Seven Dimensions of ABA
Also called: dimensions of applied behavior analysis, Baer Wolf and Risley dimensions
Definition
The criteria proposed in 1968 for what makes a piece of work applied behavior analysis: it addresses socially important behavior (applied), measures real behavior (behavioral), demonstrates that the intervention caused the change (analytic), describes its procedures precisely (technological), ties them to basic principles (conceptually systematic), produces change large enough to matter (effective), and produces change that lasts and spreads (generality).
In plain language
Seven tests a program should pass to count as ABA. It must matter to the person, measure real behavior, prove it worked, be described clearly, link to principles, make a big enough difference, and last.
Example
A written program that names the target, the procedure, the principle it relies on, and the data that will show whether it worked meets most of the dimensions on paper.
Not seven dimensions of aba
A program described only as "positive strategies" with no procedure anyone could repeat. It fails the technological dimension whatever else it does.
See also
Written from
- baer-wolf-risley-1968
Written from Baer, Wolf and Risley (1968). The dimension names are the paper's; the descriptions are ours.
This entry has not yet been through clinical review. Treat it as a draft.