The application of the science of behavior to modify the behavior of an individual or group. ABA is often used synonymously (and I believe erroneously) with specific programs for teaching children with autism (such as a program in the style of O. Ivar Lovaas, or the UCLA model), especially those based on discrete trials. [ read more on Applied Behavior Analysis][ Return to the top of the page
a discipline devoted to the understanding and improvement of human behavior
The science and discipline devoted to understanding and improving human behavior by applying basic behavioral principles to learning and teaching.
A method of teaching designed to analyze and change behavior in a precisely measurable and accountable manner. Also called behavior modification.
The Michigan Department of Education, Office of Special Education and Early Intervention Services' publication Positive Behavior Support for ALL Michigan Students: Creating Environments That Assure Learning – Summary (June 2001) defines “applied behavior analysis” as a methodology that includes systematic collection and graphing of data to determine student progress toward a specific objective.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a systematic process of studying and modifying observable behavior through a manipulation of the environment. Its principles can be applied to virtually anything capable of learning, but generally is applied in humans to individuals with autism and other developmental disorders.