Foundational Principles of ABA
Assignment Summary
This assignment is designed to help you demonstrate your understanding of the foundational principles of behavior analysis. You will apply the goals of behavior analysis (description, prediction, and control), explain key philosophical assumptions of the field, and contrast mentalistic explanations with the perspective of radical behaviorism.
By completing this assignment, you will show your ability to think behavior-analytically about both public and private behavior and apply course concepts to a real-world case scenario.
🚦 Start Here:
- Read the Ethan scenario.
- Review the Assignment Overview.
- Review the Writing Instructions and follow all formatting requirements.
- Review the rubric and checklist before you submit.
Assignment Overview:
In this assignment, you will apply foundational scientific and philosophical principles of behavior analysis to the Ethan scenario provided. You will present your analysis in a 3–4 page APA-formatted paper organized using the required section headings (Parts 1–3).
Part 1: Goals of Behavior Analysis
Explain the three goals of behavior analysis as a science (description, prediction, and control), and describe how each goal is addressed when a behavior analyst conducts an assessment and designs an intervention for Ethan’s self-injurious behavior.
- Description
- Define “Description” in your own words with citation
- Explain how Ethan’s SIB would be described using observable and measurable terms
- Prediction
- Define “Prediction” in your own words with citation
- Identify antecedents that appear to precede the behavior
- Control
- Define “Control” in your own words with citation
- Explain how experimental control would guide intervention decisions
Part 2: Philosophical Assumptions
Explain at least three philosophical assumptions underlying the science of behavior analysis (e.g., selectionism, determinism, empiricism, experimentation, replication, parsimony, pragmatism, philosophic doubt). For each assumption selected, describe its meaning, explain how each applies to Ethan's case, and explain why it is important to how a behavior analyst approaches Ethan’s situation.
For each assumption, include:
- Definition: Accurate definition in your own words with citation
- Importance to Ethan: Explanation of how the assumption applies to Ethan's case and influences the analyst’s approach
Part 3: Mentalism vs. Radical Behaviorism
Describe how the parents’ and teacher’s explanations reflect a mentalistic approach. Be sure to define mentalism and provide specific examples from the scenario. Then, contrast this perspective with the philosophical approach of radical behaviorism by explaining how each philosophy differs in how behavior is explained and how intervention decisions are made.
- Defining Mentalism
- Define mentalism
- Explain why it is considered a circular explanation
- Examples from the Scenario
- Identify parent or teacher quotes reflecting mentalistic explanations
- Explain why these statements are mentalistic
- Defining Radical Behaviorism
- Explain how private events are treated
- Contrast in Decision Making
- Compare how each perspective affects assessment and intervention
Writing Instructions: - Your response should demonstrate:
- Accurate understanding of course concepts
- Application of behavior-analytic reasoning
- Graduate-level academic writing
- Proper APA (7th edition) formatting
- Length: 3–4 pages (including title page and references)
- Format: APA 7th edition (title page, spacing, margins, font)
- Citations: In-text citations for all definitions and conceptual explanations
- References: Complete APA-formatted reference list
- Organization: Use the required section headings for each part of the assignment
- Use a formal, graduate-level academic tone
- Follow APA 7 formatting throughout
- Do not copy textbook definitions verbatim without quotation marks and citation
- Cite all definitions and conceptual material
- Create your assignment in Microsoft Word
- Font: Times New Roman, 12-point
- Use standard APA margins and spacing
- Organize your paper with clear section headings aligned with each part of the assignment.
- If you used AI tools in any part of this assignment, you must submit the required form and follow the course AI policy.
- Student AI Declaration Form: Click here to access the AI Use Declaration Form
- AI Policy: Click here to review the Policy on the Ethical Use of AI
- AI Guidelines: Click here to review the Guidelines for Students on the Ethical Use of AI
- Missing in-text citations for definitions or conceptual explanations
- Reference list entries that do not match in-text citations
- APA formatting errors (title page, headings, spacing, margins, font)
- Copying definitions verbatim without quotation marks and citation
- Not using the required section headings (Parts 1–3)
- Incorrect file naming
- Forgetting to submit the AI declaration form when AI tools were used
- ✔️ Submission Guidelines✔️ Pre-Submission ChecklistBefore uploading your paper, confirm that you have:
- ☐ Met all formatting requirements
- ☐ Reviewed the grading rubric
- ☐ Completed the student checklist
- ☐ Proofread your work
- ☐ Named your file correctly
- Scroll to the bottom of this page (you will be required to do this after each of the following steps)
- Click Add submission
- Upload your Word file (drag-and-drop or use the File Picker)
- Click Save changes
- Review your uploaded file
- Click Submit assignment
- Check the confirmation box
- Click Continue
- Verify your Submission status shows “Submitted for grading”