Foundations of ABA
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) was derived from Behaviorism and Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB). Behaviorism is a theory developed by Dr. John B. Watson and was popular at the turn of 20th century. Drs. Donald Baer, Montrose Wolf, and Todd Risley later published a paper in the spring of 1968 laying the groundwork for the field of ABA. This paper outlined seven dimensions of ABA, which are important aspects that both clinicians and researchers need to take into consideration when providing ABA treatment. The seven dimensions included were Applied, Behavior, Analytic, Effective, Conceptually Systematic, Technological, and Generality. All seven of the dimensions are important to field of ABA 50 years later.