Behavior Analysis for Effective Teaching

356 Pages·2020·13.945 MB·English

by  Julie S. Vargas

Behavior Analysis for Effective Teaching
Behavior Analysis for Effective Teaching is a clear, comprehensive book on the inte-
gration of non-aversive behavior analysis principles into classrooms and other school
settings. Carefully revised and updated throughout, this third edition includes new con-
tent on precision teaching and a new chapter on how teachers can provide appropriate
education for students with special disabilities who are included in their classrooms.
Focused on merging behavior management with effective student instruction and
illustrated with examples from real teachers’ experiences, the book is an ideal primary
resource for undergraduate and graduate courses in teacher education, special educa-
tion, school psychology, and school counseling, as well as for preparation toward the
BACB Credentialing Exam.
Julie S. Vargas is Chair of the Board of the B. F. Skinner Foundation. A former third
and fourth grade teacher, she became Professor of Educational Psychology at West
Virginia University, USA. There she taught undergraduate education majors and prac-
ticing teachers for over 30 years. She is a past president of the Association for Behavior
Analysis International and one of the founding editors of The Behavior Analyst.

Behavior Analysis for
Effective Teaching
Third Edition
Julie S. Vargas
Third edition published 2020
by Routledge
52 Vanderbilt Avenue, New York, NY 10017
and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2020 Julie S. Vargas
The right of Julie S. Vargas to be identified as author of this work has been
asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised
in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or
hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information
storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent
to infringe.
First edition published by Routledge 2009
Second edition published by Routledge 2013
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record has been requested for this book
ISBN: 9781138337183 (hbk)
ISBN: 9781138337190 (pbk)
ISBN: 9780429442575 (ebk)
Typeset in Minion
by Swales & Willis, Exeter, Devon, UK
To my father and my husband,
without whom this book could not have been written.

BRIEF CONTENTS
List of Figures xxi
List of Tables xxiv
Preface xxvi
Acknowledgements xxvii
To the Instructor and To the Student xxviii
Chapter 1 Adding Science to the Art of Teaching 1
Chapter 2 Finding the “Causes” of Behavior 18
Chapter 3 How We Learn 34
Chapter 4 Decreasing Behavior 59
Chapter 5 Setting Goals to Improve Achievement 86
Chapter 6 Improving Sensitivity to Progress: Recording and Graphing 106
Chapter 7 Teaching Basic Skills to Mastery with Precision Teaching 131
Chapter 8 Shaping New Behavior: Selection by Postcedents 156
Chapter 9 The Role of Antecedents in Teaching Concepts and Understanding 193
vii
viii • Brief Contents
Chapter 10 Verbal Behavior: Teaching Language Skills 219
Chapter 11 Inclusion 248
Chapter 12 Beyond Testing: Reaching the Ultimate Goals of Education 269
Glossary 297
Bibliography 310
Index 320
CONTENTS
List of Figures xxi
List of Tables xxiv
Preface xxvi
Acknowledgements xxvii
To the Instructor and To the Student xxviii
Chapter 1 Adding Science to the Art of Teaching 1
Overview 1
Objectives 1
The Importance of Teachers 1
What Teaching Is and Is Not 2
Preliminary Definition of Teaching 3
The Science of Behavior 4
Two Kinds of Behavior 5
Operant Behavior and Operant Conditioning 6
Contingencies of Reinforcement 6
Why Science Is Needed: The Training of Elephants 8
From Punishing Students to Reinforcing Their Actions 8
Behavior Analysis in Action 9
Example: Tag Teaching Gymnastics 9
Example: Replacing Loud Talking with Writing in a
Second Grade 10
Example: Using Positive Procedures Instead of Paddling to
Reduce Disruptive Behavior 11
ix