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The Misfit Behaviorists - Practical Strategies for Special Education and ABA Professionals

Motivating Operations Explained (EO vs. AO Made Simple)

Tuesday · 5 min · Episode 80 · 3.7 MB
0:00-5:09

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Have you ever had a student suddenly stop working for a favorite reward? Or wondered why a reinforcer works one day but not the next?

The answer may not be the reinforcer at all. It could be a motivating operation (MO).

In this episode of ABA Without the Jargon, we explain motivating operations using everyday examples like cookies after Thanksgiving dinner, Skittles at your desk, and why water tastes so much better after a hot day outside.

By the end of the episode, you'll understand why motivation changes, how it affects behavior, and an easy trick to remember the difference between establishing operations (EOs) and abolishing operations (AOs).

🎯 Key Takeaways
✔️ A motivating operation (MO) changes how valuable a reinforcer is at that moment.
✔️ An establishing operation (EO) makes a reinforcer more valuable.
✔️ An abolishing operation (AO) makes a reinforcer less valuable.
✔️ Reinforcers don't always stop working. Sometimes motivation changes instead.
✔️ Hunger, thirst, fatigue, attention, and other everyday experiences all influence motivation.
✔️ Looking at the student's current needs can help explain why behavior changes from day to day.
✔️ A simple "Empty vs. Overflowing" memory trick can help you remember EO vs. AO.

📚 Resources Mentioned
• ABA Without the Jargon podcast series: Start here! https://abainschool.com/ep77
• Get the FREE visuals for this episode: https://abainschool.com/v8og
• Join The Misfit Behaviorists Facebook Group → https://abainschool.com/misfits
• ABA in School Resources → https://abainschool.com/tptstore
• Browse all podcast episodes: https://abainschool.com/podcast

💬 Join Us Next Time
Next episode, Caitlin will go over the difference between an FBA and a BIP.

Join the Facebook group for collaboration and freebies: The Misfit Behaviorists

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