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| Professional Development Series: Looking Forward: Applications of Behavior Analysis in a Changing and Troubled World |
| Saturday, May 29, 2010 |
| 2:30 PM–3:20 PM |
| 201 (CC) |
| Domain: Service Delivery |
| CE Instructor: A. Catania, Ph.D.Ph.D. |
| Chair: Lisa A. Sennott (Special School District of St. Louis County) |
| JANET ELLIS (University of North Texas) |
| ANTHONY BIGLAN (Oregon Research Institute) |
| BRUCE A. THYER (Florida State University) |
| Abstract: An uncertain yet hopeful world looks for solutions to the major social problems of our times. As behavior analysts we have a choice: observe existing contingencies maintaining faulty cultural practices or use our knowledge of behavior and environmental determinants to establish new interlocking contingencies that will maintain beneficial practices. Many behavior analysts are already applying their knowledge to improve treatment selection and assessment of social work practice outcomes, help educators develop effective classroom management skills in public schools, develop and evaluate community-wide interventions to prevent tobacco, and other drug use, and reduce the prevalence of aggressive social behavior, as well as other youth problem behaviors. Perhaps others would contribute their time, energy, and knowledge to solving these problems if they were able to see how members of different disciplines can work cooperatively in the application of operant principles to effect cultural change. Taking time out from the front lines of cultural design, three experts on large-scale change offer their thoughts on and methodologies employed in changing cultural practices. Their experiences promise to inspire, as well as to demonstrate that the successful application of our science to larger social problems is possible and necessary to achieve large-scale social change. |
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