Applied Behavior Analysis Course

Lesson 1 • Philosophical Assumptions of Behaviorism

Examines determinism, empiricism, and parsimony as guiding principles. These assumptions shape how analysts collect and interpret data.

Lesson 2 • Core Terminology and Concepts

Defines stimulus, response, reinforcement, and punishment with precision. Accurate terminology prevents misapplication throughout the course.

Lesson 3 • History and Scientific Roots

Traces behaviorism from early reflexology through applied behavior analysis. Provides context for why current methods are structured as they are.

Lesson 1 • Graphing and Visual Displays

Covers equal-interval and semi-logarithmic graphs for displaying behavioral data. Visual displays are the primary tool for ongoing clinical decision-making.

Lesson 2 • Continuous and Discontinuous Recording

Contrasts event recording, duration, latency, and interval methods. Selecting the right method ensures data accurately reflects the behavior of interest.

Lesson 3 • Data Interpretation and Decision Rules

Introduces trend, level, and variability analysis for evaluating progress. Decision rules translate visual patterns into actionable program changes.

Lesson 4 • Interobserver Agreement

Explains how to calculate and interpret agreement between independent observers. High agreement validates that definitions and procedures are applied consistently.

Lesson 1 • Multiple Baseline Designs

Teaches staggered introduction of intervention across behaviors, settings, or participants. Multiple baseline designs are used when reversal is impractical or unethical.

Lesson 2 • Alternating Treatments and Changing Criterion

Explains rapid alternation designs and stepwise criterion designs for specific questions. These designs address comparison and shaping questions that other designs cannot.

Lesson 3 • Visual Analysis and Effect Evaluation

Applies systematic visual analysis criteria to evaluate intervention effects across designs. Consistent visual analysis standards reduce subjective interpretation errors.

Lesson 4 • Reversal and Withdrawal Designs

Covers ABAB and withdrawal designs for demonstrating experimental control. These designs are most appropriate when behavior is expected to reverse upon condition change.

Lesson 1 • Functions of Behavior

Introduces the four primary behavioral functions: access, escape, attention, and automatic reinforcement. Understanding function is essential before selecting any intervention.

Lesson 2 • Writing the FBA Summary and Hypothesis

Guides synthesis of multi-method data into a clear behavioral hypothesis statement. A well-written hypothesis directly links assessment findings to intervention targets.

Lesson 3 • Indirect Assessment Methods

Covers structured interviews and rating scales used to gather informant perspectives. Indirect data generate hypotheses that guide direct observation planning.

Lesson 4 • Functional Analysis Methodology

Explains experimental manipulation of antecedents and consequences to isolate function. Functional analysis provides the strongest evidence for function identification.

Lesson 1 • Preference and Reinforcer Assessments

Covers free operant, single-stimulus, paired-stimulus, and multiple-stimulus methods. Systematic assessment identifies potent reinforcers before intervention begins.

Lesson 2 • Schedules of Reinforcement

Explains fixed and variable ratio and interval schedules and their behavioral effects. Schedule selection determines response rate, persistence, and resistance to extinction.

Lesson 3 • Positive and Negative Reinforcement

Distinguishes positive reinforcement from negative reinforcement by mechanism, not value. Accurate classification prevents procedural errors in intervention design.

Lesson 4 • Avoiding Reinforcement Pitfalls

Addresses satiation, reinforcer devaluation, and inadvertent reinforcement of problem behavior. Proactive management sustains reinforcer effectiveness across time.

Lesson 1 • Differential Reinforcement Procedures

Teaches DRA, DRI, DRO, and DRL as function-matched reduction strategies. Differential reinforcement reduces problem behavior while building adaptive alternatives.

Lesson 2 • Least-Restrictive Practice Hierarchy

Establishes the ethical obligation to use the least intrusive effective procedure. The hierarchy guides decision-making before any reductive strategy is selected.

Lesson 3 • Punishment-Based Procedures

Reviews positive and negative punishment, response cost, and time-out with ethical safeguards. Punishment is reserved for cases where reinforcement-based methods are insufficient.

Lesson 4 • Extinction Procedures

Explains extinction mechanics, extinction bursts, and spontaneous recovery across functions. Correct implementation requires anticipating and managing temporary response increases.

Lesson 1 • Task Analysis and Chaining

Teaches how to break complex skills into teachable steps and sequence them. Chaining procedures link steps into fluent, independent performance.

Lesson 2 • Generalization and Maintenance Planning

Addresses programming for skill use across settings, people, and materials. Without generalization planning, skills learned in training rarely transfer to real life.

Lesson 3 • Shaping New Behaviors

Explains differential reinforcement of successive approximations to build novel responses. Shaping is used when the target behavior does not yet exist in the learner's repertoire.

Lesson 4 • Prompting Strategies

Covers physical, model, gestural, and verbal prompts and their appropriate uses. Prompt selection determines how quickly learners achieve independent responding.

Lesson 1 • Plan Review, Revision, and Fading

Establishes data-based criteria for modifying or fading intervention components. Systematic fading promotes independence and reduces reliance on artificial supports.

Lesson 2 • Linking Assessment to Intervention

Demonstrates how FBA hypothesis statements directly determine intervention component selection. Misalignment between function and strategy is the most common plan failure point.

Lesson 3 • Writing Measurable Behavioral Goals

Teaches goal writing with learner, behavior, condition, and criterion components. Precise goals enable consistent implementation and objective progress evaluation.

Lesson 4 • Designing the Intervention Package

Guides selection and integration of antecedent, teaching, and consequence strategies. A coherent package addresses all three-term contingency components simultaneously.