Qualified Behavior Analyst (QBA) Course

QBA301 – Autism Core Knowledge

The unit gives an overview of the historical context of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and discusses the neurobiological and genetic theories of causation. The unit focuses on current research, diagnostic categories, core areas of functional impact, and current diagnostic and assessment tools.

Students will gain an understanding of ASD, including gender differences, myths and stereotypes. Students will also learn to integrate autistic strengths when working with clients.

QBA302 – Legal, Ethical, and Professional Considerations

The unit introduces legal, ethical, and professional considerations within the context of ABA. The unit focuses on QABA Code of Ethics, and relevant Educational laws (e.g., IDEA, LRE, IEP, ADA, Rehabilitation Act, 504 Plan).

Students will gain an overview of relevant legislations, and learn to engage in ethical decision-making within the context of evidence-based practice. Students will also learn to identify contextual and cultural factors that may influence ethical behaviour.

QBA303 – Core Principles of ABA

The unit introduces fundamental components involved in the scientific discipline of behavior analysis. The unit focuses on basic concepts to distinguish between respondent and operant behavior, and how basic environmental conditioning processes influence each type of behavior.

Students will gain an in depth understanding of core concepts and principles of behavior analysis, including reinforcement, punishment, extinction, motivation operation, stimulus control, and stimulus equivalence.

QBA304 – Antecedent Interventions

The unit links core principles of ABA to increase behaviors that are socially valid. The unit focuses on selecting meaningful intervention goals, commonly used antecedent interventions, as well as advantages and disadvantages of antecedent strategies.

Students will gain an in depth understanding of various antecedent interventions, and working knowledge to apply antecedent interventions to meet intervention goals.

QBA305 – Skill Acquisition Programming

The unit explores the use of evidence-based behavior techniques, such as shaping, discrete trial teaching (DTT), chaining, and natural environment teaching (NET). The unit focuses on when and how to use data to inform teaching decisions (e.g., promoting maintenance and generalization of skills), with an emphasis on social inclusion of learners.

Students will learn to link core principles of ABA to various teaching protocols and programming, and gain working knowledge to use behavior techniques to meet learner goals.

QBA306 – Behavior Reduction Interventions

The unit explores a comprehensive, function-based approach (i.e., Functional Behavior Assessments) to the assessment of behaviors of concern, and device interventions to reduce behaviors of concern.

Students will learn to integrate assessment information with client goals, preferences, risks, and environmental constraints, to design, deliver, and monitor the effectiveness of a function-based Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP). Students will gain working knowledge to design a function-based BIP, taking into consideration of risks of the behavior of concern, client preference and environmental constrains.

QBA307 – Data Collection and Analysis

The unit provides an overview of behaviour measurement, various behaviour assessment methods, and how to improve quality of behaviour measurement.

Students will learn to use behaviour measurement methods to inform the selection of treatment goals, and to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions. Students will also learn to construct and analyze graphic displays of data.

QBA308 – Assessment

The unit focuses on how to conduct a comprehensive, function-based approach (i.e., Functional Behavior Assessments) to identify functions of behaviors of concern. The unit also focuses on methods of preference assessments and different types of experimental designs.

Students will learn to conduct FBA, including design and analyze indirect assessments, descriptive assessments, and functional analyses. Students will also learn different types of experimental design, such as single subject, alternative treatment, multi-baseline, changing criterion, and elements of experimental designs, such as baseline, treatment phase, phase line.

QBA309 – Training and Supervision

The unit applies core principles of ABA to teach other stakeholders to implement behavior interventions strategies. The unit also introduces applications of behaviour analysis to ongoing job training, supervision, and performance management through Behavior Skills Training (BST).

Students will learn to utilize core principles of ABA for job training, parent training, supervision, and performance management. Students will also learn about monitoring performance, delivering effective performance feedback, and supporting parents and staff.