What Does the Research Say?! ABA Beyond Autism

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is often closely associated with autism treatment, and there is a good reason for this. A substantial body of research demonstrates that behavior-analytic techniques can effectively reduce or even eliminate problematic behaviors in individuals diagnosed with autism and other developmental disabilities. These behaviors include self-injury, stereotypies, and aggression, among others. Additionally, ABA has been shown to be effective in helping individuals acquire and maintain important skills, such as toileting, language development, and independent sleeping. While the field of developmental disabilities is crucial and deserves significant attention from practitioners, it is important to recognize that ABA has applications beyond just this area.

Research has shown that Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a powerful tool that, when implemented faithfully by trained professionals, can bring about significant changes in the lives of those receiving treatment and their caregivers. Given its effectiveness, one might wonder why ABA is primarily used in clinical settings for the treatment of developmental disabilities. Surprisingly, behavior analysis can be applied to a wide range of human behaviors. If a behavior exists, behavior analysis can be used to examine it! The study of behavior is not limited to autism research or the Behavior Analysis Unit—shout out to Criminal Minds fans!

Behavior analysis includes several branches. The most recognized is Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), which aims to implement procedures that create meaningful changes, particularly as a treatment for autism. Another branch is the experimental analysis of behavior, which focuses on the processes influencing behavior. Additionally, the conceptual analysis of behavior, or behaviorism, examines the theoretical aspects of behavior analysis. While these three branches are well-defined in various sources, the 8th Edition ABA Exam Prep Study Manual from Pass the Big ABA Exam introduces a fourth branch: behavior service delivery. This branch refers to the implementation of behavior-analytic procedures by non-professionals in the field.

Behavior analysis has proven to be effective in a wide range of applications. Its versatility allows it to be implemented in many different settings. I didn’t realize the extensive potential of behavior analysis until I began my Ph.D. program. An array of settings and fields where behavior analysis has already shown itself to be beneficial include mindfulness, healthcare not related to developmental disabilities, feeding, pharmacology, economics, evolutionary studies, and classroom management to name a few!

Mindfulness-based stress reduction, or MBSR8, is an intervention developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn that implements mindfulness and meditation to reduce the intensity of a variety of symptoms experienced by different groups. MBSR is generally an 8-week intervention that is comprised of weekly group meetings, daily guided meditations, keeping a meditation journal, and attending one full-day meditation retreat. MBSR has been shown to reduce symptomology in many illnesses including emotional eating, mild heart conditions, fibromyalgia, and depression and anxiety to name a few!

More formally, behavior analysis has been shown to be effective in the treatment of feeding disorders. Charles Fergus-Lowe developed a program called the Food Dudes that implemented a number of behavior analytic techniques that resulted in school-aged children choosing to eat more fruits and vegetables during lunchtime meals at school, which in turn benefited the children’s overall health. Behavior analysis is also beneficial in the treatment of more severe feeding disorders such as total food refusal and food selectivity commonly seen in children, both typically and atypically developing. 

Although this particular 1985 study included participants who were diagnosed with developmental disabilities, it focuses on showcasing the differences in behavior reduction between medication uses and implementation of behavior analytic interventions. The study demonstrated that simple behavior analytic contingency management procedures were slightly more effective in reducing each of the participant’s challenging behaviors compared to when medication was given. Additionally, when medication was involved, some behaviors were decreased at the expense of others being increased. 

Aside from the medical and healthcare utilizations, behavior analysis is used as a tool to study economics and consumer behavior in addition to evolutionary theories and sciences that are both used to influence human behavior. It’s totally weird at first, but then it all comes together very cohesively. 

Finally, behavior analysis has been used extensively for classroom management in school settings. A review by Barry Parsonson evaluated a number of evidence-based strategies for behavior management to be used by teachers in their classrooms. The review offered a number of go-to games and incentives that the teacher could implement which include The Good Behavior Game and Yakker-Tracker. How fun?!…and totally necessary. 

I hope that the research we discussed has broadened your perspective on the wide range of applications for behavior analysis beyond autism studies. I’m encouraging you to explore this topic further! While we didn’t cover the full scope of behavior analysis in this blog—since it’s not a book—it’s important to understand that increased knowledge often leads to more questions!

References 

1. Vollmer, T.R., Marcus, B.A., & Ringdahl, J.E. (1995). Noncontingent escape as treatment for self-injurious behavior maintained by negative reinforcement. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 28(1), 15-26. 
2. Ahearn, W.H., Clark, K.M., MacDonald, R.P.F., & Chung, B.I. (2007). Assessing and treating vocal stereotypy in children with autism. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 40(2), 263-275. 
3. Sigafoos, J. & Meikle, B. (1996). Functional communication training for the treatment of multiply determined challenging behaviors in two boys with autism. Behavior Modification, 20, 60-84. 
4. Azrin, N.H. & Foxx, R.M. (1971). A rapid method of toilet training the institutionalized retarded. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 4(2), 89-99. 
5. Petursdottir, A.I. & Carr, J.E. (2011). Recommendations for sequencing receptive and expressive language instruction. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 44(4), 859-876. 
6. Jin, C.S., Hanley, G.P., & Beaulieu, L. (2013). An individualized and comprehensive approach to treating sleep problems in young children. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 46, 161-180. 
7. Fisher, W.W., Piazza, C.C., & Roane, H.S. (2011). Handbook of applied behavior analysis. The Guilford Press. 
8. Kabat-Zinn, J. (2017). Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) authorized curriculum guide [PDF file]. https://www.umassmed.edu/globalassets/center-for-mindfulness/documents/mbsr-curriculum-guide-2017.pdf
9. Levoy, E., Lazaridou, A., Brewer, J., & Fulwiler, C. (2018). An exploratory study of mindfulness based stress reduction for emotional eating. Appetite, 109, 12-130. 
10. Owens, J.E., Schorlin, J., Plews-Ogan, M., Goodman, M., Moorman, R., Zaklin, R., & Dent, J. (2016). A randomized controlled trial evaluating mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) for the treatment of palpitations: A pilot study. International Journal of Cardiology, 223, 25-27. 
11. Cash, E., Salmon, P., Weissbecker, I., Rebholz, W.N., Bayley-Veloso, R., Zimmaro, L., Flyoyd, A., Dedert, E., & Sephton, S.E. (2016). Mindfulness meditation alleviates fibromyalgia symptoms in women: Results of a randomized clinical trial. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 49(3), 319-330.
12. Song, Y. & Lindquist, R. (2015). Effects of mindfulness-based stress reduction on depression, anxiety, stress and mindfulness in Korean nursing students. Nurse Education Today, 35(1), 86-90. 
13. Lowe, C.F. (2011). Can behaviour analysts change the world? 37th annual convention. Symposium conducted at the meeting of Association for Behavior Analysis International, Denver, CO.
14. Casey, S.D. (2017). Introductory assessment and treatment of pediatric feeding disorders. 43rd annual convention. Symposium conducted at the meeting of Association for Behavior Analysis International, Denver, CO. 
15. Burgio, L.D., Page, T.J., Capriotti, R.M. (1985). Behavioral pharmacology: Methods for evaluating medications and contingency management. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 18(1), 45-59.  
16. Foxall, G. (2013). Consumer behavior analysis: Behavioral economics meets the marketplace. 39th annual convention. Symposium conducted at the meeting of Association for Behavior Analysis International, Minneapolis, MN.
17. Wilson, D.S. (2018). Evolution and contextual behavioral science: An integrated framework for understanding, predicting, and influencing human behavior. 44th annual convention. Symposium conducted at the meeting of Association for Behavior Analysis International, San Diego, CA.

Parsonson, B.S. (2012). Evidence-based classroom behaviour management strategies. Kairaranga, 13(1), 16-23.