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Lesson 1: Introduction to Intervention

Your First Session on Intervention

People generally become behavior analysts in order to help other people. Data collection and assessment are critical activities, but intervention is generally where behavior change occurs. In this segment we will begin discussion of intervention, stressing the use of the dimensions of ABA as a guide.

Video 1.1. Your First Session on Intervention Transcript
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Self-Check Activity

Match each of the dimensions to the corresponding definition.
  • A. Applied
  • B. Accountable
  • C. Analytic
  • D. Behavioral
  • E. Conceptually systematic
  • F. Doable
  • G. Effective
  • H. Empowering
  • I. Generality
  • J. Optimistic
  • K. Public
  • L. Technological

 

Solution
Applied
Targets behaviors which are socially significant with immediate importance to clients.
Accountable
Direct and frequent measurement which detects the successes and failures of intervention, enabling any needed alterations to the intervention.
Analytic
Demonstration of a functional relation between the dependent and independent variables; control the occurrence or nonoccurrence of the behavior.
Behavioral
The dependent variable of interest in need of socially significant improvement; must be directly observable and measurable.
Conceptually systematic
Interventions are derived from basic principles of behavior and are linked systematically.
Doable
Pragmatic; through training procedures can be run effectively.
Effective
Intervention improves targeted behavior to a practical degree for the participant.
Empowering
Instills confidence in practitioners when procedures are effective; ABA provides interventions that work.
Generality
Behavior change lasts over time, appears in environments other than the one it was taught in, and/or spreads to other behaviors not directly treated.
Optimistic
Practitioners skilled in ABA can alter and improve the lives of others.
Public
Procedures are visible, explicit, and transparent; requires no mystical or metaphysical explanations.
Technological
Descriptions of procedures are detailed and complete in order to allow for replication by others.

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