What Is Applied Behavior Analysis - Exploring ABA Therapy Careers

Exploring ABA Careers

The field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is growing rapidly, mostly due to an increasing awareness of its effectiveness. Changing behavior or breaking bad habits can be difficult for people of any age, and as we become more focused on mental health and positive behavioral changes, the demand for qualified ABA specialists continues to rise. 

Making sustainable behavioral changes certainly isn't easy, but with the right strategies, it can become a reality. Professionals in various fields, such as education, social work, and healthcare, use ABA to help people learn and sustain the use of positive behaviors. The science of ABA is used in a variety of sectors to help individuals lead more meaningful and fulfilled lives.

While most people have heard it, do we really understand what ABA therapy is and its effectiveness? Let's take a look at its history, its core principles, and the different career paths available in this rewarding field.

What Is Applied Behavior Analysis?

Applied Behavior Analysis refers to the scientific approach to understanding learning and behavior. It helps us get a deeper understanding of how behavior works, how it is affected by the environment, and how learning occurs. The goal of the therapy is to improve or address certain behaviors, which can range from social skills to academic ability. 

When certain behaviors present a social, health, or safety issue, that behavior is known as challenging or undesirable. ABA focuses on principles like positive reinforcement and rewarding good behaviors to encourage them instead of those that are harmful or unacceptable. The ultimate goal of ABA is to encourage behaviors that are helpful and eliminate harmful behavior or behavior that affects learning. Therapy programs can help with increasing attention and focus, modifying the way a person acts or reacts, and changing behavior or habits that are problematic. 

An ABA therapist helps improve behavior by using a functional behavior assessment to gather and analyze data to determine the reason for the unfavorable behavior. The therapist does this by observing, identifying, and responding to patient behaviors. They work with patients and families to come up with an effective plan to address the behaviors, often combining ABA with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques so that the environmental cause of the problem is clear. These therapists are licensed clinical therapists who have received additional training. Accreditation is given by The Behavior Analyst Certification Board after the completion of the required graduate-level academic experience in ABA principles. 

A Brief History of ABA

The theory of behaviorism was made popular in 1913 by Dr. John B. Watson, a pioneering psychologist. Watson believed that rather than focusing on mental states, psychology should focus on observable behavior. Dr. B. F. Skinner further developed the theory to describe how people learn — by describing and researching the correlation between antecedents (what precedes a behavior) and the consequences that follow. This was an important milestone in the development of ABA when Skinner, known as the "Father of Behavioral Analysis," theorized that behaviors followed by positive outcomes were likely to be repeated, while those followed by negative consequences were not.

It was in the late 1950s and early 1960s that researchers began to further explore the principles of teaching the use of ABA. Dr. Ivar Lovaas developed a program to teach language to autistic children using the principles of applied behavior analysis. ABA became a distinct field during this time when researchers Baer, Wolf, and Risley from the University of Washington applied the principles of behavior analysis to manage the behavior of children and adolescents in juvenile detention centers, treat autism, and organize employees in businesses that needed guidance of proper structure and management. In 1968, Baer, Bijou, Risley, Birnbrauer, Wolf, and James Sherman founded the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis at the University of Kansas. 

Core Principles of ABA Therapy

ABA Therapy takes a close look at the reasons that specific behaviors occur. Behavior is learned, and through practice and positive reinforcement, it can be changed for the better. It is important to fully understand the core principles of ABA, which are:

• Escape or Avoidance — A person may exhibit certain behaviors to avoid a task that they don't want to do. This could include challenging tasks, overwhelming social interactions, or uncomfortable situations. Common examples are a child crying when they are told to clean up their toys or an older child pretending to be sick to get out of a test at school. 
• Attention-Seeking — This behavior is typically caused by a person's desire for social interaction or acknowledgment from others. Examples can be a child who intentionally falls out of their chair at school to get their classmates to laugh or an adult who constantly interrupts conversations or uses exaggerated actions or expressions to bring attention to themselves.
• Access to Tangible Items  — This type of behavior is described as engaging in a specific behavior to receive a wanted object or engage in a desired activity or event. For instance, a child may cry at a store until their parent buys them something they want, or a teenager may lock themselves in their room until they are allowed to use the phone.
• Sensory Stimulation — Hand-flapping, rocking, or spinning are all examples of sensory stimulation behavior that provides a sense of comfort. Individuals may seek stimulation to sensitize or desensitize by doing things such as jumping, skipping, or tapping their feet.

Understanding ABA Therapy Techniques

Some common ABA therapy techniques include:

• Positive and Negative Reinforcement  —  A common technique for encouraging positive behavior. By rewarding the outcome of the desired behavior, the chances of it happening again increase. This approach is both straightforward and effective. By contrast, negative reinforcement increases skills by removing an unpleasant element as a "reward" for favorable behavior.
• Visual Modeling —  This method uses different forms of visual aids such as charts, pictures, or even video modeling to make behaviors easier to understand.
• Prompting and Fading — To encourage positive behavior, verbal or physical prompts are used to initiate the action while fading involves gradually removing the prompts.
• Behavior Chain — This specialized method breaks down tasks into easier, more manageable steps, which are then taught sequentially.
• Behavior Contracts — This formal approach to behavior modification spells out the expected positive behavior and the associated consequences. It also includes consequences for not meeting expectations.
• Extinction — This technique focuses on completely removing challenging behavior. For example, if a child constantly throws tantrums when they don't get what they want, and the tantrums are completely ignored, the behavior will likely stop over time.
• Modeling — Leading by example as a visual form of learning.
• Redirection — Steering a person's focus away from negative behavior and toward something positive, such as suggesting a new activity.
• Script Fading — This technique is used when a verbal or written guide is provided to help with complex tasks or social situations. 

Common Types of ABA Careers and ABA Industries

There are a variety of industries, and different careers within them, where ABA therapists can work.

• Healthcare — In hospital settings, ABA therapists often manage team meetings to ensure that everyone is consistent as they apply the specific program tailored to the individual. Therapists also work with doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, and other trained healthcare professionals. There are opportunities in community mental health centers, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, and assisted living facilities for ABA therapists to provide their services.
• Schools — Therapists work in educational settings to help students engage in positive behaviors. They collaborate with students and teachers in both one-on-one settings and group activities. ABA is helpful in special education settings for students with special needs, such as autism, to improve social interaction, communication, and academic skills. 
• Private Practice — ABA therapists work in home-based or private offices to meet with individuals and families. 
• Business and Organizational Behavior Management — Also known as Organization Behavior Management (OBM), ABA techniques are effective for improving employee performance, boosting productivity, and enhancing workplace culture. Additionally, marketing professionals rely on these techniques to understand consumer behavior to craft campaigns that influence purchasing decisions.
• Correctional Facilities — ABA therapists work in different places within the criminal justice system, such as criminal and rehabilitation theory, by determining environmental factors that lead to criminal behavior and how to address them.

Who Can Benefit from ABA Therapy?

While ABA therapy is most commonly used to treat individuals and children with autism, it can be helpful for people of all ages, regardless of whether they have a disability. Therapists can use ABA therapy to help:

• Children and adults with autism and other developmental disorders
• Seniors with diminished or altered physical and mental abilities
• Individuals with chronic mental or physical health conditions who need to learn coping skills
• People who need to decrease problem behaviors, such as addiction

Get Started with an ABA Career at UMass Global

If you currently work in one of the industries that we've discussed, the principles of ABA can give you a better understanding of those you work with every day. By gaining a deeper understanding of ABA therapy and how it is applied in a variety of settings, you could take the first steps toward advancing your career. Formal training is essential and will help to get your resume noticed by employers. UMass Global is proud to offer an ABA graduate certificate, a seven-course program that meets the 5th task list coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) examination. You'll learn the vocabulary of applied behavior analysis and gain the use of experimental research designs to fully prepare for the BCBA exam. If you are looking to work in an education setting, Umass Global also offers an MA in Special Education with a focus in Applied Behavior Analysis and an MA in Educational Psychology and Ed.S. in School Psychology with PPSP Credential that has an ABA emphasis. Contact us for more information.