Foundational Principles of ABA

Assignment Summary

This assignment is designed to help you demonstrate your understanding of the foundational principles of behavior analysis. You will apply the goals of behavior analysis (description, prediction, and control), explain key philosophical assumptions of the field, and contrast mentalistic explanations with the perspective of radical behaviorism.

By completing this assignment, you will show your ability to think behavior-analytically about both public and private behavior and apply course concepts to a real-world case scenario.

Start Here:

1. Read the .
2. Review the Assignment Overview.
3. Review the Writing Instructions and follow all formatting requirements.
4. Review the and before you submit.

Assignment Overview:

In this assignment, you will apply foundational scientific and philosophical principles of behavior analysis to the provided. You will present your analysis in a 34 page APA-formatted paper organized using the required section headings (Parts 13).

Part 1: Goals of Behavior Analysis

Explain the three goals of behavior analysis as a science (description, prediction, and control), and describe how each goal is addressed when a behavior analyst conducts an assessment and designs an intervention for Ethans self-injurious behavior.

• Description
  • Define Description in your own words with citation
  • Explain how Ethans SIB would be described using observable and measurable terms
• Prediction
  • Define Prediction in your own words with citation
  • Identify antecedents that appear to precede the behavior
• Control
  • Define Control in your own words with citation
  • Explain how experimental control would guide intervention decisions

Part 2: Philosophical Assumptions

Explain at least three philosophical assumptions underlying the science of behavior analysis (e.g., selectionism, determinism, empiricism, experimentation, replication, parsimony, pragmatism, philosophic doubt). For each assumption selected, describe its meaning, explain how each applies to Ethan’s case, and explain why it is important to how a behavior analyst approaches Ethans situation.

For each assumption, include:

• Definition: Accurate definition in your own words with citation
• Importance to Ethan: Explanation of how the assumption applies to Ethan’s case and influences the analysts approach

Part 3: Mentalism vs. Radical Behaviorism

Describe how the parents and teachers explanations reflect a mentalistic approach. Be sure to define mentalism and provide specific examples from the scenario. Then, contrast this perspective with the philosophical approach of radical behaviorism by explaining how each philosophy differs in how behavior is explained and how intervention decisions are made.

• Defining Mentalism
  • Define mentalism
  • Explain why it is considered a circular explanation
• Examples from the Scenario
  • Identify parent or teacher quotes reflecting mentalistic explanations
  • Explain why these statements are mentalistic
• Defining Radical Behaviorism
  • Explain how private events are treated
• Contrast in Decision Making
  • Compare how each perspective affects assessment and intervention

  Writing Instructions:

• Your response should demonstrate:
  • Accurate understanding of course concepts
  • Application of behavior-analytic reasoning
  • Graduate-level academic writing
  • Proper

  Your work should reflect professional and scholarly standards. Paper Requirements

  • Length: 34 pages (including title page and references)
  • Format: APA 7th edition (title page, spacing, margins, font)
  • Citations: In-text citations for all definitions and conceptual explanations
  • References: Complete APA-formatted reference list
  • Organization: Use the required section headings for each part of the assignment

  View Rubric: Writing & APA Standards

  • Use a formal, graduate-level academic tone
  • Follow APA 7 formatting throughout
  • Do not copy textbook definitions verbatim without quotation marks and citation
  • Cite all definitions and conceptual material

  File Formatting & Naming

  • Create your assignment in Microsoft Word
  • Font: Times New Roman, 12-point
  • Use standard APA margins and spacing
  • Organize your paper with clear section headings aligned with each part of the assignment.

  AI USE:

• If you used AI tools in any part of this assignment, you must submit the required form and follow the course AI policy.
  • Student AI Declaration Form:
  • AI Policy:
  • AI Guidelines:

  (Read Before you Write!)

  • Missing in-text citations for definitions or conceptual explanations
  • Reference list entries that do not match in-text citations
  • APA formatting errors (title page, headings, spacing, margins, font)
  • Copying definitions verbatim without quotation marks and citation
  • Not using the required section headings (Parts 13)
  • Incorrect file naming
  • Forgetting to submit the AI declaration form when AI tools were used
• Submission Guidelines

  Pre-Submission ChecklistBefore uploading your paper, confirm that you have:

  • Met all formatting requirements
  • Reviewed the grading rubric
  • Completed the student checklist
  • Proofread your work
  • Named your file correctly

  How to Submit

  1. Scroll to the bottom of this page (you will be required to do this after each of the following steps)
  2. Click Add submission
  3. Upload your Word file (drag-and-drop or use the File Picker)
  4. Click Save changes
  5. Review your uploaded file
  6. Click Submit assignment
  7. Check the confirmation box
  8. Click Continue
  9. Verify your Submission status shows Submitted for grading

  After grading, review instructor feedback in the Feedback section and in the Gradebook. If your assignment grade does not meet the minimum passing grade (70%), you may submit one additional attempt. See Resubmission + Remediation & Grading Policies (below).

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