Lecture 11: Behaviour Analysis

Question 1

What are behaviour analysists interested in and how can they help us?

Answer 1

Interested in behaviour change
Help us to understand WHY people engage in behaviour
How to change the environment to encourage more +ve behaviours

Question 2

What does behaviour analysis assume?

Answer 2

People engage in a behaviour because the outcome improves things in some way
The improvement in the function of the behaviour e.g., function of drinking is thirst

Question 3

How to change behaviour?

Answer 3

Consider why this behaviour should be changed? What is the benefit?
Identify the behaviour
Alter the environmental variables to make desirable behaviours more likely and behaviours less likely

Question 4

What are moving operations (antecedents)?

Answer 4

a thing that existed before or logically precedes another
they make a consequence more reinforcing
they make it more likely that a person will do something to achieve that consequence

Question 5

What is discriminative stimuli (SD) (antecedent)

Answer 5

Signal in the environment that a behaviour may result in a reinforcing consequence
e.g., Water glass and tap signals drinking behaviour

Question 6

What is a reinforcer?

Answer 6

Consequences that make a behaviour more likely to happen again
They can be +ve and add something good or they can be -ve and remove something away that unwanted

Question 7

What is a punisher?

Answer 7

Consequences that mean a behaviour is LESS likely to happen
Punishing consequences make things worse
They can be +ve and add something unwanted or they can be -ve and remove something away that wanted

Question 8

What variables impact choice?

Answer 8

Rate of reinforcement
Quality of reinforcement
Amount of reinforcement
Delay to reinforcement
Response effort
History of Reinforcement e.g., a child who has experienced trauma may not respond well to a hard reinforcement as they may want to take control of the situation

Learning History
Deprivation State

Question 9

What bad practice has been done in terms of behaviour analysis?

Answer 9

Conversion therapy
Electric shock to reduce SI behaviours
Reinforcing autistic children for masking
Punishing autistic children for stimming

Question 10

A better understanding of behaviour has led to

Answer 10

carefully trained ethics

Question 11

UK society for behaviour analysis statements on punishment

Answer 11

Condemn the use of procedures that are harmful, degrading, painful or dehumanizing
UKSBA has released statements regarding the issues with conversion therapy

Question 12

What is behaviour modification versus behaviour analysis?

Answer 12

Behaviour modification: shaping behaviour via punishment/reinforcement but it can be controlling & unethical
Behaviour analysis: multidisciplinary & effective study of behavior

Question 13

What is behaviour analysis?

Answer 13

Science of understanding behaviour
Value drivers practice seeking to change behaviours
Profession w/ rigorous training standards that is recognised by Professional Standards Authority
Training equips practitioners to lead ethical, value led and effective service

Question 14

What are regulatory bodies in Wales for behaviour analysis?

Answer 14

ABA provision
Care Inspectorate
Social Care Institute for Excellence

Question 15

Who is a behaviour analysist?

Answer 15

Board certified
Must take MSc course (delivered at different unis)
Significant professional development

Question 16

What are the practitioner values?

Answer 16

Committed to understanding individuals, understanding behaviour & advancing the field

Question 17

What is competence based vs traditional training?

Answer 17

Competence: a learning model in which the required level of knowledge and skill (competency) on a task must be demonstrated before advancing to the next task
Traditional: curriculum and knowledge based

Question 18

What is behaviour analysis in maintained schools

Answer 18

Early Years Teaching in SEN schools
A curriculum for behaviour
Positive behaviour support
Behaviour analysists design programmes w/ teachers
Provided 1-1 teaching, function based behaviour plans
1-1 named members of staff for children

Question 19

What did Pitts et al find?

Answer 19

Aim: reduce barriers to learning for individuals aged 4-13
collaborated with school‐based teaching teams to design and implement function‐based behaviour support plans, individual education programmes and ABA teaching strategies, and to promote the generalisation of skills
Pupils were assessed at baseline and again following one academic year of intervention– demonstrated significant gains in learning skills, language and communication, social and play skills and self‐help

Question 20

BI in food acceptance behaviours

Answer 20

% of spoon presentations that Liam accepted increased and eating began

Question 21

Priorities of behaviour analysis

Answer 21

Understand the learner
Identify what is important to them & they can communicate
Help arrange the environment so they can succeed
Teach the skills for independence

Question 22

What is key stage 1 behavioural assessment unit?

Answer 22

Assessment unit in mainstream school & return to mainstream every Friday
Supported by behaviour analysists
Identify skill deficits in emotional regulation, self-management, academics

Question 23

What did Dr. Millie Blandford-Elliot, BCBA-D find about restraints?

Answer 23

no. of restraints decreased dramatically when intervention was implemented

Question 24

What is school based interventions?

Answer 24

Functional Assessment of Behaviour
Emphasis on skills on building
Antecedent & consequent interventions both used
Highly compatible with trauma informed practice

Question 25

What is Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention

Answer 25

Creates an appropriate learning environment for children w/ learning disabilities and/or autistic children
Devote 20-40 hours per week 1:1 teaching
Teach basic skills

Question 26

What is positive behaviour support?

Answer 26

An understanding of the behaviour of an individual
It is based on an assessment of the social. and physical environment in which the behaviour happens, includes the views of the individual
BUT it can be poorly regulated & an ABA rebrand
Recommended to reduce challenging behaviour in schools

Question 27

What is behavioural gerentology?

Answer 27

Behavioral gerontology is the application of the principles of applied behavior analysis, including careful examination of the antecedents and consequences of behavior, in elderly patients and to address problems of aging
Relies on antecedent interventions