Data Collection is a Crucial Part of ABA Therapy

When looking at the various aspects of ABA therapy, it is easy to focus on such things as discrete trial teaching, repetition, or reinforcement. There is no doubt that these elements of the treatment are absolutely imperative. With that said, however, it is important for parents and educators to understand that even the best repetition and trials will be hindered without rigorous and proper data collection. ABA is an evidence based method of teaching, and the collection of data is absolutely essential.

Data collection helps ABA therapists accurately measure performance throughout the teaching process. Not only does it provide them with a deeper understanding of how the child progresses, but it enables them to monitor any setbacks or to identify any changes in environment or stimuli that led to different responses. It also helps parents and educators come up with behavior plans and to make adjustments to the curriculum as needed. The diagnostic information provided on data sheets should always be as detailed and accurate as possible, and schools and parents should work together to share and compare these sheets on a regular basis.

Data Collection Tools

There are a number of different types of data collection that help make ABA therapy more effective. Monitoring progress and setbacks is important, but it is equally important to make specific notes about reinforcement offered, prompts used to garner specific responses, and reactions to different stimuli and circumstances. It is also important to collect data on skill acquisition as well as on any improvements or changes noticed in any aspect of the therapy. This can help educators to understand exactly what is working and what is not and can even help to make clear what areas the child experiences the most difficulty in.

Data collection is as important to the student as it is for the educator. While parents and teachers collect data to help themselves understand what is working, the data is used to create a better learning environment for the student. ABA is always most effective when offered intensively at both home and school, and data collection makes it much easier for parents and educators to create matching lessons and trials and to compare data from different environments. Providing these students with the best learning opportunities possible is crucial, and this means creating trials that are as identical as possible. ABA can be very effective, and data collection can help ensure that you give your child the best opportunities possible.

Data Collection is a Crucial Part of ABA Therapy

Tips For Collecting Data During Home ABA Therapy

 For parents conducting intensive ABA or Applied Behavior Analysis therapy at home, collecting and tracking data can seem like a daunting task.  Some parents feel that they need to keep rigorous data in regards to every question to a degree that it hampers their ability to teach effectively, while some parents feel that they can rely on memory to track their child's progress and note both impairments and improvements.  The truth is that data collection is a delicate balance between ensuring that progress is properly noted without getting so wrapped up in details that the lesson suffers.  What follows are some basic tips for collecting data.

It should first be noted that parents are encouraged to use data collection sheets.  Professionally designed to offer task analysis as well as the creation of easy to read graphs, data collection sheets simplify analyzing your child's progress with ABA therapy.  For parents who opt to create their own data records, however, there are some tips to simplify and streamline the process.  It is recommended to record data for separate sections and skills on separate sheets of paper and to document results only at the end of the lesson.
 
One tip many parents find helpful is to take a task such as getting dressed and break it down into smaller sections, such as choosing clothes, putting on underwear, putting on pants, putting on shirt, putting on sock, putting on shoes, putting pajamas in hamper, etc.  When each step is outlined, it becomes easy to outline which steps were taken without prompt and which required prompting.  This helps to outline trends and areas that need more work.  The same theory can apply for any activity, including things such as shape or color recognition, with notes being taken of shapes or colors recognized alone and those requiring a hint or prompt.  It is important to count only the child's first response and to be truthful in your data recording, as counting partial answers can skew data and harm your progress in the long run.
 
In short, data collection can be a relatively simple process even though it is highly important.  While professional collection sheets are recommended, many parents find success using their own data collection methods.  Applied Behavior Analysis relies heavily on the assessment of the data that is collected from each lesson, but as long as the proper data is recorded and the proper points are stressed and worked on, ABA is designed to help your child function as normally as possible.

Data Collection Tools

Tips For Collecting Data During Home ABA Therapy