Program Overview

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M.Ed. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Program

The Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a comprehensive program designed to provide students with a thorough understanding of the principles and practices of ABA. The program is comprised of several courses, each focusing on a specific aspect of ABA.

Course Description: EDUABA3 - Behavior Assessment

In this course, students will learn to select operationally defined socially significant target behaviors and reflect on the implementation of appropriate assessment methods to determine learners' preferred items and activities. Students will critically analyze functional behavioral assessment methods to determine the operant function of the learner's challenging behavior given the learner and context. Additionally, students will interpret visual displays of behavioral assessment and preference assessment data.

Required Textbook

• Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

Course Resources

The following resources are required or recommended for the course:

• Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
• PubMed.gov
• Behavior Analysis in Practice
• FBA website
• VB-MAPP
• ABLLS-R
• AFLS-R
• ACE
• Behavioral Observations Podcast

Weekly Readings and Topics

The course is structured into weekly topics, each with required and recommended readings:

Week 1

• Required reading: Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Chapter 3: Selecting and Defining Target Behavior

Week 2

• Required reading: Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Chapter 3: Selecting and Defining Target Behaviors

Week 3

• Required reading: Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Chapter 3: Selecting and Defining Target Behaviors

Week 4

• Required reading: Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Chapter 11: Positive Reinforcement
• Recommended reading:
  • Carr, J. E., Nicolson, A. C., & Higbee, T. S. (2000). Evaluation of a brief multiple stimulus preference assessment in a naturalistic context. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 33, 353357.
  • Cote, C. A., Thompson, R. H., Hanley, G. P., & McKerchar, P. M. (2007). Teacher report versus direct assessment of preferences for identifying reinforcers for young children. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 40, 157-166.

Week 5

• Required reading:
• Recommended reading:
  • Fisher, W., Piazza, C. C., Bowman, L. G., Hagopian, L. P., Owens, J. C., & Slevin, I. (1992). A comparison of two approaches for identifying reinforcers for persons with severe and profound disabilities. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 25, 491498
  • Koegel, R., Kim, S., Koegel, L., & Schwartzman, B. (2013). Improving socialization for high school students with ASD by using their preferred interests. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(9).

Week 6

• Required reading:
• Recommended reading:
  • Graff, R.B. & Karsten, A.M. (2012a). Assessing preferences of individuals with developmental disabilities: a survey of current practices. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 5(2), 37-48.
  • Graff, R.B. & Karsten, A.M. (2012b). Evaluation of a self instruction package for conducting stimulus preference assessments. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 45(1), 45- 69

Week 7

• Required reading:
• Recommended reading:
  • Roane, H. S., Vollmer, T. R., Ringdahl, J. E., & Marcus, B. A. (1998). Evaluation of a brief stimulus preference assessment. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 31, 605620.

Week 8

• Recommended podcasts:
  • Behavioral Observations Podcast

Week 9

• Required reading: Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Chapter 27: Functional Behavior Assessment
• Recommended reading:
  • Iwata, B.A., DeLeon, I.G., & Roscoe, E.M. (2013). Reliability and validity of the Functional Analysis Screening Tool. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 46, 271-284.

Week 10

• Required reading: Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Chapter 27: Functional Behavior Assessment
• Recommended reading:
  • Touchette, P. E., MacDonald, R. F., & Langer, S. N. (1985). A scatter plot for identifying stimulus control of problem behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 18, 343-351
  • Vollmer, T. R. Borrero, J. C. Wright, C. S. Van Camp, C. and Lalli, J. S. (2001). Identifying possible contingencies during descriptive analyses of severe behavior disorders. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 34, 269-287.

Week 11

• Required reading: Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Chapter 27: Functional Behavior Assessment
• Recommended reading:
  • Hanley, G. P., Iwata, B. A., McCord, B. (2003). Functional analysis of problem behavior: A review. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 36, 147-186
  • Iwata, B. A., Dorsey, M. F., Slifer, K. J., Bauman, K. E., & Richman, G. S. (1982/1994). Toward a functional analysis of self-injury. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 197209.

Week 12

• Required reading: Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Chapter 27: Functional Behavior Assessment

Week 13

• Required readings:
  • Jessel, J., Hanley, G. P., & Ghaemmaghami, M. (2016). Interviewinformed synthesized contingency analyses: Thirty replications and reanalysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 49(3), 576-595.
  • Slaton, J.D., Hanley, G.P., & Raftery, K.J. (2017). Interview informed functional analyses: A comparison of synthesized and isolated components. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 50(2), 252-277.
• Recommended readings:
  • Bloom, S.E., Iwata, B.A., Fritz, J.N., Roscoe, E. & Carreau, A. (2011). Classroom application of a trial-based functional analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 44, 19-31

Week 14

• Required reading: Conners, J., Iwata, B. A., Kahng, S., Hanley, G. P., Worsdell, A. S., & Thompson, R. H. (2000). Differential responding in the presence and absence of discriminative stimuli during multielement functional analyses. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 33, 299-308. Vollmer, T. R., Marcus, B. A., Ringdahl, J. E., & Roane, H. S. (1995). Progressing from brief assessments to extended functional analyses in the evaluation of aberrant behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 28, 561-576.
• Recommended reading: Hanley, G.P. (2012). Functional assessment of problem behavior: Dispelling myths, overcoming implementation obstacles, and developing new lore. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 5(1), 54-72.

eBooks and Books

The following eBooks and books are relevant to the course:

• Applied Behavior Analysis, Global Edition by John O. Cooper, Timothy E. Heron, and William L. Heward
• Applied Behavior Analysis by John O. Cooper; Timothy E. Heron; William L. Heward
• Kelly, M.P. Motivating all students in the inclusive classroom to actively respond: An overview of three practical strategies.
• Applied Behaviour Analysis and Autism: Science, profession, and practice by Brian Fennell and Karola Dillenburger
• Single-Case Research Designs by Alan E. Kazdin
• Handbook of Applied Behavior Analysis by Wayne W. Fisher (Editor); Cathleen C. Piazza (Editor); Henry S. Roane (Editor)
• Play and Social Skills for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder by Marjorie H. Charlop; Russell Lang; Mandy Rispoli
• Single Subject Research by Stephen B. Richards
• Single Case Research Designs in Educational and Community Settings by Robert O'Neill; John McDonnell; Felix Billingsley; William Jenson
• Single Case Research Methodology by Jennifer R. Ledford (Editor); David L. Gast (Editor)
• Research Methods in Applied Behavior Analysis by Jon S. Bailey; Mary R. Burch
• Learning RFT by Niklas T顤neke; Dermot Barnes-Holmes (Foreword by); Steven C. Hayes (Afterword by)
• Behavior/Speak by Bobby Newman; Kenneth F. Reeve; Sharon A. Reeve; Carolyn S. Ryan
• Strategies and Tactics of Behavioral Research and Practice by James M. Johnston; Henry S. Pennypacker; Gina Green
• Ethics for Behavior Analysts by Jon S. Bailey; Jon Bailey; Mary Burch; Bailey/Burch; Mary R. Burch
• Training Manual for Behavior Technicians Working with Individuals with Autism by Jonathan Tarbox; Courtney Tarbox
• Clinical and Organizational Applications of Applied Behavior Analysis by Henry S. Roane (Editor); Joel E. Ringdahl (Editor); Terry S. Falcomata (Editor)
• Behavior Analysis and Learning by W. David Pierce; Carl D. Cheney

eJournals

Relevant eJournals include:

• Journal of Behavior Assessment and Intervention in Children
• Journal of Community Psychology
• American Journal of Community Psychology

Software and Online Resources

The following software and online resources are available:

• FBA website
• VB-MAPP
• ABLLS-R
• AFLS-R
• ACE
• Behavioral Observations Podcast