The article by Donald M. Baer, Montrose M. Wolf, and Todd R. Risley from the University of Kansas discusses the current dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). The authors highlight that while the analysis of individual behavior is well understood and practiced, its application to socially important behaviors remains challenging due to the complexity and variability of real-world settings. They emphasize that ABA applications are evaluated differently from laboratory studies, focusing on their practical relevance, effectiveness, and generality. Key points include: 1. **Applied**: ABA is applied to behaviors that are important to society, such as those related to retardation, crime, mental illness, or education. The behavior, stimuli, and organism under study are chosen based on their significance rather than theoretical importance. 2. **Behavioral**: ABA is pragmatic, aiming to change behavior effectively. It requires precise measurement and reliable quantification of behavior, which can be challenging in applied settings. 3. **Analytic**: ABA involves demonstrating control over behaviors through techniques like the "reversal" and "multiple baseline" methods. These techniques help establish the reliability of the experimental variables. 4. **Technological**: ABA procedures must be clearly described and detailed enough for replication by trained readers. This ensures that the techniques are not just tricks but have a solid theoretical foundation. 5. **Effective**: ABA applications must produce significant behavioral changes that are socially valuable. The effectiveness is often judged by the practical impact on the behavior. 6. **Generality**: ABA changes should be durable and applicable across different environments and related behaviors. This enhances the practical value of the application. The authors conclude that a successful ABA application should clearly demonstrate the importance of the behavior changed, the experimental manipulations, the technological precision of the procedures, their effectiveness, and their generality.The article by Donald M. Baer, Montrose M. Wolf, and Todd R. Risley from the University of Kansas discusses the current dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). The authors highlight that while the analysis of individual behavior is well understood and practiced, its application to socially important behaviors remains challenging due to the complexity and variability of real-world settings. They emphasize that ABA applications are evaluated differently from laboratory studies, focusing on their practical relevance, effectiveness, and generality. Key points include: 1. **Applied**: ABA is applied to behaviors that are important to society, such as those related to retardation, crime, mental illness, or education. The behavior, stimuli, and organism under study are chosen based on their significance rather than theoretical importance. 2. **Behavioral**: ABA is pragmatic, aiming to change behavior effectively. It requires precise measurement and reliable quantification of behavior, which can be challenging in applied settings. 3. **Analytic**: ABA involves demonstrating control over behaviors through techniques like the "reversal" and "multiple baseline" methods. These techniques help establish the reliability of the experimental variables. 4. **Technological**: ABA procedures must be clearly described and detailed enough for replication by trained readers. This ensures that the techniques are not just tricks but have a solid theoretical foundation. 5. **Effective**: ABA applications must produce significant behavioral changes that are socially valuable. The effectiveness is often judged by the practical impact on the behavior. 6. **Generality**: ABA changes should be durable and applicable across different environments and related behaviors. This enhances the practical value of the application. The authors conclude that a successful ABA application should clearly demonstrate the importance of the behavior changed, the experimental manipulations, the technological precision of the procedures, their effectiveness, and their generality.