ABA Terminology

Antecedent

An antecedent refers to an event, context, or activity that occurs immediately prior to any form of behavior. For example, when a person verbally instructs a child to "clap," the child responds by clapping their hands. In another case, stating “no candy” may result in the child exhibiting crying behavior.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy

ABA therapy applies learning and behavior science to understand actions, their environmental influences, and learning processes. It aims to encourage helpful behaviors and reduce those that hinder or harm learning.

Behavior

Any action or statement by a person that can be seen and measured.

Behavior Intervention Plan

This comprehensive document, prepared by a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), systematically identifies undesired behaviors selected for intervention. It details the functions these behaviors serve for the individual and provides explicit instructions for implementing proactive, reactive, and replacement strategies designed to reduce the occurrence of the targeted behaviors over time.

Consequence

A consequence that immediately follows a behavior can increase or decrease the likelihood of that behavior happening again.

Data

In Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), data quantifies behavior, such as counting the frequency of screams or measuring how long a tantrum lasts.

Duration

How long a behavior occurs. Duration provides capture of and analysis of data.

Frequency

Frequency refers to how often a behavior occurs and allows for efficient data collection and analysis.

Latency

Latency is the time between telling your child to do something, like clean their room, and when they start. These descriptions help collect and analyze data.

Mand

A request can be made using a variety of different responses. For example, some children may mand (request) desired items/activities using vocalizations (words or sounds), while others may exchange a picture or use a gesture to mand.

Pairing

Pairing occurs when a person, object, or activity becomes linked to something else. In ABA, therapists initially associate themselves with items and activities the child enjoys to establish a preferred presence with the child.

Reinforcement

A consequence is an event that follows a behavior and increases the chance of it happening again.

Reinforcement (Conditioned)

A stimulus (item, event, activity, person) becomes a learned reinforcer through association with existing reinforcers. For example, a child’s therapy team can become conditioned reinforcers after repeated pairing.

Reinforcement (Positive)

Reinforcement (Positive) involves the addition of an event or stimulus during or after a behavior, leading to a higher probability of that same behavior happening again in the future. For example, a child exchanges a picture to request tickles, resulting in the child’s mother providing cuddles. The tickles are “added” following the request, resulting in an increased likelihood of requests for tickles in the future.

Reinforcement (Negative)

The process of removing an event or stimulus during or after a behavior, resulting in an increased likelihood of that same behavior occurring in the future. For example, a child signs “all done” when a non-preferred food is presented, resulting in the caregiver removing the food. The non-preferred food is removed following the sign for “all done,” resulting in increased likelihood of the child signing “all done” to remove something non-preferred in the future.

Shaping

Reinforcement is provided for gradual approximations of a target behavior or skill, building up until the entire behavior is achieved. For example, a child may first say "bah" to request a ball and receive it; later, they must say "ball" to get the item.

Tact

A label (name) for an item / activity / person. For example, a child sees a ball and says, “ball.”

Task Analysis

This approach involves dividing a broad skill, such as hand washing, into manageable steps a child can grasp and master. For instance, you might begin with turning on the water, followed by wetting the hands, applying soap, and continuing through each stage until the task is complete.