ABA Basics
What does ABA stand for?
Applied Behavior Analysis
A student is told to put away their iPad. They begin screaming, and staff allow them 2 more minutes on the iPad. What is the consequence?
Staff allowed the student 2 additional minutes on the iPad.
True or false: Reinforcement increases the future likelihood of a behavior.
True
A student begins engaging in attention-seeking behavior while you're helping another student. What should you do?
Follow the student's behavior plan, reinforce appropriate attention requests, and provide attention proactively when appropriate.
A student engages in aggression 5 times during a 30-minute observation. What type of data are you collecting?
Frequency data
What does ABC stand for?
Antecedent, behavior, consequence
Every time a teacher gives a student a difficult worksheet, the student puts their head down and refuses to work. What is the possible function of the behavior?
Escape or avoidance of a difficult task.
A student earns a token every time they complete a task. What reinforcement system is being used?
Token economy
A student refuses to begin a non-preferred task. You have already given the direction twice verbally. What could you do next?
Use planned supports such as offering choices, breaking the task into smaller steps, providing a visual, or prompting an appropriate help/break request.
You start a timer when a student begins crying and stop it when they stop. What type of data are you collecting?
Duration data.
True or False, behavior is a form of communication
True
A student begins making loud noises while the teacher is helping another student. The teacher turns around and tells them to stop. What might be reinforcing the behavior?
Attention from the teacher, even though it is negative attention.
What is the difference between positive and negative reinforcement?
Positive reinforcement adds something, negative reinforcement removes something. Both increase the future likelihood of a behavior.
A student consistently engages in disruptive behavior when transitioning from a preferred activity to academic work. Name TWO proactive strategies you could use.
Using a visual schedule, countdown, first-then board, transition warning, offering choices, or reinforcing successful transitions.
A student throws their pencil 3 times, but you only record it once. Why might this be a problem?
The data would not accurately reflect how often the behavior occurred.
What is a replacement behavior?
An appropriate skill that serves the same purpose as a challenging behavior.
A student throws their pencil after being told to start writing. Staff give the student a new pencil and help them begin the assignment. Identify the antecedent, behavior, and consequence.
Antecedent: Being told to start writing.
Behavior: Throwing the pencil.
Consequence: Staff provided a new pencil and helped the student begin the assignment.
A student appropriately asks for a break, and the teacher removes the work. The student begins asking for breaks more frequently. What type of reinforcement occurred?
Negative reinforcement, because the demand was removed and appropriate break requests increased.
A student is becoming frustrated during an activity. You notice they are raising their voice, pushing materials away, and becoming restless. What should you do before the behavior escalates?
Recognize the early warning signs and use proactive strategies, such as offering choices, reducing verbal demands, providing space, or prompting an appropriate break request according to the student's behavior plan.
A student typically engages in aggression 2–3 times per day. Today, they engaged in aggression 10 times. What should you do with this information?
Accurately document the increase, note any possible triggers or changes in the environment, and communicate the information to the teacher or BCBA.
Name one of the four common functions of behavior
Attention, escape, access to tangibles, or automatic/sensory reinforcement. Any one counts!
A student engages in aggression during transitions. Staff initially believe the behavior is escape-maintained, but ABC data shows aggression occurs most often when staff are talking to other students. What should the team consider?
The behavior may also be maintained by attention. The team should review the data and consider whether additional assessment is needed.
A student earns a break after completing 5 math problems. Over time, the student begins completing more math problems independently. How do we know the break was a reinforcer?
Because the desired behavior (completing math problems independently) increased over time.
A student is completing work independently, but every time you provide praise, they stop working and begin engaging in disruptive behavior. What should you do?
Consider whether verbal praise is actually reinforcing for this student. Observe the pattern, try less intrusive or individualized forms of reinforcement as appropriate, and collaborate with the BCBA to adjust the reinforcement strategy.
A student engages in aggression 10 times on Monday, 8 times on Tuesday, and 6 times on Wednesday. What trend is the data showing, and what does it suggest?
A decreasing trend! The frequency of aggression is going down, suggesting the student may be making progress.