Inside Behavior Analysis
Volume 1 | 2009 | Number 2 | On-line ISSN: 2151-4704
2008 Sidney W. and Janet R. Bijou Fellowship Awardee
By Sara Kupzyk
As behavior analysts, we have the opportunity to affect change at various levels, from individual children and families to school systems and governmental agencies. Receiving the Sidney and Janet Bijou Fellowship helped me to recognize the many possibilities and applications of our science and prompted me to examine how I can make some of them a reality. Additionally, the funds provided by the fellowship enhanced my ability to conduct research focusing on children, families, and schools as I was able to devote more time and resources to these endeavors. The fellowship has also been valuable as the funds have enabled me to present my work at a greater number of local and national conferences, which provide meaningful professional development opportunities.
As a doctoral student in the School Psychology Program at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, I value the opportunity to assist families, teachers, and schools. Schools provide an optimal setting for positively influencing the lives of thousands of children and families that may not otherwise receive support or assistance to overcome everyday problems. A broad area of interest for me is the development and implementation of large-scale systems based on behavior analytic principles, specifically Response to Intervention (RTI). RTI in Nebraska is a service delivery model that involves providing high quality, evidence-based instruction matched to student needs, monitoring progress, and making data-based decisions. RTI encourages schools to intervene early and deliver quality instruction and interventions using strong curriculum and instructional techniques. Through a Leadership and Training grant funded by the U.S. Department of Education, I have been afforded opportunities to work with schools throughout the state that are implementing RTI and with schools that are building RTI systems. As part of the grant, I have assisted in the development of materials and the delivery of training for districts and schools participating in training through the Nebraska RTI Consortium, which was developed to promote successful use of RTI. Although there is much left to do, this work shows that we can influence systems and encourage the use of quality practices based on behavior-analytic principles.
In addition to working with the Nebraska RTI Consortium, I am also involved with research on the development and refinement of academic and behavioral interventions that can be easily implemented in school settings. It is exciting to examine and apply principles of behavior to the creation of programs that improve acquisition, fluency, and generalization of skills.
Additionally, it has been meaningful and motivational to present my research at local and national conferences, as these meetings promote discussion and critical thinking. Discussing research with others facilitates refinement and improvement of the research and its applications, both of which can positively impact society.
Every day parents and teachers strive to do the best they can with what they have and I have had the opportunity to assist them in their quest to help their children and students succeed. As a student therapist in the Counseling and School Psychology Clinic at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, I have seen the generality of the principles of behavior as applied to various problems, including parenting, behavior management, academic deficits, and anxiety. It is a joy to apply the skills I have learned throughout my coursework to problems experienced by diverse populations. Through my work in the clinic, I have become increasingly interested in the development of programs that give parents of all ability levels the skills needed to enhance the development of their children's literacy skills. Behavior analysis has much to offer society in overcoming everyday problems such as language and reading deficits. In the coming years, it will be important to continue dissemination efforts and to stimulate strong cross-disciplinary collaborations in order to further promote the creation and adoption of quality programs.
Over the course of my studies I have found that the more I learn, the more questions I have. I am honored to be a recipient of the Sidney and Janet Bijou Fellowship and to be able to continue to question, discover, and share both with the scientific community and with those we serve. I look forward to the continuing development of my skills and expanding my knowledge of behavior, learning from the many talented behavior analysts among us.