Human behavior is a subject that appears to fascinate scholars and researchers. Evidence of this fascination can be seen in the many studies that have been conducted with the goal of gaining insights into the dynamics of human behavior. These studies are among the issues that constitute applied behavior analysis (ABA). Unlike basic research which focuses on observations that have little practical implications, ABA is concerned with research whose goal is to provide practical insights that allows for a deeper understanding of human behavior to be gained and for steps to be taken to address the needs of those who exhibit abnormal behavior. As Baer, Montrose and Risley (1968) observe in their article, ABA is made up of 7 essential dimensions. When they are guided by these dimensions, scholars are able to perform studies that are relevant and practically valuable.
Applied is the first dimension that Baer and his colleagues explore in their text. They advise that ABA should seek to solve real problems that societies face (Baer, Montrose & Risley, 1968). This is as opposed to basic research which is usually grounded in theory and may be inconsistent with the situation on the ground. The researchers who participate in ABA need to ensure that the insights that they share present value and benefit society. Researchers who conduct studies on eating behaviors and are driven by the need to address eating disorders are examples that Baer, Montrose and Risley offer to underscore the importance of applied research to ABA. Behavioral is another dimension that receives immense focus in the text. According to the trio, applied research needs to focus on behavior modification (Baer, Montrose & Risley, 1968). They make it clear that instead of concerning themselves with such issues as speech, applied researchers need to focus their efforts on understanding how human behavior can be modified to comply with healthy and accepted standards and expectations. Essentially, Baer and his colleagues suggest that applied research in ABA needs to be pragmatic, real and truly applied.
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Applied and behavioral are not the only dimensions of ABA that Baer and his team discuss. They also highlight the analytic dimension and its impact on ABA. This dimension involves establishing relationships between human behavior and factors that are believed to shape how individuals act (Baer, Montrose & Risley, 1968). Essentially, thanks to this dimension, applied researchers are able to perform a study that is extensive and thorough. Furthermore, the analytic dimension makes it possible for researchers to expand knowledge. Baer, Montrose and Risley also observe that the analytic dimension prompts researchers to ensure that their studies can be replicated with different data sets. Technological is another dimension of ABA on which the scholars shed light. They define this dimension as being concerned with the techniques that researchers employ as they conduct their studies (Baer, Montrose & Risley, 1968). Baer and his team urge human behavior researchers to clearly identify the techniques that they have used. The description of the techniques should be so clear that another individual can rely on this description to replicate the study. According to Baer and his colleagues, it is not sufficient for researchers to simply state the actions that they will take when certain observations are made. They advise researchers to also include a description of the measures to be implemented when the expected results are not obtained (Baer, Montrose & Risley, 1968). It is evident that the technological dimension challenges researchers to ensure that their studies are verifiable and replicable.
In addition to the dimensions above, Baer, Montrose and Risley also examine the conceptual systems and the generality dimensions. Basically, the conceptual systems dimension involves ensuring that the techniques that a researcher uses are in line with some established principle (Baer, Montrose & Risley, 1968). This dimension makes it possible for the researchers to introduce theoretical concepts into their studies. Thanks to the conceptual system dimension, the human behavior studies are elevated from mere academic efforts to commendable initiatives designed to enhance human understanding of various concepts that relate to human behavior. On the other hand, generality is a dimension which concerns the resilience and sustainability of an observed behavior. Baer, Montrose and Risley note that when they strive for generality, researchers ensure that their observations extend to other settings and are witnessed over a long period of time (Baer, Montrose & Risley, 1968). The importance of this dimension lies in the fact that it allows researchers to confirm that their observations are not isolated incidents but are key and universal components of human behavior.
Effective is the seventh dimension that Baer and the other two researchers discuss. This dimension involves the impact that an observed behavior has on society. Baer, Montrose and Risley assert that in order to be considered effective, an applied research study needs to make meaningful contributions to society (Baer, Montrose & Risley, 1968). They essentially suggest that the impact of the observations that researchers make need to extend beyond expanding theoretical knowledge. These observations should also be practical and sufficient to cause a change in how mankind perceives the issue in question. It is important to note that the different dimensions of ABA are not isolated concepts. Instead, they are related, with one dimension affecting another. For example, a study that is effective can be replicated, thereby enabling the researchers to achieve the generality dimension.
In conclusion, researchers who focus their efforts of human behavior play a vital role. Thanks to their relentlessness in understanding human behavior, these researchers have identified the various complex factors which shape how individuals conduct themselves. While the wok of the researchers is commendable, they could benefit from the discussion that Baer, Montrose and Risley offer in their text. These scholars identify seven basic dimensions that constitute impactful human behavior research and analysis. If they are to conduct studies which advance human progress, researchers need to integrate the dimensions into their work.
Reference
Baer, D. M., Wolf, M. M., & Risley, T. R. (1968). Some current dimensions of applied behavior analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1 (1), 91-7.
