The Seven Dimensions of Behavior
By 1968, the philosophy of behaviorism was developed and laid a strong foundation for the more modern conceptualization of the science of applied behavior analysis. In 1968, Baer, Wolf, & Risley published the first article in the first volume of the newly minted Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. In this article, they described seven essential dimensions of applied behavior analysis that guide research and practice to this day. Many mark this event as the emergence of applied behavior analysis as a field. For this discussion, please review the assigned readings and the video in this unit.
Please respond to the following:
• Name and describe each of the seven dimensions of ABA.
• Describe Baer et al.'s (1968) rationale for presenting these as the foundation for sound research and practice in ABA.
• What conclusions did Baer et al. (1987) reach when they reviewed the seven dimensions nearly 20 years later?
• Based on your readings and the assigned video, what future directions might be important to consider (if any) in development of the seven dimensions?
ame and describe each of the seven dimensions of ABA
The seven dimensions of ABA are:
- Applied: ABA is focused on improving socially significant behaviors in natural settings.
- Behavioral: ABA focuses on observable and measurable behaviors.
- Analytic: ABA is based on the scientific method and uses data to evaluate interventions.
- Technological: ABA interventions are described in a clear and concise way so that they can be replicated by others.
- Conceptually systematic: ABA interventions are based on a well-established body of research on human behavior.
- Effective: ABA interventions are shown to be effective in producing meaningful and lasting changes in behavior.
- Generality: ABA interventions are designed to generalize to other settings and behaviors.
- Expanding the focus of ABA to include more complex behaviors: ABA has traditionally focused on improving simple behaviors, such as eye contact, sitting still, and following directions. However, ABA can also be used to improve more complex behaviors, such as social skills, communication skills, and academic skills. Future research could focus on developing and evaluating ABA interventions for these more complex behaviors.
- Incorporating advances in technology: Technology is rapidly changing, and there are many new opportunities to use technology to improve ABA research and practice. For example, mobile apps can be used to collect data on behavior in natural settings, and virtual reality can be used to create immersive learning environments. Future research could focus on developing and evaluating ABA interventions that incorporate technology.
- Addressing the needs of diverse populations: ABA is increasingly being used to serve individuals with diverse needs, such as those with autism spectrum disorder, developmental disabilities, and mental health disorders. Future research could focus on developing and evaluating ABA interventions that are tailored to the needs of these diverse populations.