BCBA Applications Glossary
Key terms and definitions for Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior-Change Procedures.
Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)
A systematic process for identifying the environmental variables that maintain problem behavior, including indirect assessment, descriptive assessment, and functional analysis.
Functional Analysis
An experimental procedure that manipulates antecedent and consequent variables to identify the function of problem behavior. Typically includes alone, attention, demand, tangible, and control conditions.
Discrete Trial Training (DTT)
A structured teaching procedure that breaks complex skills into small, teachable components, each presented as a distinct trial with a clear antecedent, response opportunity, consequence, and inter-trial interval.
Natural Environment Training (NET)
A teaching approach that uses naturally occurring opportunities, motivating operations, and natural reinforcers within the learner's daily environment.
Task Analysis
The process of breaking a complex skill into smaller, sequentially ordered component steps that can be taught individually.
Forward Chaining
A chaining procedure in which the first step of the task analysis is taught first, and subsequent steps are added sequentially.
Backward Chaining
A chaining procedure in which the last step of the task analysis is taught first, working backward toward the first step.
Shaping
The differential reinforcement of successive approximations toward a target behavior.
Prompting
Supplementary antecedent stimuli used to evoke a correct response that would not occur without assistance. Types include verbal, gestural, model, physical, and positional prompts.
Prompt Fading
The systematic reduction of prompts to promote independent responding.
Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA)
Reinforcement of a specified alternative behavior while withholding reinforcement for the problem behavior.
Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior (DRI)
Reinforcement of a behavior that is physically incompatible with the problem behavior.
Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior (DRO)
Reinforcement delivered contingent on the absence of the target problem behavior for a specified interval of time.
Extinction
The discontinuation of reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior, resulting in a decrease in that behavior over time.
Extinction Burst
A temporary increase in the frequency, duration, or intensity of a behavior immediately following the implementation of extinction.
Noncontingent Reinforcement (NCR)
The delivery of a reinforcer on a time-based schedule, independent of the occurrence of any specific behavior.
Token Economy
A system in which tokens are earned for specified behaviors and later exchanged for backup reinforcers.
Generalization
The occurrence of a behavior in conditions other than those in which it was originally trained.
Maintenance
The persistence of a behavior change over time after training has been discontinued.