Core ABA Concepts:
Any observable and measurable action or response exhibited by an individual.
Behavior
Applying a learned skill in different situations and with different people.
Generalization
A teaching method that involves breaking down skills into small, discrete steps and presenting them in a structured manner.
Discrete Trial Instruction/Teaching (DTI/DTT)
Adding something desirable to increase a behavior.
Positive Reinforcement
Behaviors performed to gain a reaction or interaction from others, like calling out or acting out to get noticed.
Attention
A stimulus or event that precedes a behavior and can influence its occurrence.
Antecedent
Reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior until the target behavior is achieved.
Shaping
Presenting a series of easy, high-probability requests before a more challenging or less preferred request.
High-Probability Request Sequence (Behavior Momentum)
Removing something desirable to decrease a behavior.
Negative Punishment
Behaviors aimed at avoiding or getting away from an unwanted situation or demand.
Escape
The event that follows a behavior and can influence its future occurrence.
Consequence
A plan that outlines strategies for addressing challenging behaviors.
Behavior Intervention Plan
Providing cues or assistance to help a learner perform a desired behavior.
Prompting
Removing something undesirable to increase a behavior.
Negative Reinforcement
Behaviors done to obtain a desired item or activity, like asking nicely or grabbing a toy.
Access/Tangible
Withholding reinforcement for a behavior to decrease its frequency.
Extinction
Teaching individuals alternative ways to communicate their needs and wants, rather than resorting to challenging behaviors.
Functional Communication Training (FCT)
A teaching method that focuses on teaching promoting skill acquisition and generalization of these skill in everyday settings.
Natural Environment Teaching
A car's annoying beeping noise stops as soon as you put on your seatbelt, encouraging you to always buckle up. This is an example of...
Negative Reinforcement
Behaviors that are self-reinforcing and provide sensory input, like rocking or hand flapping, where the behavior itself is motivating.
Sensory/Automatic
Teaching a sequence of behaviors by reinforcing each step.
Chaining
Teaching alternative, more appropriate behaviors that serve the same function as the problem behavior.
Replacement Behaviors/ Differential Reinforcement
Preparing an individual for an upcoming activity or transition by providing a preview or a brief explanation beforehand. (Ex: you have 2 more minutes and then we are going to play a game)
Priming
Adding something undesirable to decrease a behavior.
Positive Punishment
A tool used to record and analyze behaviors by observing antecedents, behaviors, and consequences.
Bonus point if you can tell the other name for this!
ABC data
It's also known as the three-term contingency.