Definition
Component Analysis is a systematic process used in behavior analysis to determine the effectiveness of different components within an intervention. By isolating and testing each independent variable (component) individually, the practitioner can assess which elements contribute to the desired behavior change and which may be unnecessary or ineffective. This allows for the refinement of treatment plans by focusing on the most impactful variables.
Example
A behavior analyst is implementing a behavior intervention plan to increase a student’s on-task behavior during class. The intervention includes three components: (1) verbal praise, (2) token reinforcement, and (3) visual prompts. To determine which of these components are most effective, the analyst conducts a component analysis. First, they implement the intervention with all three components and measure the student’s on-task behavior. Then, they systematically remove one component at a time (e.g., first the verbal praise, then the token reinforcement) while continuing to measure the behavior. After the analysis, the analyst finds that verbal praise alone is sufficient to maintain the desired on-task behavior, while the other components are unnecessary.