Applied Behavior Analysis

 

Applied Behavior Analysis for Teachers 7th Edition

2 stars (Late Shipping) - I used this company since it said that it will ship in 2 days. 14 business days later it finally arrived. When ordering school books with a due date, I will not use this company because it agrees to ship within 2 days. 3 stars (Regarding 7th Edition Only) - The 7th Edition is precisely what I find wrong with textbook publishing today. If you're a graduate student (or any student for that matter), you have probably noticed that new editions for textbooks are being released increasingly more frequently, rendering texts far less valuable for resale than they would ordinarily be. I went to the book store and found ABA for Teachers with both the 6th and 7th editions on the shelf. I was cynical about how much the book would have changed in roughly a year's time from one edition to the next, and sure enough, they are practically identical. It is almost humorous to note that the forewards of the two editions were not even modified. The paragraph on 'Updates' to the editions is the same, noting substantial changes to one chapter and the decision to retain a particular example about a mouse. I referred to the chapter in question, and it was the same in both books. By all appearances, the changes to the 7th edition (to my eyes) are all cosmetic and do not involve content. The 7th edition is almost one hundred pages shorter than the the previous edition, due it appears to the format being changed to more of a workbook-type, taller text. Also, the headings and sidenotes now have colored fonts in many instances. If having a taller, thinner text and colored fonts is worth the extra money to you, go ahead and shell out the extra money. Otherwise, don't let the book publishers get the last laugh and stick with the 6th edition which is in substance the same book. 5 stars (Great reference to understand the principles of ABA) - This book was the textbook which was prescribed for a graduate course that I took in Behavior Modification. It is an excellent ref...
Prentice Hall :: Education & Special Education & General :: Teaching Methods & Materials - General :: Students :: Special Education - General :: Psychology :: Human behavior :: Ed :: Applied Behavior Analysis for Teachers (7th Edition)

 

Applied Behavior Analysis

5 stars (Emergence of a true science) - Reading this textbook one can appreciate the science in the science of human behavior. Not that the science of human behavior isn't well-served by the philosophy of behaviorism or by ongoing research within the area of the experimental analysis of behavior. But what I saw in this book is just how much progress has been made in applications and how fully the scientific method has been utilized. " Applied Behavior Analysis " is well organized both as chapters and within chapters, so I was able to absorb the material in small chunks. There is an excellent summary presented as a numbered list (with subject headings) at the end of each chapter. Coverage seems thorough. As an introductory text, the whole kitchen sink has not been included but at 600 pages, plenty has been included. As fitting for an introduction, there are many fine definitions. In addition to the subject index and name index, a 3-page key term index is provided. Since I find myself getting confused at times by some usages of basic terms such as "contingency", "establishing operation" and "stimulus control", the care in defintion in this textbook was helpful. Only one section of the book wasn't of immediate interest to me: the use of graphs and baseline design in Part 3 (Evaluation and Analysis of Behavior Change). I simply read the summaries of each chapter for that part, but had no trouble following all the other parts despite skipping over the Part 3 material. Many parts such as Stimulus Control, Self Management, and a succint presentation of Schedules of Reinforcement were stimulating to read. In the midst of the book, I felt the excitement of realizing how well this field is advancing. Discussion of ethics and a concern for clients' rights are spread in several places in the book, e.g. in the sections on time out and punishment. More, perhaps collected into a chapter of its own, wouldn't have hurt. A "doctrine of least restrictive alternative" is advised...
Prentice Hall :: Education & Special Education & General :: Psychology :: Personal Growth - General :: Human behavior :: Counseling - General :: Behaviorism (Psychology) :: Behavi :: Applied Behavior Analysis