Writing Assignment Part 2

Malky Ungar

Niagara University

EDU753

Jaclyn Connelly

July 6, 2025
 Introduction

ABA is a systematic and scientific approach to understanding and changing behaviors. ABA uses

evidence based techniques to manipulate behaviors in the desired manner. These techniques were

studied and experimented to determine the proper methods of use. ABA is significant in many areas,

such as treating children with learning and social disabilities, teaching students academic and behavioral

skills, and helping children develop. When a child has difficulty learning or communicating, he requires a

specific method in enabling him to learn. ABA uses evidence based methods to train the child and teach

him the skills which he lacks. A teacher in a classroom may wish to eliminate certain behaviors of her

students. Using specific ABA methods, she can manipulate the behaviors of her students to achieve the

desired results. This paper will explore the topic of ABA and Autism, and how people with ASD are

supported by ABA therapy. ABA is a scientific approach that supports children with autism and enhances

their lives in many fundamental ways.

Background of ABA

ABA is a scientific approach for discovering environmental elements that influence socially

significant behavior (Cooper, Heron, & Heward, 2019). ABA primarily focuses on social behaviors.

Applied behavior analysts target specific behaviors by controlling the stimuli in the environment. A

stimulus is something in the environment that causes a certain behavior. By using evidence based

interventions, stimuli can be controlled or changed, resulting in a behavior being manipulated in the

desired manner. Evidence based techniques are interventions that are scientifically proven to effectively

change behaviors. Evidence based techniques include factors such as reinforcement, punishment,

consequences, and antecedents. Antecedents are the cue or trigger that causes a behavior. In many

interventions, a therapist or teacher presents the client with an antecedent, and the client will respond.

Based on the client’s response, the therapist will respond with the appropriate consequence.
Reinforcement and punishment are some methods that therapists will use to manipulate a given

behavior.

In the early 20th century, J. B. Watson introduced the concept of behaviorism. Watson believed

that psychology was an objective branch of science; he did not believe that internal mental states should

be taken into account when studying observable behaviors. Watson’s views are considered both radical

and revolutionary at the same time. A few years later, Thorndike introduced his Law of Effect, stating

that behaviors that result in a pleasurable outcome are likely to be repeated. Following Thorndike,

Skinner introduced operant conditioning, which has shaped ABA into what it is today. Skinner believed

that behavior is influenced by the reinforcement or punishment that follows it. Over time, ABA began to

be used in order to manipulate behavior deficits. Historical ABA practices often treated differences as

deficits to be corrected rather than as valuable aspects of neurodivergent identity (Johnson, 2025). As

time progressed, ABA became a tool that is used to support people with ASD.

ABA and Autism

ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by social communication

impairment and repetitive behaviors (Capisizu, Zăgrean, Poenaru, Tudorache, Bulf, & Capisizu, 2025).

Since ABA controls behaviors by manipulating environmental factors, ABA therapy provides support and

fosters growth and development for children with an ASD diagnosis. The therapist or teacher

manipulates the environment to bring out desired behaviors. Another big struggle for children with ASD

is language and communication. The ABA method focuses on breaking down big goals into smaller steps

in order for the child to be able to master a new skill.

Discrete trial training is a core intervention in ABA. The goal of discrete trial training is to teach

new behaviors to a child and build foundational skills. Discrete trial training has three main components,

the antecedent, or cue that the teacher presents to the child, the response of the child, and the

consequence. Based on the response behavior of the child, the teacher will either provide
reinforcement or provide error correction and repeat the trial. A study was done on a 3 year old child

with ASD. The goal was for the child to acquire six prelinguistic goals through discrete trial training. After

a duration of six months, the child mastered all six goals (Bedmar-Sanz, & González, 2025). The results of

the study prove the effectiveness of using discrete trial training to teach communication skills to children

with ASD.

Another fundamental intervention which supports children with ASD is functional

communication training. Functional communication training helps individuals learn how to communicate

in a socially appropriate way. Children with ASD may resort to acting physically or with tantrum

behaviors instead of communicating in a regular manner. A study conducted on children with ASD has

found that functional communication training is effective in reducing self-injurious behavior (Alakhzami,

M., & Chitiyo, M. 2024). Additionally, it fosters better communication skills. The children in the study

were taught to use their words to communicate a need before becoming frustrated or acting out.

ABA therapy is not limited to school or a therapy session for children with ASD. Parent based

training plays a vital role in the growth and development of a child with ASD. Parent based training

concretizes the work that is done out of home when parents implement those same supports in their

home. A study done on 36 patients, aged 3-15 years old show find that children with ASD are more

successful and achieve higher data scores with parent based training (Adelson, Ciobanu, Garikipati,

Castell, Navan, Barnes, Jodi, Mao, Roane, Vaish, & Das, 2024).

Conclusion

ABA has greatly affected and improved the lives of those with ASD. ABA allows patients to

achieve goals, acquire skills, and develop their social behaviors through evidence based training.

Interventions such as discrete trial training, functional communication training, and parent based

training manipulate environmental stimuli to bring out desirable behaviors and reduce unwanted

behaviors. ABA continues to enhance the lives of many people diagnosed with ASD, enabling them to
live richer and fuller lives. As the science of ABA advances, it is probable that ABA methods will be

refined and developed to further help society. Practicing ABA in an ethical and responsible manner has

the power to transform the lives of those in the autistic community, and their families.
 References

Adelson, R. P., Ciobanu, M., Garikipati, A., Castell, N. J., Navan, P. S., Barnes, G., Jodi, K. R., Mao, Q.,

Roane, H. S., Vaish, A., & Das, R. (2024). Family-Centric Applied Behavior Analysis Facilitates

Improved Treatment Utilization and Outcomes. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(8), 2409.

https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm13082409

Alakhzami, M., & Chitiyo, M. (2024). Increasing Socially Appropriate Behavior for Individuals with Autism

Spectrum Disorder Using Functional Communication Training. Education and Training in Autism

and Developmental Disabilities, 59(2), 115-131.

https://ezproxy.niagara.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly

journals/increasing-socially-appropriate-behavior/docview/3056237210/se-2

Bedmar-Sanz, C., & González, C. N. (2025). DEVELOPMENT OF PRELINGUISTIC SKILLS IN A CHILD WITH

ASD THROUGH ABA-VB. A CLINICAL CASE. Journal of Psychological and Educational Research,

33(1), 7-29. https://ezproxy.niagara.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-

journals/development-prelinguistic-skills-child-with-asd/docview/3219367669/se-2

Capisizu, A., Zăgrean, L., Poenaru, E., Tudorache, E., Bulf, M. A., & Capisizu, A. S. (2025). Investigation of

Electroencephalographic Aspects, Adaptive Features, and Clinical Phenotypes in a Group of

Children with Autism—A Pilot Study. Clinics and Practice, 15(3), 50.

https://doi.org/10.3390/clinpract15030050

Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2019). Applied Behavior Analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson

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Johnson, J. F. (2025). From Harm to Healing: Building the Future of ABA with Autistic Voices.

Societies, 15(3), 72. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15030072