May 3, 2025
This document provides a comprehensive glossary of terms and concepts used in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). It is intended for those new to ABA and aims to clarify terminology and improve understanding.
Acquisition Task: A current target being taught, such as teaching a child to write a letter.
Antecedent: An environmental condition or stimulus change that occurs prior to a behavior of interest (e.g., taking an iPad away from a child).
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA): A science where behavior principles are applied to improve socially significant behavior.
Assessment: Tools like VB-MAPP used to evaluate a learner’s skills.
Autism Spectrum Disorder: Characterized by persistent deficits in social communication.
Baseline Data: Measurement before intervention.
Behavior: Observable and measurable activities of an organism.
Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB): Provides professional credentialing for behavior analysts.
Behavior Contracts: Written agreements outlining behaviors or tasks and corresponding rewards.
Behavior Contrast: Occurs in different reinforcement schedules across environments.
Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP): A plan to change target behavior.
Behavior Reduction: Strategies to decrease the probability of target behavior.
Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA): Undergrad-level professional certification in behavior analysis.
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA): Graduate-level professional certification in behavior analysis.
Chaining: Teaching method for learning multiple steps of a skill.
Consequence: Occurs after behavior and affects future behaviors.
Continuous Schedule of Reinforcement (CRF): Reinforcement every time a behavior is emitted.
Data: Information used for clinical decision-making.
Discrete Trial Training (DTT): Teaching strategy using simplified, structured steps.
Discriminative Stimulus (SD): An instruction that evokes a response.
Echoic: Verbal behavior where one repeats another's words.
Echolalia: Unnecessary repetition of another’s phrase or sound.
Error Correction: Procedure for incorrect responses.
Errorless Learning: Guarantees correct response.
Evidence Based Practice (EBP): Incorporates best available evidence in service provision.
Expressive Communication: Verbal behavior used for communication.
Extinction: Ceased reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior.
Extinction Burst: Temporary increase in behavior frequency/intensity during extinction.
Fine Motor Skills: Coordination of small hand muscles.
Fixed Interval (FI) & Fixed Ratio (FR): Schedules of reinforcement based on time or response number.
Functional Analysis (FA): Determines cause of target behavior via environmental manipulation.
Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA): Identifies target behaviors and their purposes.
Generalization: Performing a skill across different conditions.
Goal: Proposed outcome of an intervention.
Gross Motor Skills: Coordination of large muscle groups.
Individualized Education Program (IEP): Defines educational needs and goals.
Intermittent Schedules of Reinforcement (INT): Only some instances of behavior are reinforced.
Intraverbal: Verbal response to another speaker.
Maladaptive Behavior: Inhibits adjustment to environmental changes.
Mand: Request-making verbal behavior.
Natural Environment Training (NET): Teaching in the learner’s natural environment.
Negative Punishment & Negative Reinforcement: Removing a stimulus to decrease or increase future behaviors.
Pairing: Associating oneself with learner’s preferred activities.
Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS): Communication via pictures.
Positive Punishment & Positive Reinforcement: Adding a stimulus to decrease or increase future behaviors.
Precision Teaching: System for measuring behavior features.
Preference & Preference Assessments: Identify and utilize an individual’s interests.
Probe: Measurement of a new skill’s level.
Prompt & Prompt Fade: Assistance level to encourage a desired behavior.
Punishment & Reinforcement: Introducing/removing stimulus to affect future behavior likelihood.
Satiation: Overuse leads to decreased reinforcer effectiveness.
Self-Injurious Behavior (SIB): Behaviors causing self-harm.
Scripting: Repetitive vocal behavior.
Scrolling: Multiple answers given before a correct response.
Shaping: Reinforcing approximations of desired behavior.
7 Dimensions of ABA: Core principles for interventions: Applied, Behavioral, Analytic, Technological, Conceptually Systematic, Effective, Generality.
Skill & Skill Acquisition Goals: Actions performed; goals to teach skills.
Socially Significant Behaviors: Important for individual and society, e.g., social skills.
Stereotypic/Repetitive Behaviors: Repetitive stimulation behaviors.
Tact: Verbal behavior commenting on senses.
Target Behavior: Selected behavior for change.
Task Analysis & Task Reduction: Breaking down skills; reducing demands.
Variable Interval (VI) & Variable Ratio (VR): Reinforcement after unpredictable time/response number.
Verbal Behavior (VB): Communication teaching based on word purpose.
Verbal Behavior Milestones Assessment and Placement Program (VB-MAPP): Curriculum tool assessing multiple skills.
Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale (VABS): Measures adaptive behaviors.
Visual Schedules: Routines and transition aid tools.
The glossary aims to provide clarity on ABA terminology, helping practitioners and learners understand and apply these concepts effectively in practice.