Operational definitions in ABA
Lesson 8 of 36 in RBT Exam Prep. The start plays free here.
- Observable: an action you can see
- Measurable: a count or time
- ABC: a written sequence
- Adult places worksheet
- Client taps table twice
- Adult removes worksheet
- All 43 outline tasks
- 85 questions, 90 minutes
- Explains each wrong answer
Paid once, no subscription. Ask for a refund within 7 days of buying if you’ve done less than 25% of the class.
How the lesson starts
Your client waves a hand. That action is observable: you can see it. Objective session notes describe what occurred.
You record how many waves occurred. Measurable means you can put a number to the behavior, such as a count or how long it lasts.
ABC stands for antecedent, behavior, and consequence. Narrative ABC recording is a brief written description of that sequence. Your supervisor may review these records.
An adult places a worksheet in front of your client. In narrative ABC recording, you describe what happened immediately before the behavior. Write the action, not “a stressful situation.”
Then, in the full lesson
- The behavior
- After
- Accurate notes
- 2 questions along the way
A question from this lesson
Your client pushes a cup across the table two times. Which note describes the behavior observably and measurably?
- The client pushed the cup two times.
- The client wanted to stop the activity.
- The client was frustrated with the cup.
Show the answer
A. The client pushed the cup two times. “The client pushed the cup two times” records an action and a count. “Was frustrated” labels a feeling. “Wanted to stop” guesses what the client wanted rather than describing the behavior.
The full class, $29 once.
Paid once, no subscription. Ask for a refund within 7 days of buying if you’ve done less than 25% of the class.
- All 43 outline tasks
- 85 questions, 90 minutes
- Explains each wrong answer
Passing isn’t guaranteed. Not affiliated with the BACB. Questions are original, written to the published outline.