Association for Behavior Analysis International

Skinners vision for behavior analysis was that it would become a mainstream science pertinent to both the minor and major problems of everyday human life. Clearly his vision has not been realized. Behavioral analysis has produced extraordinary findings in its basic domain and made multiple major contributions in several applied domainsbut the best known of these contributions have been in the tails of the normal distribution of human problems (e.g., developmental disabilities). General applicability of behavior analysis to human problems is still seen as very limited by those outside the field. If behavior analysis is to become a mainstream science it will simply have to address more mainstream problems. Potential examples are virtually limitless. Behavioral methods can be or have been used to address such problems as the behavior problems of powerful despots who have yet to graduate from kindergarten, soiling and wetting--not just in children but also in the aged, other behavior problems in the elderly, sleep and sleeplessness, anxious behavior, depressed behavior, andno kidding--male fertility. This presentation will cover a range of problems that have either benefited from or could benefit from behavior analysis and that are extensive both in terms of the frequency of their occurrence and their relevance to mainstream human life.

This invited tutorial will present useful information regarding funding for behavioral research. Dr. Oliver Wirth, a Researcher at National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), will discuss the current atmosphere at NIOSH regarding funding behavioral safety research. He will provide strategies and tactics for increasing successfully funded grant applications. Dr. Kent Anger, a Senior Scientist and Associate Director from Oregon Health and Science University, will share his successful experiences with obtaining federal extramural funding. He will demystify the process of submitting a successfully funded grant from the identification of a fundable line of research to interpretation of the application review. This will be a unique experience to hear perspectives from both sides of the grant application process.

Distance learning is here to stay and growing fast. To "grow" our field and compete in today's educational world, "we happy few" need to embrace this opportunity to disseminate our knowledge into remote areas and provide courses for degrees and certification requirements. This tutorial will provide an overview of what it takes to set up and manage distance learning courses. Topics of the tutorial include: the Instruction, Delivery methods, Technology, Costs, and Ongoing course administration with the focus on student learning. Based on our own extensive experience at the University of North Texas as well as research on how others handle their online courses, the tutorial addresses these questions: Where do I start? What's involved? What's different about "distance" learning? Can I do it myself, or what kind of help do I need? What kinds of instruction work best? How much will it cost? Will students be successful learners? How will I know?

This SIG emphasizes environmental-unit behavior-unit interactions; recent progress in evolutionary developmental biology--evo-devoprovides potentially useful templates for refining the definition of such units, and broadening possibilities of the modes in which they interact. Among these concepts are heterochrony, variation by changes in temporal sequence, such as neoteny; the role of modularity in evolution; how modifications of developmental processes lead to the production of novel features; the role of developmental plasticity in evolution; how ecology impacts development and evolutionary change; and the developmental basis of homoplasy and homology. As a familiar example, a homology in biology is any similarity between characters that is due their shared ancestry; in functional analysis, great efforts are taken to identify the variables of which behavior is a function. Is it useful to treat those that are under the control of the same reinforcer as homologs, and those that merely share a similar topography as analogs? Is the ability of the homeobox to activate correlated sets of genes enlightening for the analysis of establishing stimuli? Do the various forms of paedomorphisis and peramorphosisthe juvenilezation/senescization of morphologyhave analogs in behavior? Does the efficiency of evolution, crafting endless forms most beautiful from a meager number of genes, suggest mechanisms for the blossoming of creative behavior in homo Sapiens? In this collaborative presentation, the evo-devo concepts will be explained and serve as stimuli; groups of the audience will be encouraged to respond with behavioral analogs of the biological processes, and evaluate their potential utility.

This tutorial will focus on the comments made in the preceding panel discussion on the topic of licensure of behavior analysts by Joseph Cautilli, Ph.D., BCBA. In his presentation, Dr. Cautilli presented a comparison analysis of the professionalism of Behavior Analysis and other professions, with regard to licensure and their histories. This tutorial will present some parallel histories of development with other professions including psychology, social work, speech, and the NBCC (certification for counselors). The issue of licensure for behavior analysts is indeed a controversial one with myriad guild, professional and legal ramifications and considerations. Given the now 50 year history of Behavior Analysis flagship journal, JEBA, and 40 years if JABA, as well as the creation of the BACB in 2000, now the standard for behavior analyst practitioners in the United States and other countries, has the time come for licensure? The reasons for licensure and what makes it different from certification will be presented. Ethical and legal ramifications (protecting the public), as well as third party payment, are among the main distinctions, and reasons for pursuing licensure.