Are You Sure You Are Working With A Behavior Analyst?
With the rise in rates of autism diagnoses, more people are becoming familiar with the field of applied behavior analysis. What I am not so sure of is if the "behavior analysis" being introduced to people is an accurate picture of the field. I believe that this is partially due to the rise in professionals claiming to be trained in behavior analysis. If you are truly working with a well trained behavior analyst, you will know it because behavior analysis is remarkably different than mainstream psychology (what most people know to be the field of psychology).
The first and most widely observed mistake I see made is referring to the field, applied behavior analysis (ABA), as a treatment. ABA is not a treatment. Applied behavior analysis is a science. It is an area of psychology that has very different views than mainstream psychology. Behavior analysis has separated itself from the rest of psychology because of it's different subject matter, philosophical beliefs, theories, and methodology. ABA is the application of the scientific principles of behavior discovered during experiments. ABA does not refer to a specific treatment or treatments. ABA-based interventions are devised by behavior analysts trained in the scientific principles of behavior. Each intervention is unique and created to meet the needs of the individual and each individual's specific situation. All ABA-based interventions are based on scientific principles of behavior that are based on years of experimental research.
So what makes behavior analysis so different from the rest of psychology?
1. Behavior Analysts Study Behavior-Environment Relationships, Not The Mind
A critical distinctive feature is the subject matter of behavior analysis. Behavior analysts believe that the appropriate subject matter for psychology is behavior and it's interaction with the environment. In contrast, the rest of psychology studies the mind. This does not mean behavior analysts do not study psychological events said to occur in the "mind," such as feeling, thinking, dreaming, perceptions, etc. Behavior analysts do study these events, they just don't give the "mind" special status and they consider these types of events as examples of behavior just like any other behavior. As such, behavior analysts believe that these type of events follow the same scientific principles as any other behavior.
2. Behavior Analysts Do Not Explain Behavior With Other Behavior
Unlike mainstream psychology, behavior analysts do not believe it makes sense to say that private behaviors are the cause of other observable behaviors. For example, it is common practice for us to say something like, "I yelled at him because I was mad." This is an example of attributing the cause of yelling to feeling mad. While this does not pose a problem for mainstream psychology, it poses a big problem for behavior analysts. If we are to say a behavior (feeling mad) caused another behavior (yelling), than we have not explained anything at all. We still haven't explained how or why the behaviors occurred.
3. Behavior Analysts Explain Behavior By Examining The Context In Which It Occurs
For a behavior analyst, the explanation or cause of behavior can only be found my looking outside behaviors to the environment. Now, here is where it can get a little tricky. For years, behavior analyst have been charged with being extreme environmentalists. The truth is there has never been a behaviorist that ever believed that biological factors did not have some role in influencing behavior. Not Skinner, not Watson, not anyone. The real issue here goes back to subject matter. A behavior analyst takes the position that the subject matter for psychology is behavior-environment relationships whereas biological factors should be studied by biologists, neurological factors by neurologists, etc. A behavior analyst examines the context in which behaviors occur to identify the variables responsible for the behavior. This includes all the relevant information about the situation before the behavior occurs and all the relevant information about what changed in the environment after the behavior occurred. If there are biological factors or other factors that are outside the scope of behavior analysis, the behavior analyst will consult with the appropriate professional. This is referred to as an interdisciplinary approach. Behavior analysts are proponents of a multidisciplinary approach.
4. Behavior Analysts Reject The Application Of The Medical Model To Psychology
Mainstream psychology uses the same methods to study, diagnose, and treat psychological problems as the medical field. Behavior analysts do not believe the medical model is the best way to study and treat psychological problems. Instead, behavior analysts use different research methodology and focus on socially relevant behaviors to each individual that are targeted for change rather than clumping everything together into diagnoses based on symptoms.
Critics often claim there is a lack of large clinical studies that support treatments based in ABA, and they are right. The reason is because behavior analysts don't believe that this type of methodology is the best way to research behavior and have adopted alternative methods called time-series designs. Time-series research designs allow us to answer the question "What treatment works best for for whom?" whereas the "gold standard" double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial cannot answer this question. Individuals who are not trained in time-series methodology often erroneously mistake the research published in behavior analysis for case studies because of the focus on individual data. In mainstream psychology, case studies, typically involve the publication of information regarding the progress of one patient. In general, case studies do not involve experimentation of any sort, but rely on descriptions of the patients progress. Time-series designs are experimental manipulations that allow us to say with confidence that the changes observed in behavior were due to our treatment. This is a stark contrast from traditional case studies published in mainstream psychology journals and furthermore, time-series designs provide more information than the revered "gold standard" group designs.
Most of the interventions used in mainstream psychology have relied on the "gold standard" to support the effectiveness of the intervention, but this is what you probably don't know. Most treatments barely have effects bigger than the placebo group (the fake treatment group). The effects are so small they require a fancy statistical procedure to make sure that the changes were significant enough to say there was a change and because groups of people are being compared, the treatment protocol has to be uniform across all the individuals participating. Behavior analysts reject this procedure for several reasons. First, behavior analysts believe that psychology is best studied at the level of the individual, therefore, the methodology is based on individual data. Second, behavior analysts are very concerned with clinical significance. In other words, behavior analysts don't really care if the procedure was statistically significant. A behavior analyst wants to know if the treatment helped the person and did it improve their quality of life. Third, behavior analysts believe that treatments should be individualized to meet the needs of the individual and to work best for their current situation. Last, behavior analysts believe in the scientist practitioner model and take ongoing data on all interventions and modify the treatment as needed based on the data.
These qualities of behavior analysis do not lend themselves well to the "gold standard" methodology. This does not mean that interventions based in ABA cannot hold up to the "gold standard." There have been several studies conducted using group design methodology, in which, behavioral interventions are consistently demonstrated to be effective. It is difficult, however, to devise these studies because one is forced to develop uniformed interventions that directly violate the emphasis on individualized treatments, but despite this flaw, behavioral interventions always do well when put to the "gold standard" test.
5. Behavior Analysts Define Concepts Based On Function, Not On Structure
Mainstream psychology's classification system is based on structural features or formal properties (what it looks like). The entire diagnostic manual is made up of different disorders that are separated based on similar topographical behaviors (they look the same). Behavior analysts believe that the best way to examine behavior is to look at it's function. The function of the behavior is the effect it has on the environment or the consequences the behavior produces. For example, I hit the button on my alarm and the effect that has is to stop the loud, annoying sound; I study for the test and the result is to receive an A (or avoid a bad grade); I take off my jacket and my body cools off. Most of the behavior analysis literature (articles and studies in journals) are based on the function of the behavior and not on the structural features of the behavior. For example, an article may be examining escape maintained behavior (behavior that results in the escape from an unwanted demand or task, such as schoolwork or chores). There may be several data sets with several individuals that engage in very different challenging behaviors and may also have different diagnoses (if any diagnoses). One child may hit and throw items that has the function of escaping schoolwork. Another child may repetitively bite his arm that has the function of escaping grocery shopping. As opposed to mainstream psychology literature, in which a strong emphasis would be placed on the diagnoses (they have all been diagnosed with ADHD) and would be examining behaviors grouped together based on structural features (they all hit).
This does not mean that behavior analysts do not believe in diagnoses or think that they are not important. It means that they place less emphasis on the diagnoses and more emphasis on the function of the behaviors the individual is displaying. This is why it is difficult for those outside of the field to find research supporting treatments for specific diagnoses (e.g., autism). Most of the research does not focus on the diagnoses of the individual because it is focused on the function of the behaviors. Just because someone has a similar diagnosis doesn't mean that the cause of the behavior is the same. Using the above example, all the children in the study have the diagnosis of ADHD and they all engage in aggressive behavior. If we examined the same treatment for all these children, chances are it wouldn't work for all of them. Why? Because the function of the behavior is likely to be different for all of them based on the circumstances. This is why behavior analysts focus on individual data and individual treamtments that are based on the function of the behavior for that individual and his current circumstances.
6. Behavior Analysts Are Scientist Practitioners
In mainstream psychology, it is unlikely that you would visit a therapist who takes ongoing data and does experimental manipulations to ensure that the treatment he is providing to you is working. Behavior analysts believe it is unethical to implement treatments that don't work for each individual. Behavior analysts collect ongoing data and continually monitor the data to ensure that the treatment is working. If at anytime the treatment does not work or stops working, appropriate changes or adjustments are made to fix the problem. Behavior analysts are continually conducting experimental manipulations to ensure that the changes are due to the treatment on not any other outside factors. Behavior analysts are known for loving their data. Not because they are "mad scientists" but because most of them take their vow to ethical conduct seriously and want to make sure that the treatment they are implementing is working.
How do you know you are working with a behavior analyst?
The first and most widely observed mistake I see made is referring to the field, applied behavior analysis (ABA), as a treatment. ABA is not a treatment. Applied behavior analysis is a science. It is an area of psychology that has very different views than mainstream psychology. Behavior analysis has separated itself from the rest of psychology because of it's different subject matter, philosophical beliefs, theories, and methodology. ABA is the application of the scientific principles of behavior discovered during experiments. ABA does not refer to a specific treatment or treatments. ABA-based interventions are devised by behavior analysts trained in the scientific principles of behavior. Each intervention is unique and created to meet the needs of the individual and each individual's specific situation. All ABA-based interventions are based on scientific principles of behavior that are based on years of experimental research.
So what makes behavior analysis so different from the rest of psychology?
1. Behavior Analysts Study Behavior-Environment Relationships, Not The Mind
A critical distinctive feature is the subject matter of behavior analysis. Behavior analysts believe that the appropriate subject matter for psychology is behavior and it's interaction with the environment. In contrast, the rest of psychology studies the mind. This does not mean behavior analysts do not study psychological events said to occur in the "mind," such as feeling, thinking, dreaming, perceptions, etc. Behavior analysts do study these events, they just don't give the "mind" special status and they consider these types of events as examples of behavior just like any other behavior. As such, behavior analysts believe that these type of events follow the same scientific principles as any other behavior.
2. Behavior Analysts Do Not Explain Behavior With Other Behavior
Unlike mainstream psychology, behavior analysts do not believe it makes sense to say that private behaviors are the cause of other observable behaviors. For example, it is common practice for us to say something like, "I yelled at him because I was mad." This is an example of attributing the cause of yelling to feeling mad. While this does not pose a problem for mainstream psychology, it poses a big problem for behavior analysts. If we are to say a behavior (feeling mad) caused another behavior (yelling), than we have not explained anything at all. We still haven't explained how or why the behaviors occurred.
3. Behavior Analysts Explain Behavior By Examining The Context In Which It Occurs
For a behavior analyst, the explanation or cause of behavior can only be found my looking outside behaviors to the environment. Now, here is where it can get a little tricky. For years, behavior analyst have been charged with being extreme environmentalists. The truth is there has never been a behaviorist that ever believed that biological factors did not have some role in influencing behavior. Not Skinner, not Watson, not anyone. The real issue here goes back to subject matter. A behavior analyst takes the position that the subject matter for psychology is behavior-environment relationships whereas biological factors should be studied by biologists, neurological factors by neurologists, etc. A behavior analyst examines the context in which behaviors occur to identify the variables responsible for the behavior. This includes all the relevant information about the situation before the behavior occurs and all the relevant information about what changed in the environment after the behavior occurred. If there are biological factors or other factors that are outside the scope of behavior analysis, the behavior analyst will consult with the appropriate professional. This is referred to as an interdisciplinary approach. Behavior analysts are proponents of a multidisciplinary approach.
4. Behavior Analysts Reject The Application Of The Medical Model To Psychology
Mainstream psychology uses the same methods to study, diagnose, and treat psychological problems as the medical field. Behavior analysts do not believe the medical model is the best way to study and treat psychological problems. Instead, behavior analysts use different research methodology and focus on socially relevant behaviors to each individual that are targeted for change rather than clumping everything together into diagnoses based on symptoms.
Critics often claim there is a lack of large clinical studies that support treatments based in ABA, and they are right. The reason is because behavior analysts don't believe that this type of methodology is the best way to research behavior and have adopted alternative methods called time-series designs. Time-series research designs allow us to answer the question "What treatment works best for for whom?" whereas the "gold standard" double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial cannot answer this question. Individuals who are not trained in time-series methodology often erroneously mistake the research published in behavior analysis for case studies because of the focus on individual data. In mainstream psychology, case studies, typically involve the publication of information regarding the progress of one patient. In general, case studies do not involve experimentation of any sort, but rely on descriptions of the patients progress. Time-series designs are experimental manipulations that allow us to say with confidence that the changes observed in behavior were due to our treatment. This is a stark contrast from traditional case studies published in mainstream psychology journals and furthermore, time-series designs provide more information than the revered "gold standard" group designs.
Most of the interventions used in mainstream psychology have relied on the "gold standard" to support the effectiveness of the intervention, but this is what you probably don't know. Most treatments barely have effects bigger than the placebo group (the fake treatment group). The effects are so small they require a fancy statistical procedure to make sure that the changes were significant enough to say there was a change and because groups of people are being compared, the treatment protocol has to be uniform across all the individuals participating. Behavior analysts reject this procedure for several reasons. First, behavior analysts believe that psychology is best studied at the level of the individual, therefore, the methodology is based on individual data. Second, behavior analysts are very concerned with clinical significance. In other words, behavior analysts don't really care if the procedure was statistically significant. A behavior analyst wants to know if the treatment helped the person and did it improve their quality of life. Third, behavior analysts believe that treatments should be individualized to meet the needs of the individual and to work best for their current situation. Last, behavior analysts believe in the scientist practitioner model and take ongoing data on all interventions and modify the treatment as needed based on the data.
These qualities of behavior analysis do not lend themselves well to the "gold standard" methodology. This does not mean that interventions based in ABA cannot hold up to the "gold standard." There have been several studies conducted using group design methodology, in which, behavioral interventions are consistently demonstrated to be effective. It is difficult, however, to devise these studies because one is forced to develop uniformed interventions that directly violate the emphasis on individualized treatments, but despite this flaw, behavioral interventions always do well when put to the "gold standard" test.
5. Behavior Analysts Define Concepts Based On Function, Not On Structure
Mainstream psychology's classification system is based on structural features or formal properties (what it looks like). The entire diagnostic manual is made up of different disorders that are separated based on similar topographical behaviors (they look the same). Behavior analysts believe that the best way to examine behavior is to look at it's function. The function of the behavior is the effect it has on the environment or the consequences the behavior produces. For example, I hit the button on my alarm and the effect that has is to stop the loud, annoying sound; I study for the test and the result is to receive an A (or avoid a bad grade); I take off my jacket and my body cools off. Most of the behavior analysis literature (articles and studies in journals) are based on the function of the behavior and not on the structural features of the behavior. For example, an article may be examining escape maintained behavior (behavior that results in the escape from an unwanted demand or task, such as schoolwork or chores). There may be several data sets with several individuals that engage in very different challenging behaviors and may also have different diagnoses (if any diagnoses). One child may hit and throw items that has the function of escaping schoolwork. Another child may repetitively bite his arm that has the function of escaping grocery shopping. As opposed to mainstream psychology literature, in which a strong emphasis would be placed on the diagnoses (they have all been diagnosed with ADHD) and would be examining behaviors grouped together based on structural features (they all hit).
This does not mean that behavior analysts do not believe in diagnoses or think that they are not important. It means that they place less emphasis on the diagnoses and more emphasis on the function of the behaviors the individual is displaying. This is why it is difficult for those outside of the field to find research supporting treatments for specific diagnoses (e.g., autism). Most of the research does not focus on the diagnoses of the individual because it is focused on the function of the behaviors. Just because someone has a similar diagnosis doesn't mean that the cause of the behavior is the same. Using the above example, all the children in the study have the diagnosis of ADHD and they all engage in aggressive behavior. If we examined the same treatment for all these children, chances are it wouldn't work for all of them. Why? Because the function of the behavior is likely to be different for all of them based on the circumstances. This is why behavior analysts focus on individual data and individual treamtments that are based on the function of the behavior for that individual and his current circumstances.
6. Behavior Analysts Are Scientist Practitioners
In mainstream psychology, it is unlikely that you would visit a therapist who takes ongoing data and does experimental manipulations to ensure that the treatment he is providing to you is working. Behavior analysts believe it is unethical to implement treatments that don't work for each individual. Behavior analysts collect ongoing data and continually monitor the data to ensure that the treatment is working. If at anytime the treatment does not work or stops working, appropriate changes or adjustments are made to fix the problem. Behavior analysts are continually conducting experimental manipulations to ensure that the changes are due to the treatment on not any other outside factors. Behavior analysts are known for loving their data. Not because they are "mad scientists" but because most of them take their vow to ethical conduct seriously and want to make sure that the treatment they are implementing is working.
How do you know you are working with a behavior analyst?
- A behavior analyst will discuss the behaviors targeted for change and will make sure they are socially relevant and important for the indvidual.
- All targeted behaviors will be clearly defined and a plan to collect data will be devised.
- A behavior analyst will collect assessment data to determine the function of the behaviors based on direct observations.
- A behavior analyst will be thoroughly trained in functional assessment and functional analyses procedures
- A behavior analyst will be thoroughly trained in time-series methodology and the scientist practitioner model
- A behavior analyst will collect ongoing data, including a baseline (before treatment) and continue when treatment is implemented
- A behavior analyst will devise a treatment that is based on the function of the behavior.
- A behavior analyst will have a detailed written description of all treatment plans.
- A behavior analyst will base all of his treatment decisions on the data.
- A behavior analyst will modify treatments as needed based on the data and will not continue to implement a procedure that is ineffective.
- A behavior analyst will only recommend treatments that have been empirically supported.
- A behavior analysts will not support the implementation of eclectic treatments (multiple treatments from various fields of psychology or other sources that have not been empirically supported) but will support working with multiple disciplines (doctors, nutritionists, neurologists, etc).
- A behavior analyst will be dedicated to improving the quality of life of his clients by implementing programs that make long-lasting and socially relevant behavior changes.
found it very clear for those who don't understand what are we exactly do!
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Yes I am a speech and language pathologist and completed the ABA courses at Florida Institutes of Technologies last year and currently obtaining my board certification
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