Newsletter
Volume 28 | 2005 | Number 2
Updates for ABA's Special Interest Groups
Behaviorists Interested in Gambling SIG
Behaviorists Interested in Gambling SIG
Jeffrey N. Weatherly, Ph.D.
The Behaviorists Interested in Gambling Special Interest Group (BIG SIG) arguably experienced its most active and successful year. Topping the list of accomplishments was the completion of a behavior-analytic textbook on gambling behavior, with many of the chapters written by BIG SIG members. The book, entitled Gambling: Behavior Theory, Research, and Application, was edited by P. Ghezzi, C. Lyons, M. Dixon, and G. Wilson and is published by Context Press. It contains chapters on topics ranging from basic research to potential treatments for individuals displaying problem gambling behavior. The book was intended to be informative to the general reader, insightful for the knowledgeable reader, and also a plausible option for instructors teaching courses or seminars on gambling behavior. If you did not get a chance to see the book at this year’s ABA conference in Chicago, then we encourage you to contact Context Press and secure yourself a copy today.
A second exciting development was the newly established collaboration between the BIG SIG and the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies. This collaboration has resulted in the creation of a gambling-related Web site sponsored by the Cambridge Center. It expands on the Cambridge Center’s renowned reputation of providing quality information on behavioral disorders and treatments. The Web site contains behavior-analytic information about research, policy, and other issues related to gambling. The address is http://www.behavior.org/gambling/ and you are invited to visit the site on a regular basis for updates and new information on gambling issues.
Perhaps the most exciting development of the year, however, was the continued expansion of the BIG SIG itself. This year’s ABA program contained not one or two, but three symposia that focused on gambling research and theory. This number represents the largest number of symposia to date that the BIG SIG has put together for this well-attended conference. We are also extremely pleased that this expansion involved increased student participation. One of the three symposia was purely devoted to research conducted by student members of ABA. We were especially encouraged by those of you who attended this symposium and supported the gambling researchers of tomorrow.
Despite a good year, the BIG SIG has even bigger plans (pardon the pun) for the future. For one, newly established behavioral treatment centers for gambling and changes in gambling regulations in some states hold the opportunity for broadening the impact of behavior analysis on both the treatment and basic research fronts. As the number of behavior-analytic researchers increases, we also see the opportunity for the BIG SIG to solidly establish itself on a national level. At this years ABA convention, we discussed strategies to encourage continued student involvement, to potentially establish a gambling-related workshop that can be offered at upcoming conferences, and to investigate whether there may be enough support for a gambling-based conference in the future. We encourage all individuals with an interest in gambling behavior, its study, and its treatment to contact the BIG SIG and become involved. We look forward to hearing from you!
Positive Behavior Support SIG
Matt Tincani, Ph.D., BCBA
We are pleased to introduce the Positive Behavior Support Special Interest Group (PBS SIG). The PBS SIG addresses the interests of members engaged in experimental and applied analyses of behavior who are proponents of positive behavior support. Established in January 2005, the goals of the SIG are promote and disseminate positive behavior support within ABA, and to ensure that PBS is aligned with the science of behavior.
The PBS SIG currently has 33 formal members, including Officers Matt Tincani, Cynthia Anderson, and Patricia Egan; however, the SIG maintains an electronic listserv with over 70 recipients, many of whom belong to both ABA and the Association for Positive Behavior Support (APBS). The SIG held its first meeting at the ABA Conference in May. Prior to the meeting, a survey was distributed to gather input about goals for the SIG. Discussion at the meeting focused on the following:
- Increasing the number and visibility of PBS presentations at the ABA convention.
- Disseminating accurate information about PBS to ABA’s membership.
- Promoting methodologically sound, data-based PBS research.
- Encouraging open dialogue among behavior analysts and proponents of PBS.
For 2005-2006, SIG activities will include development of bylaws, completion of the SIG Web site (www.pbsaba.org), organization of PBS presentations for the annual ABA convention, and ongoing collaboration with APBS. We welcome and encourage inquiries concerning positive behavior support and the SIG from all members of ABA. If you are interested in joining the SIG or signing up for the SIG listserv, contact Matt Tincani.
Speech Pathology SIG
Barbara E. Esch, CCC-SLP, BCBA
The newest SIG at ABA, the Speech Pathology and Applied Behavior Analysis (SPABA) Group is comprised of speech pathologists, behavior analysts, and students in these two fields who advocate a behavioral approach to address speech/language problems both clinically and through empirical research. Our mission is to promote communication and collaboration between speech pathologists and behavior analysts in the dissemination of behaviorally oriented speech and language research and in the application of evidence-based practices.
Our organizational meeting in Chicago (ABA 2005) was a great success with an initial membership of 18 SLPs and behavior analysts from the United States, Canada, and Australia - not bad for an 8 a.m. meeting on Sunday morning! It was clear that attendees welcomed the formation of this unique SIG, providing a long-awaited opportunity to expand the potentially fruitful interaction between these two related professions. As speech pathologists, we salute ABA for providing us this important venue for communication. As behavior analysts, we welcome this group of dedicated, knowledgeable professionals who share our interest in applying behavioral analyses to speech and language problems.
With over 100,000 practicing speech pathologists in the US alone, there are nearly unlimited opportunities for collaborative research that could ultimately benefit consumers of our collective services. Such an alliance could potentially inform the delivery of services related to a number of important issues including speech/ language acquisition and assessment (e.g., stimulus-stimulus pairing, parity, equivalence, RFT, relationships among verbal operants, joint control), program outcomes, swallowing and feeding disorders, voice disorders (e.g., gender identity, trauma, chronic stress), issues related to hearing impairment (e.g., differences/similarities in acquisition of functional communication repertoires such as sign language), accent and dialect modification, speech/language rehabilitation related to neurological problems (e.g., stroke, Parkinson’s disease, traumatic brain injury), rehabilitation of oral-motor problems related to oro-facial anomalies (e.g., cleft palate, head/neck cancer), issues related to aging in normal and disabled (e.g., Alzheimer’s) populations, public speaking (e.g., theater, business), fluency (e.g., stuttering), speech habilitation following cochlear implant surgery, acceptance and functional use of augmentative communication aids (e.g., voice output communication devices, hearing aids, laryngeal prostheses), conservation (e.g., noise reduction), college teaching, and OBM applications (e.g., practicum supervision, systems analysis in speech/language departments in clinics, hospitals, and schools).
Our top priorities for current action are to announce formation of the SIG in speech pathology media (e.g., national magazines, newspapers, state/regional organization publications), increase student membership, and organize regional SLP-ABA groups. In addition, much of our effort this year will be directed toward publishing articles of interest on our Web site and in mainstream professional outlets accessed by speech pathologists, behavior analysts, or both.
We invite interested individuals to learn more about the SPABA Group SIG at www.behavioralspeech.com or contact the SIG Chair:
Barb Esch: barbesch@gate.net.
To join our discussion group, e-mail mareilekoenig@comcast.net.