Dimensions of applied behavior analysis (Baer, Wolf, & Risley, 1968) 

The term Applied Behavior Analysis appeared for the first time in 1968, in the JABA (Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis). In the same year, Baer, Wolf and Risley published an article, “Some current dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis”, which consider the fundamental of Applied Behavior Analysis, in which they identified the 7 fundamental dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis.

1) Applied

Applied Behavior Analyst must select behaviors to change that are socially significant to the participants (academics, social, language recreational, etc.); focuses to improve the participants well-being; and affect their significant others (parents, teachers, peers, employers) in such a way that they behave more positively with and toward the participant. (Cooper et al., 2019, p. 31)

2) Behavioral

The behavior to change must be socially significant for the participants, measurable and observable.

Baer and colleagues (1968) made three important points relative to behavioral.

1. The behavior chosen for study must be the behavior in need of improvement.

2. The behavior must be measurable.

3. The applied behavior analyst should attempt to monitor the behavior of all persons involved in a study.

3) Analytic

A study is analytic when the experimenter has demonstrated a functional relation between manipulated variable (the independent variable) and the dependent variable (behavior under study). The study is analytic when it demonstrates believability of the events that can be responsible for the occurrence or nonoccurrence of that behavior. The analytic dimension enables ABA not only to demonstrate effectiveness but also to provide the “acid test proof” of functional and replicable relations between the interventions it recommends and socially significant outcomes. (Cooper et al., 2019, p. 31)

4) Technological

In a study, procedures are identified and described in precise and clear details in order to be replicated by others and yield the same results.

A good check of the technological adequacy of a procedural description is to have a person trained in applied behavior analysis carefully read the description and then act out the procedure in detail. If the person makes any mistakes, adds any operations, omits any steps, or has to ask any questions to clarify the written description, then the description is not sufficiently technological and requires improvement. (Cooper et al., 2019, p. 32)

5) Conceptually Systematic

Procedures for changing the behavior and any interpretations of the effectiveness of those procedures derive directly from the basic behavioral principles of behavior analysis. E.g., extinction, positive reinforcement, errorless teaching, etc.

6) Effective

An effective application of behavioral techniques must improve the behavior under investigation to a practical degree. An intervention is effective if it improves behavior sufficiently to produce practical results for the participants. In order to be effective, the intervention has to bring out the behavior change that is socially significant (produce a meaningful improvement in the participants life).

7) Generality

A study or intervention has generality if it results in behavior changes that

·      Lasts over time.

·      Appear in other environments.

·      spread to other behaviors not directly treated by the intervention.

References:

Baer, D.M., Wolf, M.M., & Risley, T.R. (1968). Some current dimensions of applied behavior analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1(1), 91-97.

Baer, D.M., Wolf, M.M., & Risley, T.R. (1968). Some still-current dimensions of applied behavior analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 20(4), 313-327.

Wolf, M.M. (1978). Social validity: The case for subjective measurement or how applied behavior analysis is finding its heart. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 11(2), 203-214.

Cooper J.O, Heron T.E, Heward W.L. Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.) Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson; 2019.