In this unit, you are introduced to personality tests and issues with their development and use. One particular area of debate involves the inclusion of validity scales in tests of personality. While many concerns may exist, the use of such scales appears to be increasing and they continue to be utilized and interpreted.   In […]

In this unit, you read about changes over time in the procedures for evaluating SLDs. Recently, most states changed their existing rules and regulations to include an RTI model, which identifies three levels of intervention or teaching to facilitate learning for all students. Subsequently, it became important to determine tests or assessments, which would provide […]

Antecedent Stimuli   As a future ABA professional, it is important that you understand how motivating operations and discriminative stimuli effect behavior. When an individual is motivated for something and it is available, behaviors are likely to occur. Motivating operations can be contrived so that reinforcement is valuable. Discrimination training can occur such that an […]

Operant Extinction   To keep behaviors in an individual’s repertoire, reinforcement must occur. When reinforcement is discontinued, the behavior stops occurring. This process is called extinction.   Think of a behavior that you may have previously exhibited that no longer occurs, for example nail-biting. This is most likely due to the process of extinction.   […]

Primary and Secondary Reinforcers   We use reinforcement to increase appropriate behaviors. The effectiveness of reinforcement depends on an individual’s preference. While some items or activities are preferred for some individuals, they may be aversive for others. When using positive reinforcement, we must ensure that the reinforcers we are presenting actually function as reinforcers. Also, […]

Schedules of Reinforcement   The ABA New Learner Orientation is an excellent way to learn about key elements of the program including meeting leadership and faculty, learning about curriculum and coursework, understanding program and University supports and having an opportunity to ask follow up questions. After watching or attending the New Learner Program Orientation, please […]

As discussed in this unit’s activities, punishment is not just those contrived consequences that are set up to decrease behavior but also something that naturally occurs. For example, when walking across a wet slippery floor one may fall and hurt oneself. The behavior of walking across a wet slippery floor is punished by the added, […]

Misconceptions of Negative Reinforcement   Negative reinforcement is commonly misunderstood because of the term negative. Most people get it mixed up with punishment or think it refers to an unwanted behavior being reinforced. In the science of behavior analysis, the term negative refers to the fact that a stimulus is being removed after a behavior. […]

Behavior Definitions   Before we can target behaviors, we have to understand how they are defined. In addition to understanding how behavior is defined in general, behavior analysts must always define targeted behaviors before data collection can begin on them.   Before beginning this course, how did you define behavior?   How does your textbook […]

Mentalism and Behaviorism   Your unit readings address the behavior analytic perspectives on what behaviorists refer to as the mentalistic approach to analyzing and solving human problems. New learners of ABA often have difficulty with changing their perspectives about the causes of behavior.   In your post:   Discuss the difference between the mentalist’s and […]