What is ABA?
Cooper, Heron, and Heward (2007) provide the following definition of applied behavior analysis:
Applied behavior analysis is the science in which the principles of the analysis of behavior are applied systematically to improve socially significant behavior and experimentation is used to identify the variables responsible for behavior change.
This definition contains six key components of ABA. These include:
- ABA is guided by the attitudes and methods of scientific inquiry
- All procedures are described and implemented in a systematic, technological manner
- Not all means of changing behavior qualify as ABA; only those derived from the basic principles of behavior
- Focus on socially significant behavior
- Meaningful improvement in important behavior
- Analyze the factors responsible for improvement
More simply put, behavior analysis focuses on the principles that explain how learning takes place. Scientifically valid treatments are used to make changes to a person's behavior.