Newsletter
Volume 31 | 2008 | Number 2
Annual Convention Program Committee Report
By Dr. Ramona Houmanfar
We experienced another successful convention at ABAI 2008. As always our accomplishment was a product of the contribution and support provided by the ABAI administrative staff, ABAI Executive Council and the ABAI Program Committee.
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Figure 1. Number of Submissions by Year. |
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Table 1. Total Number of Submissions by Category (1999-2008). |
Program Growth
As shown in Figure 1 and Table 1, the total number of submissions was 1,651, a 4.8% increase from 2007. Major growth of the program this year was in symposiums and poster submissions. Posters continued to account for the majority of submissions (55%), followed by individual papers (20%), panel discussions (3%), invited presentations (2%), symposia (19%), and tutorials (1%). In addition, Autism (AUT: 26%), Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB: 14%), Education (EDC: 14%), and Developmental Disabilities (DDA: 12%) continued to be the largest areas and together accounted for 45% ofall submissions. Behavioral Pharmacology, Community Interventions; Social and Ethical Issues (CSE), DDA, EDC, Teaching Behavior Analysis (TBA), and Theoretical, Philosophical, and Conceptual Issues (TPC) experienced a decrease in the number of submissions from 2007.
The B. F. Skinner Lecture series included nine non-ABAI invited presenters in its second year. Overall, we have experienced a gradual increase in the number of presentations which demonstrated a healthy pattern of growth over time.
Area Coordinators
The updated list of co-coordinators for program areas will be included in the Call for Papers for ABAI 2009. The successful recruitment of the new co-coordinators for a majority of areas would not be possible without the help and support of their senior co-coordinators. We are grateful to these colleagues for their contribution to the vitality of the ABAI program.
The following Senior Co-Coordinators’ terms ended at the conclusion of the 2008 convention:
- Behavioral Pharmacology: John Roll (2005-2008)
- Community Interventions, Social and Ethical Issues: Saul Axelrod (2007-2008)
- Experimental Analysis of Behavior: Mark Reilly (2006-2008)
- Organizational Behavior Management: Timothy Ludwig (2005-2008)
- Teaching Behavior Analysis: Pamela Osnes (2005-2008)
- Verbal Behavior: William Potter (2005-2008)
Program Quality
The Program Committee rejectd 28 submissions based on the revised submission criterion which was adopted several years ago. The following is a list of rejected submissions by area and type:
- Autism: 8 papers, 3 posters, 1 symposium, and 7 workshops
- Clinical; Family; Behavioral Medicine (CBM): 1 paper and 2 workshops
- Developmental Disabilities: 2 posters
- Organizational Behavior Management (OBM): 4 posters
Road Map Session
Autism Newcomer’s Event: A Guide to the Autism Track at ABAI 2008 was chaired by Jeffery Tiger (Program Coordinator of the Autism area) this year. We thank Dr. Tiger for his contribution to the success of this event, which was adopted a couple of years ago.
Last, but not least, I would like to thank my co-chair, Bill Palya, for his collaboration, and all of the Program Coordinator and other members of the Program Committee for their outstanding efforts this year. In addition, on behalf of the ABAI Program Committee, I would like to thank Maria Malott and her exemplary staff members for their support and guidance.