Similar ABA and PBS Values
The values within Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Positive Behavior Support (PBS) are with many of the same values appearing in both fields. Person and family-centered approaches are important for both ABA and PBS. Improving the quality of life for people is a main goal for practitioners in both fields.
- Applied
- Behavioral
- Analytic
- Conceptually Systematic
- Technological, Effective
- Resulting in Generality.
- How immediately important is this behavior or these stimuli to this subject?
- Is the encounter with ABA a meaningful one for the person?
- Is life improving for the person?
- Does the person want to continue using ABA approaches?
- How impactful has the support been in achieving the stated goal?
- Has the effectiveness of the support provided spread to other areas of the person’s life in clinically and socially significant ways?
Positive behavior support emphasizes the following key features in its definition:
- Valued Outcomes
- Biomedical and Behavioral Research
- Validated Procedures
- Systems Change
The connection to ABA is considered an important part of the the field as part of Behavioral Research. Visit the APBS page called What is Positive Behavior Support? to learn more about each of these key features. Other practices like person-centered planning, wrap, wraparound planning and other team-based processes for empowering people receiving support to make their own decisions and lead action-planning efforts to achieve the lives they want.
Biomedical and mental health practices are integrated with positive behavior and considered integral to the overall process. Multiple interventions that are proven by research as valid are used in each positive behavior support plan. A validated procedure refers to interventions that have been proven to be effective. Positive behavior support uses interventions that have already been proven to be effective and are evidence based.
Systems change is used in positive behavior support to ensure sustainability and to “scale up” implementation so that more people can benefit from this practice. Another goal of systems change is to integrate other positive support practices and to make sure that the actions taken to improve quality of life can be sustained over time. Learn more about how the term positive supports is used in Minnesota.
As you can see, although different terms are used, many of the core elements of both applied behavior analysis and positive behavior support are similar.
Links