Behavior Change Procedures
Task Overview
This work establishes the academic basis on which it will be based throughout the course and in its final BIP. You will select a behavior change procedure from the first half of ABA 507 (antecedent interventions, group contingencies, token economies, contingency contracts, stimulus control aids and transfer, or verbal behavior procedures) and conduct a focused and analytically rigorous literature review. The goal is not a broad overview of the topic, but a precise synthesis of the empirical evidence base: what do we know, how well do we know it, and what does it mean for applied practice?
Task Assignment
Select ONE of the following topics (or propose an alternative with instructor approval):
Antecedent interventions for problem behaviors maintained by escape or attention Group contingency arrangements in classroom or clinic settings Design and implementation of a token economy for skill acquisition or behavioral reduction Contingency contracts in adolescent or adult populations Hierarchies of aids from lowest to highest or highest to lowest for the acquisition of skills Language intervention based on verbal behavior (e.g., command training, touch training)Component 1 — Introduction and Background
Enter the selected procedure: define it precisely in behavioural terms, explain its theoretical basis and place it within the broader ABA literature. State the purpose of your review and the specific clinical or applied question it addresses (e.g., "Under what conditions is a token economy most effective in increasing stay-on-task behavior in students with EBD?"). Connect your topic to at least one foundational behavioral principle (e.g., reinforcement, stimulus control, BM) to establish a conceptual foundation.Component 2 — Synthesis of Empirical Evidence
Synthesize 3 to 5 empirical studies. For each study: identify the participants/setting, the specific procedure used, the target behavior(s), the type of design, key findings, and any limitations noted by the authors. Organize your review thematically—around findings, populations, or conditions—rather than as a list of article abstracts. Identify at least one consistent empirical finding and one area of ongoing discussion or limitation in the research base.Component 3 — Applied Relevance and Conclusion
Discuss what these findings mean for ABA professionals. Under what conditions is this procedure most indicated? Which implementation variables are the most important? Identify at least one specific ethical consideration to the use of this procedure in applied settings. Refer to the BACB Code of Ethics. Conclude with a clear statement of why this procedure deserves continued attention in research or in the clinic.