ABA BASICS
This is the “A” in ABC data, referring to what happens immediately before the behavior.
What is the antecedent?
This term refers to the purpose a behavior serves, based on what the learner gains or avoids.
What is the function of behavior?
When a preferred item or experience follows a behavior and the behavior increases, this has occurred.
What is positive reinforcement?
Tallying how many times a behavior occurs is this type of data.
What is frequency data?
A child screams for attention. Staff reinforce only when the child raises their hand or uses AAC.
What is DRA (Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior)?
Anything a person does that can be observed and measured falls under this term.
What is behavior?
When a learner tries to delay or escape a demand by engaging in a challenging behavior, this function is likely involved.
What is escape/avoidance?
When a behavior removes or reduces something unpleasant and increases because of it, this has occurred.
What is negative reinforcement?
Recording how long a behavior lasts from start to finish is this type of measurement.
What is duration data?
A student taps their pencil constantly. Staff reinforce when they keep tapping to a lower rate across an activity.
What is DRL (Differential Reinforcement of Low Rates of Behavior)?
This structured teaching method uses an instruction → learner response → consequence sequence.
What is discrete trial instruction (DTI)?
When a behavior continues because it feels good internally or provides sensory input, it’s maintained by this function.
What is automatic reinforcement?
This process stops providing the reinforcer that previously maintained a behavior.
What is extinction?
Session notes must connect back to this document that outlines goals and medically necessary services under Section 28.
What is the treatment plan?
A child engages in hand-biting. Staff reinforce holding a chewy that blocks biting from happening at all.
What is DRI (Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior)?
This type of definition lets two different staff identify a behavior in the same way.
What is an operational definition?
Good data is written without assumptions, focusing only on what was seen or heard. This type of description is called this.
What is objective?
Reinforcing a more appropriate behavior while withholding reinforcement for the challenging one is this procedure.
What is Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA)?
Notes that describe only what was observed—without opinions—are considered this type of documentation.
What is objective documentation?
Reinforcement is delivered for no tantrums occurring during a set interval, no matter what other behaviors occur.
What is DRO (Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior)?
This ABA principle focuses on the purpose a behavior serves for the learner.
What is a function-based approach?
This variable changes how valuable a reinforcer is in the moment and alters the likelihood of behavior.
What is a motivating operation (MO)?
A learner earns reinforcement after a set number of correct responses, such as every five.
What is a fixed ratio schedule?
Collecting ABC data after new behaviors appear helps supervisors complete this assessment process.
What is a functional behavior assessment (FBA)?
A child asks repeated off-topic questions. Staff reinforce only when questions stay on the lesson topic.
What is DRA with stimulus control (topic-related responding)?