Handbook of Applied Behavior Analysis

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a highly functional discipline that, instead of searching for abstract, internal causes for human behavior, looks to external factors that can be influenced. Once identified, these factors can be manipulated to make meaningful, positive improvements in the lives of real people through positive behavior change. Not surprisingly behavior analysis has been applied to a wide range of human activities, from helping troubled teens to organizing industry to maximizing sports performance. ABA interventions for these diverse problems are often creative — and they tend to be effective.

In this volume, some of the field's foremost practitioners offer their expert perspective on a range of topics within ABA. Each chapter is fully referenced and contains a set of reading objectives to facilitate deeper understanding and further discussion of its subject area. While these discussions will be of particular interest to academic behavior analysts and graduate students, clinicians and other practitioners will find the research review helpful and informative.

John Austin, Ph.D., is associate professor of psychology and a member of the industrial/organizational faculty at Western Michigan University.

James E. Carr, Ph.D., is associate professor of psychology, chair of the Behavior Analysis program, and codirector of the Center for Autism at Western Michigan University.