What “Applied” Really Means in ABA—And Why It Matters for ADHD Intervention

When Baer, Wolf, and Risley laid the foundation for Applied Behavior Analysis in 1968, they defined seven dimensions that set the gold standard for our field. The very first on that list? Applied. But in the world of ADHD intervention, “applied” often gets lost in translation.

Let’s bring it back into focus.

Applied = Social Significance

In their seminal article, Baer and colleagues wrote:

“The behavior, stimuli, and/or organism under study should be socially significant.”

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In other words, we’re not just collecting data for data’s sake. We're not interested in behavior change unless it actually matters to the individual, the family, or the community.

When working with clients with ADHD, this means stepping away from rigid protocols or overly academic goals and asking:

👉 What behaviors will make this person’s life easier?
👉 What skills will reduce frustration—for them and for those around them?
👉 What changes would the client or caregiver say are meaningful?

If you’re targeting "compliance" or reducing "fidgeting" without a clear rationale tied to the client's quality of life, you’re missing the “applied” mark.

ADHD Intervention: Centering Relevance

Let’s get specific. Here are some ways the “applied” dimension comes to life in ADHD support:

• Targeting executive functioning in the real world: Teaching planning or initiation strategies that help with things like turning in homework, not just in a simulated session.

• Improving family routines: Helping parents build smoother mornings or more peaceful bedtimes—because those are the moments that feel hardest and matter most.

• Supporting peer interactions: Not just reducing "interrupting," but teaching and reinforcing strategies that actually help the client connect with others and feel accepted.

Applied Is Not About Fixing the Person

An “applied” focus doesn’t mean we mold people with ADHD into a neurotypical ideal. It means identifying the areas they (or their families) find most challenging and working collaboratively to create change that supports them—on theirterms.

So the next time you’re building a behavior plan or writing goals, ask yourself:

⭐ Is this truly applied? Or am I just checking a box?

Because if it’s not socially significant, it’s not ABA.

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Want more?

Part 1 of Towards a 7-Dimensional Approach to ADHD Intervention dives deeper into how the dimension applied can—and should—inform ADHD intervention. 

Especially when you want your support to be meaningful and effective.

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