Editing Operant conditioning (section)

===Applied behavior analysis===
{{main|Applied behavior analysis}}
Applied behavior analysis is the discipline initiated by [[B. F. Skinner]] that applies the principles of conditioning to the modification of socially significant human behavior. It uses the basic concepts of conditioning theory, including conditioned stimulus (S<sup>C</sup>), discriminative stimulus (S<sup>d</sup>), response (R), and reinforcing stimulus (S<sup>rein</sup> or S<sup>r</sup> for reinforcers, sometimes S<sup>ave</sup> for aversive stimuli).<ref name="Pierce 2004"/>

Practitioners of applied behavior analysis (ABA) bring these procedures, and many variations and developments of them, to bear on a variety of socially significant behaviors and issues. In many cases, practitioners use operant techniques to develop constructive, socially acceptable behaviors to replace aberrant behaviors.  The techniques of ABA have been effectively applied in to such things as [[Lovaas model|early intensive behavioral interventions]] for children with an [[autism spectrum disorders|autism spectrum disorder]] (ASD)<ref name="As-in-ABA">{{cite journal|author1=Dillenburger, K.|author2=Keenan, M.|year=2009|title=None of the As in ABA stand for autism: dispelling the myths|journal=J Intellect Dev Disabil|volume=34|issue=2|pages=193–95|doi=10.1080/13668250902845244|pmid=19404840|s2cid=1818966}}</ref> research on the principles influencing [[criminology|criminal behavior]], HIV prevention,<ref>{{cite journal|author1=DeVries, J.E.|author2=Burnette, M.M.|author3=Redmon, W.K.|year=1991|title=AIDS prevention: Improving nurses' compliance with glove wearing through performance feedback|journal=Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis|volume=24|issue=4|pages=705–11|doi=10.1901/jaba.1991.24-705|pmc=1279627|pmid=1797773}}</ref> conservation of natural resources,<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Brothers, K.J.|author2=Krantz, P.J.|author3=McClannahan, L.E.|year=1994|title=Office paper recycling: A function of container proximity|journal=Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis|volume=27|issue=1|pages=153–60|doi=10.1901/jaba.1994.27-153|pmc=1297784|pmid=16795821}}</ref> education,<ref>{{cite book |author1=Dardig, Jill C.|author2=Heward, William L.|author3=Heron, Timothy E.|author4=Nancy A. Neef|author5=Peterson, Stephanie|author6=Diane M. Sainato|author7= Cartledge, Gwendolyn|author8=Gardner, Ralph|author9=Peterson, Lloyd R.|author10= Susan B. Hersh |title=Focus on behavior analysis in education: achievements, challenges, and opportunities |publisher= Pearson/Merrill/Prentice Hall |location=Upper Saddle River, NJ |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-13-111339-8}}</ref> [[gerontology]],<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Gallagher, S.M.|author2=Keenan M.|year=2000|title=Independent use of activity materials by the elderly in a residential setting|journal=Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis|volume=33|issue=3|pages=325–28|doi=10.1901/jaba.2000.33-325|pmc=1284256|pmid=11051575}}</ref> [[Acceptance and commitment therapy|health and exercise]],<ref>{{cite journal|author1=De Luca, R.V.|author2=Holborn, S.W.|year=1992|title=Effects of a variable-ratio reinforcement schedule with changing criteria on exercise in obese and nonobese boys|journal=Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis|volume=25|issue=3|pages=671–79|doi=10.1901/jaba.1992.25-671|pmc=1279749|pmid=1429319}}</ref> [[organizational behavior management|industrial safety]],<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Fox, D.K.|author2=Hopkins, B.L.|author3=Anger, W.K.|year=1987|title=The long-term effects of a token economy on safety performance in open-pit mining|journal=Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis|volume=20|issue=3|pages=215–24|doi=10.1901/jaba.1987.20-215|pmc=1286011|pmid=3667473}}</ref> [[Verbal behavior|language acquisition]],<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Drasgow, E.|author2=Halle, J.W.|author3=Ostrosky, M.M.|year=1998|title=Effects of differential reinforcement on the generalization of a replacement mand in three children with severe language delays|journal=Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis|volume=31|issue=3|pages=357–74|doi=10.1901/jaba.1998.31-357|pmc=1284128|pmid=9757580}}</ref> littering,<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Powers, R.B.|author2=Osborne, J.G.|author3=Anderson, E.G.|year=1973|title=Positive reinforcement of litter removal in the natural environment|journal=Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis|volume=6|issue=4|pages=579–86|doi=10.1901/jaba.1973.6-579|pmc=1310876|pmid=16795442}}</ref> [[Behavioral medicine|medical procedures]],<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Hagopian, L.P.|author2=Thompson, R.H.|year=1999|title=Reinforcement of compliance with respiratory treatment in a child with cystic fibrosis|journal=Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis|volume=32|issue=2|pages=233–36|doi=10.1901/jaba.1999.32-233|pmc=1284184|pmid=10396778}}</ref> parenting,<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Kuhn, S.A.C.|author2=Lerman, D.C.|author3=Vorndran, C.M.|year=2003|title=Pyramidal training for families of children with problem behavior|journal=Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis|volume=36|issue=1|pages=77–88|doi=10.1901/jaba.2003.36-77|pmc=1284418|pmid=12723868}}</ref> [[Clinical behavior analysis|psychotherapy]],{{citation needed|date=January 2018}} seatbelt use,<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Van Houten, R.|author2=Malenfant, J.E.L.|author3=Austin, J.|author4=Lebbon, A.|year=2005|title=The effects of a seatbelt-gearshift delay prompt on the seatbelt use of motorists who do not regularly wear seatbelts|journal=Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis|volume=38|issue=2|pages=195–203|doi=10.1901/jaba.2005.48-04|pmc=1226155|pmid=16033166|editor=Vollmer, Timothy}}</ref> [[Clinical behavior analysis|severe mental disorders]],<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Wong, S.E.|author2=Martinez-Diaz, J.A.|author3=Massel, H.K.|author4=Edelstein, B.A.|author5=Wiegand, W.|author6=Bowen, L.|author7=Liberman, R.P.|year=1993|title=Conversational skills training with schizophrenic inpatients: A study of generalization across settings and conversants|journal=Behavior Therapy|volume=24|issue=2|pages=285–304|doi=10.1016/S0005-7894(05)80270-9}}</ref> sports,<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Brobst, B.|author2=Ward, P.|year=2002|title=Effects of public posting, goal setting, and oral feedback on the skills of female soccer players|journal=Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis|volume=35|issue=3|pages=247–57|doi=10.1901/jaba.2002.35-247|pmc=1284383|pmid=12365738}}</ref> [[Contingency management|substance abuse]], [[Systematic desensitization|phobias]], pediatric feeding disorders, and [[Applied animal behavior|zoo management and care of animals]].<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Forthman, D.L.|author2=Ogden, J.J.|year=1992|title=The role of applied behavior analysis in zoo management: Today and tomorrow|journal=Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis|volume=25|issue=3|pages=647–52|doi=10.1901/jaba.1992.25-647|pmc=1279745|pmid=16795790}}</ref>  Some of these applications are among those described below.