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Discussion 4

The document discusses the differences among the three branches of behavior analysis: Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB), Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and Professional Practice, highlighting their distinct focuses on fundamental principles, application to human behavior, and direct application by professionals, respectively. The scenario provided aligns with EAB as it involves a controlled experiment on delayed reinforcement with rats, aiming to understand reinforcement principles. The findings on delayed reinforcement are relevant to ABA, as they can inform intervention strategies for improving behaviors in applied settings, such as working with children with autism.

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57 views2 pages

Discussion 4

The document discusses the differences among the three branches of behavior analysis: Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB), Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and Professional Practice, highlighting their distinct focuses on fundamental principles, application to human behavior, and direct application by professionals, respectively. The scenario provided aligns with EAB as it involves a controlled experiment on delayed reinforcement with rats, aiming to understand reinforcement principles. The findings on delayed reinforcement are relevant to ABA, as they can inform intervention strategies for improving behaviors in applied settings, such as working with children with autism.

Uploaded by

Super Calvo
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Discussion 4

The experimental analysis of behavior (EAB), applied behavior analysis (ABA),


and Professional Practice guided by behavior analysis are three of the branches of the science of
behavior and its application. (The fourth branch is the philosophy of Radical Behaviorism.) Each
of these branches has different goals, but they complement one another in the study and
application of behavioral principles. Use the following scenario to discuss the differences in
these three branches.

Consider the following scenario: A researcher is conducting a study on the effects of delayed
reinforcers (in the form of food pellets) on the rate of lever pressing by rats. She wants to know if
food presented immediately after the rat presses the lever produces higher rates of lever pressing
than when food is delayed by 5 seconds or 10 seconds following the lever press. She is
conducting this study to provide data to support general principles of delayed reinforcement. Her
results show that the longer the delay is to the presentation of food following the lever pressing,
the lower the rate of pressing by the rats. In other words, the immediate delivery of reinforcers
produces the most lever pressing, and the delayed reinforcement produces lower rates of lever
pressing.

Write a short paragraph to answer the following questions:

1. What are 2-3 of the main differences in the branches of EAB, ABA, and Professional
Practice of behavior analysis? (You may want to refer to Figure 1.2 on page 20 in Cooper
et al. (2020) for a helpful summary.)

2. Which branch most closely relates to the scenario described above and why?

3. How could the topic of delayed reinforcement and the findings discussed in the
scenario above be relevant and useful in either one of the other two branches? Pick one to
discuss. (Hint: In what type of scenario might an applied behavior analyst test the effects
of immediate or delayed reinforcement? How might a professional use
research findings about the effects of delayed
reinforcement when they treat a client with problem behavior?)
The three branches of behavior analysis—Experimental Analysis of Behavior
(EAB), Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and Professional Practice—differ in
their focus and application. EAB is primarily concerned with identifying
fundamental behavioral principles through controlled experiments, often
using non-human subjects in laboratory settings. ABA applies these
principles to socially significant human behaviors, using systematic
interventions to improve behavior. Professional Practice involves the direct
application of ABA methods by licensed professionals in clinical, educational,
or workplace settings.
The scenario described aligns most closely with EAB, as the researcher is
conducting a controlled experiment on delayed reinforcement using rats. The
study aims to contribute to the general understanding of reinforcement
principles, rather than applying them to real-world human behavior, which is
characteristic of ABA or Professional Practice.
Findings on delayed reinforcement are highly relevant to ABA. For example,
an applied behavior analyst working with children with autism might test
whether providing immediate reinforcement for appropriate communication
leads to better learning outcomes than delayed reinforcement.
Understanding that immediate reinforcement is more effective could guide
intervention strategies for increasing desirable behaviors while reducing
problem behaviors. These insights ensure that reinforcement is delivered in a
way that maximizes behavioral improvement in applied settings.

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