Abstract
This study sheds light on the experience of supportive actions taken by childcare workers via a questionnaire, which was devised using Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and presents insights regarding how ABA could effectively be applied within childcare practice. Questionnaires were distributed to 196 childcare centers; valid responses were obtained from 640 childcare workers. Following investigation via the questionnaire method, ABA-related support was reported to be performed to a relative degree. In particular, praise was commonly applied, thus suggesting that ABA, wherein positive reinforcement is a central focus, can intuitively be applied during childcare. However, responses that could be deemed inappropriate from an ABA perspective were also obtained. Additionally, numerous childcare workers perceived factors related to behavioral problems in children as individual, rather than environmental. This study has demonstrated the significance of childcare workers gaining knowledge regarding applied behavioral analysis. It is hoped that the introduction of theoretical underpinnings to childcare practice will help shape approaches which further improve childcare quality.
