This is a presentation under the "Professional Development Series" at the ABA International 2009 Annual Conference that looks like it could be interesting because topics of applied behavior analysis are currently underrepresented in the public sphere except as relates to autism.
There seems to be a point made in the abstract that behavior analysts may not be effectively using their own skill set to convey the benefits of applied behavior analysis to laypersons who do not (yet) share their knowledge, and that allows that audience to develop appreciation for the value and applicability in their everyday life. Another issue may be the hazard in speaking to that public in professional terminology, which may not only be incomprehensible to a public audience, but off-putting as well, e.g., negative reinforcement, extinction, punishment, etc.. A third consideration is that the general public or those naive to behavior analysis are likely coming from a starting place of a life's experience immersed in mentalistic thinking and misconceptions about behavior and behaviorism--that may well represent where one has to start in persuading and shaping a behavior-analytic point of view as much as challenging those ideas inconsistent with that.
In sum, the topic of discussion appears to be ways of letting the public know that the technology is not intimidating, and how the information is shared with an audience makes a difference in sharing application to everyday life.
#176 Panel Discussion
5/24/2009
9:00 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.
North 129 B
TBA/EDC; Theory
Professional Development Series:
Dissemination - Spreading the Word without Sounding the Alarm!
Chair: W. Joseph Wyatt (Marshall University)
SUSAN G. FRIEDMAN (Utah State University)
BOBBY NEWMAN (Room to Grow)
PAUL CHANCE (Dissemination Special Interest Group)
W. JOSEPH WYATT (Marshall University)
Abstract:"While students are often provided training on how to conduct research or provide treatment to diverse populations and, in some programs, how to teach others, there is little to no education on how to disseminate behavior analysis to the public at large. Although the needs to conduct research and provide behavior analytic services are being fulfilled, the need to educate our society of these very things appears to be neglected. One cultural barrier to the acceptance of our science is the discomfort exhibited when behavior scientists utilize technical terminology and ideas that clash with the prevailing non-scientific explanations of behavior. This panel brings together a collection of experts who have consistently engaged in dissemination efforts towards those outside of the field. These discussants will provide ways in which students and recent graduates can engage in spreading behavior analysis while overcoming these barriers."
Books, Articles and Websites of the Presenters
Why Our Kids Are Out of Control: Focusing on good behavior decreases the instance of misbehavior. Jacob Azerrad, Paul Chance, Psychology Today Magazine, Sep/Oct 2001
Behavior Analysis Digest International at the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies
Other of Interest
Some other approachable texts authored by behavior analysts who are not on the panel are,
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Albert J. Kearney
25 days and counting...
