Applied Behavior Analysis: Perceptions About the Field Across Sectors

Presenter Information

Angelina O'ConnorFollow

Additional Authors

Angela Masiello, B.S. Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN. Mary Jo Hedrick, Ph.D. Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN.

Abstract

Given the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), clinicians and researchers must provide related populations with an informed, unbiased understanding of available interventions. Previous research established that applied behavior analysis (ABA) is an effective intervention for individuals with ASD and that lacking ABA training predicts negative attitudes toward ABA. The current study examines how perceptions of ABA vary across sectors of ABA professionals, psychologists, and laypeople. Hypotheses proposed include 1) ABA professionals will have a higher mean attitude score than psychology professionals and laypeople; 2) Psychology professionals will have a lower mean attitude score than ABA professionals and laypeople. Participants completed a modified version of the Attitudes of Behavior Modification scale (Allen & Bowles, 2014) and a demographic questionnaire via REDCap. A filtered dataset of 26 participants was analyzed to examine attitudes towards ABA. A One-Way ANOVA was performed to examine differences in mean attitude scores towards ABA between sectors of relationship with ABA. The results indicated scores were significantly different between professional sectors, F(2, 24) = 3.559, p =.046. A Tukey post-hoc analysis indicated a significant difference between the mean attitude of the ABA professionals group (M = 90.43, SD = 4.83) and the laypeople group (M =80.83, SD = 7.86), (p=.042). However, no significant differences were found between the psychology professionals group (M =82.17, SD = 10.07) and the laypeople group (M =80.83, SD = 7.86), (p=.937), as well as the ABA professionals group (M = 90.43, SD = 4.83) and the psychology professionals group (M =82.17, SD = 10.07), (p=.159). These findings suggest that attitudes towards ABA are related to professional experience with ABA. Implications of these results provide further support that an individual’s exposure to training in ABA relates to their perception of ABA. Future studies should examine attitudes towards ABA with diverse, larger samples.

Start Time

16-4-2025 9:00 AM

End Time

16-4-2025 11:30 AM

Presentation Type

Poster

Presentation Category

Social Sciences

Student Type

Undergraduate Student

Faculty Mentor

Andrea Clements

Faculty Department

Psychology

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Apr 16th, 9:00 AM Apr 16th, 11:30 AM

Applied Behavior Analysis: Perceptions About the Field Across Sectors

Given the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), clinicians and researchers must provide related populations with an informed, unbiased understanding of available interventions. Previous research established that applied behavior analysis (ABA) is an effective intervention for individuals with ASD and that lacking ABA training predicts negative attitudes toward ABA. The current study examines how perceptions of ABA vary across sectors of ABA professionals, psychologists, and laypeople. Hypotheses proposed include 1) ABA professionals will have a higher mean attitude score than psychology professionals and laypeople; 2) Psychology professionals will have a lower mean attitude score than ABA professionals and laypeople. Participants completed a modified version of the Attitudes of Behavior Modification scale (Allen & Bowles, 2014) and a demographic questionnaire via REDCap. A filtered dataset of 26 participants was analyzed to examine attitudes towards ABA. A One-Way ANOVA was performed to examine differences in mean attitude scores towards ABA between sectors of relationship with ABA. The results indicated scores were significantly different between professional sectors, F(2, 24) = 3.559, p =.046. A Tukey post-hoc analysis indicated a significant difference between the mean attitude of the ABA professionals group (M = 90.43, SD = 4.83) and the laypeople group (M =80.83, SD = 7.86), (p=.042). However, no significant differences were found between the psychology professionals group (M =82.17, SD = 10.07) and the laypeople group (M =80.83, SD = 7.86), (p=.937), as well as the ABA professionals group (M = 90.43, SD = 4.83) and the psychology professionals group (M =82.17, SD = 10.07), (p=.159). These findings suggest that attitudes towards ABA are related to professional experience with ABA. Implications of these results provide further support that an individual’s exposure to training in ABA relates to their perception of ABA. Future studies should examine attitudes towards ABA with diverse, larger samples.