on how to increase adults walking distance was behavioral. One

of the strongest dimensions was analytic; the study was based on the determining if token

reinforcements would help increase the walking distance of adults with intellectual disabilities. It

was observed that the tokens resulted in an increase in the adults walking distance. Aside from

the behavioral focus, the article also listed in detail the step they took to conduct the study. An

important dimension of the ABA lists is the ability for the information to be written in great

detail that can be understood and replicated by others (Cooper et al., 2013). This article was

descriptive and laid out the step from beginning to end that would allow the replication process

to be easy for provide a fair chance for the next person. Based on the results of the study four out

of the five participants demonstrated an increase in their walking distance which helps support

the effective dimension that states that the behavior change should be large (Cooper et al., 2013).

The article stated “the authors failed to establish a functional relation between the intervention

and the physical activity because they did not use an adequate experimental design” (Krentz et

al, 2016, pg. 1). Although their experiment was not successful it still met the criteria and proved

to address the dimensions that Baer, Wolf, and Risley established.

 Analyzing the Article that is not Behavior Analytic

In Marsic et al., (2014), the article The Relationship Between Intentional Self-Injurious

Behavior and the Loudness Dependence of Auditory Evoked Potential in Research Volunteers

the title seemed to go against the analytic dimension. Before reading the article it seemed as

those the focus would on be how the functions are related, rather than how the behavior was

manipulated. Also, reading through the article the procedure section was not detailed and seemed

to leave room for another person to possibly lack a fair chance of replicating the procedure.

Based on the information provided the study does not seem to be conceptually systematic,

although it discussed the questionnaires the participants completed, it didn’t address the

functions of the seven dimensions. When referencing Baer, Wolf, and Risley (1968), the function

of the assessment is based on meeting multiple dimensions, and without it the study does not

meet the standards for identifying research in ABA.

Conclusion

Determining if a study falls under the ABA requirements is critical and important to

ensuring that the study meets the ABA’s functions. Without being able to differentiate between

the two it can be difficult and properly utilize studies to replicate successful behavior changes.

Baer, Wolf, and Risley (1968), studied, and identified the dimensions that help determine how to

determine if a study meets the ABA criteria; by using their criteria behavior analysts can gain a

better opporutny at replication and having positive outcome for their patients.
 References

Baer, D. M., Wolf, M. M., & Risley, T. R. (1968). Some current dimensions of applied behavior

analysis1. Journal of Applied

Behavior Analysis, 1(1), 91-97. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1968.1-91

Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2013). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.).

Krentz, H., Miltenberger, R., & Valbuena, D. (2016). Using token reinforcement to increase

walking for adults with intellectual

disabilities. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 49(4), 745-

750. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.326

Marsic, A., Berman, M. E., Barry, T. D., & McCloskey, M. S. (2014). The relationship between

intentional self-injurious behavior

and the loudness dependence of auditory evoked potential in research volunteers. Journal

of Clinical Psychology, 71(3), 250-257. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22136