ABA International Fellows
Sydney W. Bijou
Dr. Sidney W. Bijou established the first systematic program of research in the experimental analyses of human behavior, in particular, of typically and atypically developing children. He pressed for the adoption of its research methodology. He astutely guided a group of gifted young colleagues as they conducted among the first studies in applied behavior analysis, including autism, and developed classroom procedures and programs for teaching children with mental retardation. He advanced the integration of descriptive and applied research, as well as the application of behavior analysis to early childhood education, behavioral assessment, clinical applications, higher education, language, and later again autism. He founded the first behavior-analytic theory of child development. And, he took an early role in the globalization of behavior analysis, notably in Mexico and Japan. To hear Dr. Bijou's students and colleagues speak of him, he is a scholar and a gentle man for all seasons.
Dr. Bijou has held numerous leadership positions. He founded the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology and was president of Division 7 for Developmental Psychology of the American Psychological Association (APA). He served on governance committees in APA Division 25 for Behavior Analysis and was the 1978 president of ABA International. Among his many honors are the G. Stanley Hall Award from APA Division 7, the Don Hake Basic/Applied Research Award for APA Division 25, the Edgar A. Doll Award from APA Division 33 for Behavioral Science and Practice in Developmental Disabilities, the Distinguished Science Award from the American Association for Retarded Citizens, the International Development of Behavior Analysis award from ABA, and the Distinguished Service to Behavior Analysis award from the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis. Among his international recognition was an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Veracruz, Mexico.