Behaviour analysts love their acronyms and it seems we have a language all to ourselves.  I’m trying very hard not to speak exclusively in ‘behaviourist’ terms.  It’s probably one of the reasons our field is often misunderstood.  What I am trying to do (and the whole point of this blog) is to pair well-used vocabulary with behaviourist language.  I also think it’s my duty as a behaviour analyst to inform my readers of these terms and make them more accessible for all.  

Here you can find a reference point for common terms I refer to throughout this blog:

ABA = Applied Behaviour Analysis; the science behind using behaviour principles (learning, motivation, etc.) to solve socially significant problems.

A-B-C chain = Antecedent-Behaviour-Consequence; the three dimensions looked at when analyzing behaviour.

Three-term contingency - another term similar to A-B-C chain.  It is the technical term to describe the before, during and after events surrounding behaviour

SD, S(d) = discriminative stimulus; the immediate antecedent or stimulus that elicits behaviour

MO = motivating operations; a fourth dimension of behaviour that attempts to explain people’s motivation to seek out or avoid consequences in a given time.  The have a reinforcer value effect which in turn leads to a behaviour frequency effect.

Four-term contingency  = the three-term contingency plus an antecedent event, the MO (see above)

JABA = Journal of Applied Behaviour Analysis (it’s free - check it out http://seab.envmed.rochester.edu/jaba/)