Glossary Terms

Curriculum-Based Assessment (CBA), also known as Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM), is a form of assessment that involves the repeated and direct measurement of a student’s performance on skills that are part of the academic curriculum, such as reading, math, writing, and spelling. The goal of CBA is to track a student’s progress over time to ensure […]

Continuous measurement procedures involve observing and recording every instance of a behavior that occurs during a given observation period. In Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), continuous measurement allows behavior analysts to track the frequency, duration, latency, or other dimensions of a behavior with precision. This method provides accurate and comprehensive data on how often and how

Conditioned reinforcers, also known as secondary reinforcers, are stimuli that have become reinforcing through association with primary reinforcers or other previously learned reinforcers. Unlike primary reinforcers (such as food or water), which are inherently reinforcing, conditioned reinforcers gain their effectiveness through an individual’s learning history and experiences. Examples of conditioned reinforcers might include tokens, money,

In Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), choice refers to providing an individual with the opportunity to select between two or more options. Offering choices can increase motivation, engagement, and cooperation, as it gives individuals a sense of control over their environment or tasks. Choice-making is a powerful tool in behavior management and skill-building because it can

Behavioral Skills Training (BST) is a comprehensive teaching approach that ensures the mastery of new skills through step-by-step instruction, observation, practice, and feedback. Its effectiveness in various settings makes it a valuable tool for teaching new skills and improving performance, particularly in ABA and professional development contexts. Example A behavior analyst is using Behavioral Skills

A baseline assessment is a critical first step in behavior analysis, as it provides a clear picture of an individual’s performance before any changes or interventions are made. By comparing behavior or skill levels before and after treatment, behavior analysts can track progress and measure the success of their interventions. Example A behavior analyst is

A behavior analyst is teaching a child named John how to wash his hands. The entire sequence includes turning on the faucet, getting soap, scrubbing hands, rinsing, and drying with a towel. Using total task chaining, the analyst walks John through the entire process during each practice session. If John struggles with any steps, such

Forwards chaining is a teaching method used in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) where a multi-step task is taught by starting with the first step of the task and gradually adding subsequent steps. The learner masters the first step of the task before moving on to the next one. Each step is taught sequentially, and reinforcement

A behavior chain is a series of individual behaviors that are linked together to form a complex skill or sequence. Each behavior in the chain serves as a cue (or discriminative stimulus) for the next behavior and also as a reinforcer for the previous behavior. In Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), behavior chains are often broken

Backwards chaining is a teaching method used in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) where a multi-step task is taught by starting with the last step of the task first. The instructor completes all the initial steps for the learner, and the learner is required to complete only the final step. Once the final step is mastered,