Applied Behavior Analysis Tutor Training: Module 1 & 2 Tracy Vail, MS,CCC/SLP & Gabrielle Trapenberg, MA, BCBA Let’s Talk Speech & Language Services Inc.

Ethics of ABA Practitioners Professionalism: Maintain professional boundaries, be respectful of your families, and coworkers. Professionalism: Maintain professional boundaries, be respectful of your families, and coworkers. Confidentiality: You are required to comply with HIPAA regulations. Confidentiality: You are required to comply with HIPAA regulations. Social Validity: Behaviors should be targeted that are socially relevant, so when working with a client and his/her family you should always take their needs into consideration. Social Validity: Behaviors should be targeted that are socially relevant, so when working with a client and his/her family you should always take their needs into consideration. Responsible conduct: a. Keep accurate and consistent documentation. b. Only handle situations you are trained to handle. Responsible conduct: a. Keep accurate and consistent documentation. b. Only handle situations you are trained to handle.

What is Applied Behavior Analysis? Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the science of behavior Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the science of behavior Looks at human behaviors, what causes them and how to make them increase or decrease. Looks at human behaviors, what causes them and how to make them increase or decrease. Analyze the function of behavior by looking at the contingencies (what happens before and after) Analyze the function of behavior by looking at the contingencies (what happens before and after) Module 1

What is Behavior? Anything that can be seen, felt and counted by either an individual or others in their environment. Anything that can be seen, felt and counted by either an individual or others in their environment. Which of these are behaviors? Which of these are behaviors? Saying cookie Saying cookie Thinking about cookie Thinking about cookie Touching cookie Touching cookie Dreaming about a cookie Dreaming about a cookie Baking a cookie Baking a cookie Looking at a cookie Looking at a cookie Reaching toward a cookie Reaching toward a cookie Module 1

Teaching Techniques Discrete Trial: Discrete Trial: Breaking skills down and teaching it one sub-skill at a time, providing prompts and reinforcement. Breaking skills down and teaching it one sub-skill at a time, providing prompts and reinforcement. Natural Environment Teaching: Natural Environment Teaching: Helps promote generalization of skills in the natural environment Helps promote generalization of skills in the natural environment Intensive Teaching at the Table Intensive Teaching at the Table Teaching in a one-on-one setting presenting skills in discrete trials around and average VR. Teaching in a one-on-one setting presenting skills in discrete trials around and average VR. Module 1

Discrete Trial: How we manipulate these contingencies determines whether a behavior will increase or decrease. Antecedent BehaviorConsequence MO/EO & Stimulus (S-d or S-delta) Response Reinforcement Positive (soc med) Negative (soc med) Automatic (+ or -) (Increases) Punishment Positive Negative (Decreases) *Refer to Handout: “Terms & Definitions” and “Advanced Terminology”

Antecedent: Establishing Operation Temporarily increases the value of the reinforcer Temporarily increases the value of the reinforcer Temporarily increases the behaviors that have been consequated by that reinforcer in the past Temporarily increases the behaviors that have been consequated by that reinforcer in the past Example: If in the past, when I wanted juice, I said “juice” and got it, then I’m more likely to say juice again, when I want it. Example: If in the past, when I wanted juice, I said “juice” and got it, then I’m more likely to say juice again, when I want it.

Antecedent: Establishing Operation Without motivation, you have no reinforcer. Without a reinforcer, you cannot increase behaviors. Without motivation, you have no reinforcer. Without a reinforcer, you cannot increase behaviors. Things that affect EO are: Things that affect EO are: Satiation: if you’ve had constant access to the reinforcer, then your EO decreases Satiation: if you’ve had constant access to the reinforcer, then your EO decreases Deprivation: if you haven’t had access to the reinforcer in a while, then your EO increases Deprivation: if you haven’t had access to the reinforcer in a while, then your EO increases

Consequences: Reinforcement Increases the likelihood that a behavior will occur again in the future Increases the likelihood that a behavior will occur again in the future 4 categories or “buckets” of behavior based on the reinforcement history 4 categories or “buckets” of behavior based on the reinforcement history Must be contingent! Must be contingent! Is not a “thing” but an effect on behavior Is not a “thing” but an effect on behavior If a behavior is increasing, something is reinforcing it. If a behavior is increasing, something is reinforcing it.

Socially Mediated Reinforcement Socially mediated positive reinforcement: Socially mediated positive reinforcement: behaviors that have a history of being reinforced by getting things/attention from people Socially mediated negative reinforcement: behaviors that been reinforced by escape or delay of demands involving people Socially mediated negative reinforcement: behaviors that been reinforced by escape or delay of demands involving people

Automatic Reinforcement Automatic positive reinforcement (Stims): behaviors that are reinforced because they feel good Automatic positive reinforcement (Stims): behaviors that are reinforced because they feel good Automatic negative reinforcement: behaviors I do because they remove a “bad” or uncomfortable feeling Automatic negative reinforcement: behaviors I do because they remove a “bad” or uncomfortable feeling

Expanding A Child’s Community of Reinforcers How do you create new reinforcers? How do you create new reinforcers? Pair or associate the new activity/item/person with something the child already finds reinforcing. Pair or associate the new activity/item/person with something the child already finds reinforcing. The new activity/item/person becomes a “conditioned” reinforcer The new activity/item/person becomes a “conditioned” reinforcer Choose activities based on current targets, the child’s MO or the child’s other interests, age-appropriateness. Choose activities based on current targets, the child’s MO or the child’s other interests, age-appropriateness.

Expanding Interests

Pairing Learn what the child likes and be the provider of “all good things.” Learn what the child likes and be the provider of “all good things.” Build Motivation (MO) Build Motivation (MO) Establish reinforcers Establish reinforcers Play without requiring responding Play without requiring responding Don’t remove the child from an enjoyable activity, rather join him in the activity Don’t remove the child from an enjoyable activity, rather join him in the activity Be animated and fun Be animated and fun Pair yourself and talking with reinforcement. Pair yourself and talking with reinforcement.

BE the Reinforcer!

Pair Sounds/Talking with Fun!

Pairing with Favorite Activities

Developing Play Patterns Build anticipation Build anticipation Do the unexpected Do the unexpected Be animated Be animated Be playful – play as children play Be playful – play as children play Pair words/sounds with what the child is doing Pair words/sounds with what the child is doing Create verbal routines Create verbal routines Gradually change the routines and expand the play patterns Gradually change the routines and expand the play patterns

Requiring Responses: Do Don’t Follow negative behavior with reinforcement Remove a child from a reinforcing activity to begin teaching Give directions to do things you can’t prompt Give directions without getting compliance Kill reinforcers by placing too many demands Teach errorlessly Fade in demands Teach to Fluency Prompt Quickly Fade prompts Make sure all questions have answers Find numerous reinforcers Reinforcer appropriate behaviors Correct errors Have fun!

Requiring Responses: Teaching Procedures Shaping – Gradually modify behavior into what we want it to be. Shaping – Gradually modify behavior into what we want it to be. Prompting – Given assistance to provide correct responding. Includes visual cues, phsyical prompts, hand- over-hand, modeling, pointing Prompting – Given assistance to provide correct responding. Includes visual cues, phsyical prompts, hand- over-hand, modeling, pointing Fading – Critical in teaching children not to become prompt dependent. Fading – Critical in teaching children not to become prompt dependent. Chaining – Breaking skills down into units and teaching in small units that are “chained” together (forward or backward) Chaining – Breaking skills down into units and teaching in small units that are “chained” together (forward or backward) Differential Reinforcement – Reinforcing hard tasks more heavily than easy tasks. Differential Reinforcement – Reinforcing hard tasks more heavily than easy tasks.

Shaping

Requiring Responses: Transfer Procedures/Prompting Teach a new behavior by starting with a behavior that you know the child can already do. Teach a new behavior by starting with a behavior that you know the child can already do. The child is more likely to repeat the same behavior under a different condition The child is more likely to repeat the same behavior under a different condition Once the behavior is taught under the new condition, gradually fade the prompt Once the behavior is taught under the new condition, gradually fade the prompt New learning is build on old learning New learning is build on old learning The learning remains “errorless” The learning remains “errorless”

Transfer Procedures

Correction Procedures Use whenever the child responds incorrectly Use whenever the child responds incorrectly Give the SD + the response Give the SD + the response Wait for the echoic Wait for the echoic Repeat the SD Repeat the SD Wait for the response Wait for the response Run a distractor trial (something the child can do easily) Run a distractor trial (something the child can do easily) Repeat the SD Repeat the SD

Challenging Behaviors Behaviors are maintained by reinforcement! Behaviors are maintained by reinforcement! A new behavior (talking) won’t be used if the old behavior (hitting) still works. A new behavior (talking) won’t be used if the old behavior (hitting) still works. Negative behaviors must never be reinforced. Consistency is important, because intermittent reinforcement actually makes a behavior stronger! Negative behaviors must never be reinforced. Consistency is important, because intermittent reinforcement actually makes a behavior stronger! Expect to see an extinction burst when you first begin denying access to a reinforcer. Expect to see an extinction burst when you first begin denying access to a reinforcer.

Challenging Behaviors: ABC Data You must determine the function of a behavior before determining how to respond You must determine the function of a behavior before determining how to respond Look at what happened right before (antecedent) and right after (consequence) the behavior occurred Look at what happened right before (antecedent) and right after (consequence) the behavior occurred Once you have figured out the function of the behavior choose a replacement behavior. Once you have figured out the function of the behavior choose a replacement behavior. Put time between negative behavior and prompting appropriate communication Put time between negative behavior and prompting appropriate communication Again, the negative behavior should never be reinforced. It will get worse before it gets better (extinction burst). Again, the negative behavior should never be reinforced. It will get worse before it gets better (extinction burst).

Verbal Behavior Verbal behavior (VB) focuses specifically on behavior whose reinforcement is mediated by a listener. It includes vocal- verbal behavior, i.e. saying “water” to get water) and non vocal-verbal behavior, i.e. pointing to water to get water Verbal behavior (VB) focuses specifically on behavior whose reinforcement is mediated by a listener. It includes vocal- verbal behavior, i.e. saying “water” to get water) and non vocal-verbal behavior, i.e. pointing to water to get water

Verbal Operants Mands- Asking for something. “I ask, I get.” Mands- Asking for something. “I ask, I get.” Receptives- I can follow directions, do what others tell me to do Receptives- I can follow directions, do what others tell me to do Tacts- I can label things in the environment under a variety of conditions. Tacts- I can label things in the environment under a variety of conditions. Imitation/Echoics- I can do/say what others do/say. Imitation/Echoics- I can do/say what others do/say. Intraverbal- What I say is dependent upon what others say but is not the same Intraverbal- What I say is dependent upon what others say but is not the same

Verbal Operants Antecedent/StimulusBehaviorConsequence Mand Motivation Says “car”gets car Echoic “Say car” Says “car” social/secondary Tact Car presentSays “car” social/secondary Intraverbal“We ride in the..”Says “car” social/sec.

Manding Basis of all other verbal behavior Basis of all other verbal behavior Teach by transferring from echoic or “fill-ins” Teach by transferring from echoic or “fill-ins” With and without items present With and without items present With and without someone asking “What do you want?” With and without someone asking “What do you want?” Single word, then variety of sentence forms Single word, then variety of sentence forms Manding for information Manding for information Manding for attention Manding for attention

Choosing Response Forms If child is non-vocal, must use an alternative/augmentative system If child is non-vocal, must use an alternative/augmentative system Augmentative communication encourages rather than discourages vocal productions Augmentative communication encourages rather than discourages vocal productions Experiment to determine how the child responds to various forms Experiment to determine how the child responds to various forms Picture/object exchange Picture/object exchange Signs Signs Communication Boards Communication Boards Vocal Vocal Voice output devices Voice output devices

Manding with PECS

Manding with Signs

Imitation and Receptive Imitation: Imitation: teach through physical prompting or anticipating actions teach through physical prompting or anticipating actions Sd: Do this, try this, watch and try etc. Sd: Do this, try this, watch and try etc. Gradually increase difficulty and complexity Gradually increase difficulty and complexity Receptive: Receptive: Teach by transfering from imitation or w/physical prompts Teach by transfering from imitation or w/physical prompts Sd: varies (touch, find, show, where’s?) Sd: varies (touch, find, show, where’s?) Start with simple instructions, then increase complexity Start with simple instructions, then increase complexity

Tact and Intraverbal Tact: Tact: Teach by transfering from receptive, mand, fill-in, intraverbal or echoic Teach by transfering from receptive, mand, fill-in, intraverbal or echoic Label objects, actions, parts, features, functions, classes Label objects, actions, parts, features, functions, classes Sd can be just the items, “what’s this?” and must be varied Sd can be just the items, “what’s this?” and must be varied Verbal modules: teach the child to discriminate between question forms Verbal modules: teach the child to discriminate between question forms Intraverbal: Intraverbal: Talking about things that are not present Talking about things that are not present Transfer from fill-in, tact or echoic Transfer from fill-in, tact or echoic Begin with songs, rhymes, daily activities Begin with songs, rhymes, daily activities Teach reversals Teach reversals The start of conversation The start of conversation

Identifying Operants

Review of Verbal Operants OperantAntecedentBehaviorConsequence Mand MO for item/activity Mand Get item/activity Receptive Direction given Engage in Behavior Generalized reinforcement Tact Nonverbal stimulus Verbal response GR Echoic Verbal stimulus Point-to-Point response Generalized reinforcement ImitationAction PTP response GR Intraverbal Verbal stimulus Response GR or new VS Textual Resp Written stimulus Verbal response GR Transcription Verbal stimulus Written response GR

Expanding NET Techniques While many of your targets may be taught at the table, it is important to always continue working on targets in the NET as natural environment teaching has shown to increase generalization of skills. While many of your targets may be taught at the table, it is important to always continue working on targets in the NET as natural environment teaching has shown to increase generalization of skills. Always be careful when placing demands in the NET that you do “kill the reinforcer” by allowing too much access to the reinforcer (satiation) or placing too many demands (aversive). Always be careful when placing demands in the NET that you do “kill the reinforcer” by allowing too much access to the reinforcer (satiation) or placing too many demands (aversive).

Expanding NET Techniques Teaching FFCs: Teaching FFCs: FFC refers to feature, function and class. FFC refers to feature, function and class. Once a child has tacts and receptives in his repertoire you can start teaching FFCs. Once a child has tacts and receptives in his repertoire you can start teaching FFCs. One of the best ways to teach FFCs is within the context of the child’s daily activities. One of the best ways to teach FFCs is within the context of the child’s daily activities. More advanced skills also include adjectives, prepositions and WH questions More advanced skills also include adjectives, prepositions and WH questions

NET Manding/Mands for Info

Teaching Social Skills When we consider who we choose to spend time and socialize with, it’s generally people who are reinforcing to us. When we consider who we choose to spend time and socialize with, it’s generally people who are reinforcing to us. One important part of teaching social skills is pairing people with reinforcement. It is also important to consider that unsuccessful socialization attempts may make other people aversive and increase self stimulatory behaviors. One important part of teaching social skills is pairing people with reinforcement. It is also important to consider that unsuccessful socialization attempts may make other people aversive and increase self stimulatory behaviors. So what can we do? So what can we do? Modify: Make some modifications to avoid situations that may cause problem behaviors. Modify: Make some modifications to avoid situations that may cause problem behaviors. Desensitize: Desensitization is used to teach a child to tolerate his environment with as few modifications as possible. Desensitize: Desensitization is used to teach a child to tolerate his environment with as few modifications as possible. Pair: Pairing with other children is often best done starting with one child and then adding more children. Pair: Pairing with other children is often best done starting with one child and then adding more children. Request: Provide opportunities for the child to mand for his reinforcers from peers. Request: Provide opportunities for the child to mand for his reinforcers from peers. Social Cues: By paying attention to the social-emotional basis of communication we can teach the child to share their experiences with others and learn about others experiences, i.e. sharing affect, requesting and gaining (personal) information, perspective taking and discriminating between fact and opinion. Social Cues: By paying attention to the social-emotional basis of communication we can teach the child to share their experiences with others and learn about others experiences, i.e. sharing affect, requesting and gaining (personal) information, perspective taking and discriminating between fact and opinion.

Intensive Teaching Teaching in a one-on-one setting presenting skills in discrete trials around and average VR. Teaching in a one-on-one setting presenting skills in discrete trials around and average VR. ITT (intensive table teaching) is used to practice skills taught in the natural environment and allows responses to become fluent. ITT (intensive table teaching) is used to practice skills taught in the natural environment and allows responses to become fluent. During NET manding is one of the top priorities, during ITT the focus is primarily on other skills. During NET manding is one of the top priorities, during ITT the focus is primarily on other skills.

Intensive Teaching Targets should be mixed and varied to make sure the child is responding to the correct SD Targets should be mixed and varied to make sure the child is responding to the correct SD Ratio: Always use a ratio of approximately 80% mastered and 20% new. Ratio: Always use a ratio of approximately 80% mastered and 20% new. Schedule of Reinforcement: initially when pairing at the table or introducing a new target you may use a fixed ratio (set number of responses), however a variable ratio (variable number of responses set around an average) is recommended because it produces a steady rate of responding. Schedule of Reinforcement: initially when pairing at the table or introducing a new target you may use a fixed ratio (set number of responses), however a variable ratio (variable number of responses set around an average) is recommended because it produces a steady rate of responding.

Intensive Teaching: Transfer Procedures Transfer trial- Use the mastered skill to evoke the desired behavior then present the new SD to get the same behavior. Transfer trial- Use the mastered skill to evoke the desired behavior then present the new SD to get the same behavior. Disractor trial(s)- Present a mastered task or two Disractor trial(s)- Present a mastered task or two Independent trial- Re-present the new SD to evoke the behavior and reinforce correct response heavily Independent trial- Re-present the new SD to evoke the behavior and reinforce correct response heavily

Intensive Teaching: Correction Procedures Use whenever the child responds incorrectly Use whenever the child responds incorrectly Give the SD + the response Give the SD + the response Wait for the echoic Wait for the echoic Repeat the SD Repeat the SD Wait for the response Wait for the response Run a distractor trial (something the child can do easily) Run a distractor trial (something the child can do easily) Repeat the SD Repeat the SD In general if you do not get an independent response after 3 attempts, accept the prompted response and move on. We will most likely have to re-asses the target or teaching procedure. In general if you do not get an independent response after 3 attempts, accept the prompted response and move on. We will most likely have to re-asses the target or teaching procedure.

Intensive Teaching

Data Collection It is important to keep data of targeted and mastered skills, so: It is important to keep data of targeted and mastered skills, so: We can accurately and effectively track progress We can accurately and effectively track progress We can build on and expand to new skills using mastered skills We can build on and expand to new skills using mastered skills We can always have a record of what we are working on We can always have a record of what we are working on ALL decisions made in programs based on ABA are data-driven and objective ALL decisions made in programs based on ABA are data-driven and objective

Data Collection Program Board: Used to document targeted skills. Program Board: Used to document targeted skills. For NET: record targets taught within the child’s activities. Transfer between operants, i.e. from mand to tact, from receptive to tact, from tact to intraverbal. For NET: record targets taught within the child’s activities. Transfer between operants, i.e. from mand to tact, from receptive to tact, from tact to intraverbal. For ITT: It is recommended to choose 2-3 targets for each skill at a time. Targets should be probed and taught following the specified teaching procedures. For ITT: It is recommended to choose 2-3 targets for each skill at a time. Targets should be probed and taught following the specified teaching procedures. Probe data should be recorded with a + or – (I or P). Probe data should be recorded with a + or – (I or P). If necessary teaching data can be collected with tallies or a T or N (if taught at the table or in the NET) If necessary teaching data can be collected with tallies or a T or N (if taught at the table or in the NET)

Data Collection Probe: An easy way to collect data is through probes. A probe is collected the first time the target is presented that day. The probe shows us whether or not the child can accurately and fluently provide the required response without prompts. Probe: An easy way to collect data is through probes. A probe is collected the first time the target is presented that day. The probe shows us whether or not the child can accurately and fluently provide the required response without prompts. Teaching: We may occasionally also keep track of how often an item is taught throughout a session to ensure that the item is being targeted frequently enough Teaching: We may occasionally also keep track of how often an item is taught throughout a session to ensure that the item is being targeted frequently enough Mastery criteria: is typically based on the child’s learning history and often ranges between 2-4 consecutive independent responses. Mastery criteria: is typically based on the child’s learning history and often ranges between 2-4 consecutive independent responses.