The ABC’s: Critical Factors for Success
Grainne A. Matthews, Ph.D.Quality Safety Edge
Behavioural Safety Now Conference 2006Basic Concepts
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Wanda Myers
This presentation isdedicated to WandaMyers, M.A., of QualitySafety Edge andBehavioral ConsultantServices, Inc.
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Agenda
Introduce ABC concepts
Add PICNIC concepts
Mix in pinpointing
Practice analyzing behavior
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Basic ABC Model
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Examples of Behavior
Son asks for $20 to buy a new videogame
Daughter does her homework beforecalling friends
Wife picks up dry cleaning on wayhome from long day at work
Husband mows grass and edges lawn
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Behavior
“B” in the ABC Model stands for“bad”.
Behavior includes anything a persondoes, says, thinks, or feels.
In improving performance, it is mosteffective to focus on observablebehavior (does or says).
To focus on behavior, we must firstcarefully identify it.
YES NO
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Pinpoint Performance
A pinpoint is a measurabledescription of desired performance,either behavior or results. Behavior – action
Ex. Son cooks dinner for the whole family
Results – what’s left behind Ex. Dinner is on the table
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Four Criteria for Pinpoint
ObservableSee the action or the result
SpecificEnough that two people can agree
ObjectiveWithout interpretation or judgment
ActiveIf a dead man can do it, it isn’t a goodpinpoint.
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Pinpoints are not…
Labels and interpretations Safe Good Careful Aggressive Angry Bad Attitude Dangerous
Ex. Son cares (interpretation) or iscaring (label)
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Pinpoints
Pinpoints are interpretations &judgments
Two of the characteristics of goodpinpoints are “observable” and“specific”
“Avoids criticizing children in public”is a good pinpoint
“Does not clean up after self” is agood pinpoint
YES NO
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Are These Good Pinpoints?
Arriving on time to school
Being a team player
Vacuuming carefully
Hanging up clothes
Asking permission to visit friends
Communicating clearly
YES NO
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Are These Good Pinpoints?
Joe asks his mother to wash his uniform.
Sally avoids responsibility for taking care ofher dog.
Freddie offers to set the table without havingto be asked.
YES NO
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Which part is a Pinpoint and which is a Label?
Sam wastes time because he listens to theneighbor chatting about the weather.
Mary doesn't trust her husband because sheasks for details about his expenses.
Sally is careless because she turns in herreport without checking her spelling.
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Basic ABC Model
Establish aneedExercising on
a hot day
Indicatepresence ofconsequencesSoda machine
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Antecedents
Gain power from past association withconsequences Dad’s instructions versus Mom’s
Lose power if no longer associated withconsequences Empty soda machine
Only function if impact performer Profits for company
Are necessary, but not sufficient, to ensureperformance Wouldn’t know how to do task without training,
but training doesn’t guarantee will do task
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Examples of Antecedents
He saw it on TV & Momhas $20
Mom called her fromwork to remind her
Had to wear leastfavorite outfit thatmorning
Neighbor madecomment about howfast grass grows
Son asks for $20 to buy anew video game
Daughter does herhomework before callingfriends
Wife picks up drycleaning on way homefrom long day at work
Husband mows grassand edges lawn
Antecedents Behaviors
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Antecedents
“A” in the ABC Model stands for“active”.
Examples of Antecedents are: Sticky note on fridge (Son buys milk) Mom gives son $20 (Son buys video game)
Antecedents are sometimes enough toprompt desired behavior.
YES NO
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Basic ABC Model
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Examples of Consequences
Plays video gamethat night
Her friends are alldoing their home-work when she calls
Has clothes to wearnext morning
Is hot and sticky
He saw it on TV &Mom has $20
Mom called her fromwork to remind her
Had to wear leastfavorite outfit thatmorning
Neighbor madecomment about howfast grass grows
Son asks for $20 tobuy a new videogame
Daughter does herhomework beforecalling friends
Wife picks up drycleaning on wayhome from longday at work
Husband mowsgrass and edgeslawn
Antecedents Behaviors Consequences
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Consequences
Anything that follows a behavior canbe a consequence for that behavior.
Consequences are more effectivethan antecedents in influencingbehavior.
Most people don’t care how otherpeople react to them.
Consequences change futurebehavior.
YES NO
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Understanding Behavior
Consequence
Improvementfor performer
Increase FutureProbability
Decrease FutureProbability
Worsening forperformer
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Understanding Behavior
Positive Reinforcement Add something to the
environment of performer Behavior increases in future Ex: Kiss your husband
when he takes out the trash
Punishment Add something to the
environment of performer Behavior decreases in
future Ex: Snarl at your husband
when he asks where hissocks are
Negative ReinforcementRemove something from the
environment of performerBehavior increases in futureEx: Go to action movie
when your husband washescar
ExtinctionRemove something from the
environment of performerBehavior decreases in
futureEx: Turn off Monday Night
Football when yourhusband ignores you
Increase Behavior Decrease Behavior
Ad
d
som
ethi
ng
Rem
ove
som
eth
ing
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Analyzing Behavior
Antecedents Behavior Consequences Can’t hear anything
Hot & sweaty ears
Risk of future hearingloss decreases slightly
Mow the grasswith ear plugs
Wife’s request
Has ear plugs
Mower noise
Hears kids in pool
Comfortable temperature
Risk of future hearingloss increases slightly
Mow the grasswithout ear plugs
Wife’s request
Has ear plugs
Mower noise
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Effective Consequences
Effective
PICs Positive Immediate Certain (frequent)
Ex. Get $20 if you ask
NICs Negative Immediate Certain (frequent)
Ex. Hot and sticky ifyou mow lawn
Ineffective
PDUs Positive Delayed Uncertain (infrequent)
Ex. Have clean clothes to wearif pick up from cleaners
NDUs Negative Delayed Uncertain (infrequent)
Ex. Friends will be unavailableif you call later in evening
Large Small
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PIC NIC Analysis
Immediate & Certain (frequent)consequences have the most effecton future behavior.
The size of consequences influencestheir effectiveness.
There is only one consequence forevery behavior.
The PICNIC balance determines futurebehavior.
YES NO
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Analyzing Behavior
Choose a behavior to analyze
Identify antecedents
Identify consequences
Classify consequences as PICs, NICs,PDUs, or NDUs; large or small
Test your analysis against reality
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ABC & PICNIC Analysis Guide
Step 1 Pinpoint target behaviour List all actual or all possible Antecedents List actual or all possible Consequences Mark Consequences as P/N, I/D, C/U (F/I) & rate
importance (1 – Very, 3 Not at all)
Step 2 Repeat for opposite behaviour
Step 3 Compare contingencies & test conclusion
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Problem: Ineffective Contingencies
Antecedents not reliably associated withconsequences Ex. Lose hearing if you work without ear plugs
Infrequent positive, immediate, certain consequences(PIC) for safe behaviour Ex. Occasional “good job” from supervisor
Frequent NICs for safe behaviour Ex. Often take time, energy, comfort, convenience
Infrequent negative, immediate, certainconsequences (NIC) for unsafe behaviour Ex. Discipline if you work without ear plugs
Frequent PICs for unsafe behaviour Ex. Hear co workers if you work without ear plugs
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Solution: Change Contingencies
Add PICs & remove NICs for safebehaviour Make it as quick, easy, comfortable, and
convenient as possible to work safely Provide evidence of decrease in risk Provide positive feedback
Remove PICs for unsafe behaviour Discourage people from praising each
other for taking risks
Why not increase NICs for unsafebehaviour?
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