When working in education, it is crucial to know how to meet the needs of each student, no matter where they are in their education journey. While all teachers seek to create lesson plans and patterns of teaching that help each student thrive, investing in behavior analysis takes this intention further.
Behavior analysis is an overarching scientific discipline with three branches: experimental, theoretical and applied behavior analysis (ABA). Applied behavior analysis is the application of the principles of learning theory, discovered via experimental analysis of behavior, to address socially meaningful issues. In education, applying these findings often involves assessing, developing a plan for, and teaching academic and social skills in areas of deficit. This enables teaching safer and more appropriate alternatives to challenging behavior and using other tactics to provide helpful instruction for students.
Within the discipline of behavior analysis, educators believe that consequences of behavior influence future behavior. For example, if a student asks for help and receives it, they will be more likely to keep asking than if their request went unanswered. Alternatively, when a student answers a question incorrectly in class and receives corrective feedback, they may be less likely to participate in the future. Different consequences impact the behavior of individual students differently, but an understanding of how consequences influence behavior can help a teacher establish and maintain prosocial behavior in their classroom. Such an understanding can also help educators assess the specific consequences and other events impacting a student’s behavior to develop individualized support, when needed.
Although ABA is highly individualized, all examples of ABA are characterized by their roots in basic principles of learning theory. Understanding these concepts is a starting point for processing how students learn, and can be used to equip teachers to adjust their approach based on the needs of their current students.
In an ABA training program, practitioners learn these concepts and how to apply them. For example, training addresses how reinforcement can be used to establish and increase an adaptive behavior, as well as the generalization or transfer of that behavior to other contexts. Understanding these underlying concepts, or mechanisms through which learning occurs, drives the effects of any given strategy for teaching and provides a solid foundation for practitioners to build their approach to instruction.
This approach makes ABA “conceptually systematic”, allowing practitioners to problem-solve quickly and effectively. By studying the foundation of ABA, they can understand why a strategy works, how it influences their implementation of different components of a strategy and how to adjust these components for each student. ABA is most effective when educators employ strategies rooted in foundational research that are designed to meet the individualized needs of a given learner.
Because ABA is often used with vulnerable populations, such as young children and individuals with disabilities, its ethical exclusion is critical. One framework is the Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts, set by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board. The Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts specifies guidelines for practitioners to support them in doing their best work while protecting and providing for the needs of their students. In addition, the Code ensures accountability - there is a specific process for addressing ethical violations on the part of a practitioner.
The 4 core principles of the code are:
Applied behavior analysts are scientist-practitioners, in that they apply the concepts and principles of learning theory while directly measuring progress toward behavior change goals. In ABA, these goals must be meaningful to the individual receiving services, and not simply the other individuals in their lives (e.g., teachers, parents). To support individuals receiving behavioral services, behavior analysts assess existing behavior and potentially influential environmental variables (e.g., consequences). Based on assessment data, behavior analysts design plans for teaching new skills that are based on principles of learning theory. Thus, teaching plans vary widely! However, there are some commonly used frameworks for teaching new skills. Some examples of these frameworks include behavioral skills training, naturalistic teaching, and function-based intervention.
A big part of a behavior analyst’s job is to train caregivers (e.g., teachers, parents) to implement behavior change procedures. Behavioral skills training is an individualized, mastery-based procedure in which tasks are broken down into smaller components based on the needs of the individual and explicitly taught using a combination of explanation, modeling, practice and feedback. This method is almost identical to explicit or direct instruction, a core instructional method in special education, and is typically the method used to train adults to implement behavioral support for others. Behavioral skills training is not just used for children and its principles and strategies can apply to those of all ages and stages.
Encompassing naturalistic teaching and other methods, NDBI is a manualized procedure that is individualized to a child’s developmental needs. During NDBI, teaching opportunities are embedded within daily activities, often play, and are often child-led. Working within a student’s natural environment can help educators apply what a student learns in one area of a lesson to another area of their life, such as learning colors in one lesson and then applying that learning by asking for toys based on their color.
Some behavior analysts specialize in support for children who have persistent patterns of interfering behavior, or behavior that interferes with their educational progress. In function-based intervention, the behavior analyst assesses the need being met by the interfering behavior and designs a plan to establish a new behavior that more efficiently, effectively, and safely meets the same need. For example, if an assessment reveals that a child shows aggression to gain access to a preferred item, a behavior analyst would begin function-based intervention by teaching the child to request the item (i.e., functional communication). Once the child fluently makes requests, they may be taught to accept denials before accessing the item, and eventually cooperate with contextually appropriate instructions prior to accessing the item.
In special education environments, ABA can help students enhance their communication skills and reduce the frustration and disruptive behavior that can occur in the absence of verbal communication. ABA also assists in improving student focus by meeting specific student needs and reducing the effects of external factors that create barriers to effective learning. ABA can reduce problem behaviors that stem from insufficient support in the classroom and from students not feeling empowered to communicate their wants and needs in a healthy way.
While ABA was largely been used to support individuals on the autism spectrum, the concepts and principles applied in ABA are applicable to any socially meaningful issue involving behavior.
In special education environments, students with a variety of diagnoses and educational labels receive services influenced by ABA like explicit instruction and behavioral skills training, matrix teaching, function-based intervention and more.
As a field with far-reaching educational implications, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) intersects with various policies promoting inclusivity and equity. One major policy is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA guarantees quality special education services for children with disabilities, including a free appropriate public education tailored to meet individual needs. ABA is one of the evidence-based practices endorsed by IDEA to support students with disabilities and promote positive outcomes in the classroom.
Moreover, ABA-informed research is inspiring state-level policy reform, with states seeking to improve their education systems through the integration of ABA principles. By highlighting the benefits of ABA in promoting learning and reducing barriers to education, policy-makers are prioritizing creating policies that foster inclusive educational environments that enable every student, regardless of diagnosis or educational label, to reach their full potential.
At Vanderbilt Peabody College, the commitment to advancing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is evident in our numerous achievements and programs. Peabody College is renowned for its groundbreaking research, innovative practices, and widely used methods in the field of ABA.
The Applied Behavior Analysis (M.Ed.) program at Peabody College is designed to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to deliver high-quality behavioral services to individuals with disabilities. The program's curriculum is verified by the Association for Behavior Analysis International and is grounded in educational research and technology. It challenges students to integrate ABA principles into educational practice, preparing them to make effective changes in the field.
Peabody College’s program has three on-campus pathways to training: the above Applied Behavioral Analysis M.Ed., a Special Education M.Ed. with an ABA specialization, and the Child studies M.Ed. with an ABA specialization.
Peabody College also offers an Online Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis, which features coursework verified by the Association for Behavior Analysis International. The program is grounded in educational research and technology and challenges students to integrate applied behavior analysis into practice. It is designed for individuals who already have a master’s degree in a related field. Coursework is offered online through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous coursework.
The program offers various courses and concentrations that allow students to specialize in specific areas of education. Students in graduate education programs can choose from areas of emphasis such as early childhood, high-incidence disabilities, and severe disabilities. Each elective emphasizes a different aspect of ABA in special education, ensuring students gain a well-rounded education.
By highlighting the importance of advocating for equity among students with special needs, Peabody College prepares scholars to be strong team members and collaborators who are dedicated to creating inclusive educational environments.
If you want to explore more about ABA and its impact on teaching, download our eBook, Teaching for Impact: Empowering the Next Generation with a Master of Education. This eBook provides valuable insights into the application of ABA in the classroom and how teachers can effectively implement ABA strategies to support student learning.
If you're ready to make a difference in the field of special education through ABA, Peabody College offers an exceptional program for aspiring professionals. You can apply now and become part of a community of scholars dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities and advancing the practice of applied behavior analysis. Or, you can request more information to learn more about our program.