The Ventura County SELPA supports the philosophical tenets of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) as described extensively in the professional literature. Some typical definitions are:
"Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) is a systematic process of studying and modifying observable behavior through a
manipulation of the environment."
Prizant, Barry M., PhD, CCC-SLP, Center for the Study of Human Development, Brown University, RI
"ABA is the science in which tactics derived from the principles of behavior are applied systematically to improve socially significant behavior and experimentation is used to identify the variables responsible for change."
Cooper, JO, Heron, TE, Heward, WL, (2007). Applied Behavior Analysis, 2nd ed., Prentice-Hall