Association for Behavior Analysis International

Behavioral Systems Analysis (BSA) is a behavior analytic methodology that integrate behavioral contingencies into organizational systems. It sets itself apart from other approaches to organizational design and management because of the focus on critical interlocking behavioral contingencies that ultimately achieve organizational goals. Yet BSA is a complex undertaking for those who are unfamiliar with the approach. Pioneers in the field have developed models to help sort through this organizational complexity. In an attempt to disseminate BSA and make it more accessible to those not formally trained in it, a new tool and methodology was created. The Value Core Blueprint is a novel methodology and streamlined approach to organizational design and contingency management, taking the user through a step by step process focused on how to build reinforcers for both workers and customers. By asking a specific set questions and getting feedback from target customers, users map their meta-contingencies and create a comprehensive action plan to differentiate their organization, operationalize their vision and align behaviors of teams toward common goals. The tool and methodology was built for entrepreneurs. It was field tested with entrepreneurs in the field of behavior analysis and the results will be presented in this poster.

The practice of behavioral safety in industrial settings has been rooted in the science of behavior analysis since its inception in the 1970s and has grown into a globally- applied practice. Since 2005, the not-for-profit Cambridge Center for Behavior Studies (CCBS) has been accrediting programs that demonstrate the best behavior analytic practices related to injury reduction. This poster will review these world-class behavioral safety programs accredited by the CCBS within the petrochemical industry, food distribution, chemical production, mining, and civil construction. Foundational empirically-tested variables in behavioral safety include the pinpointing and measurement of behavior paired with behavioral feedback through a peer-to-peer observation process that allow for frequent and immediate consequences. Benchmarking accredited behavioral safety programs permits us to document practical evidence-based innovations that have allowed industrial workers to come in greater contact with multiple contingencies that select both targeted personal safety behaviors as well as safety program participation (process) behaviors. Time series graphic data will show reduction of injuries associated with the onset of and significant enhancements in behavioral safety programming at industrial sites. Injury reduction rates are compared to industry standards and process measures such as the number of behavioral observations

New technology created to aid Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapists with data collection is becoming more common, yet still not widely adopted. These technologies can largely reduce the workload of therapists, which could potentially reduce three common problems in the field: turnover, feelings of burnout, and insufficient supervision. The purpose of this study is to better understand ABA practitioners' attitudes about using and implementing newer technologies for data tracking and to explore the relationship between their current tracking methods and measures of burnout. 279 domestic and international ABA practitioners participated in an online survey that asked questions about education, occupation, data tracking methods, supervision, feelings about technology, and level of burnout. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-GS) measured job burnout related to exhaustion, cynicism, and professional efficacy. Results suggest that practitioners who are more satisfied with their tracking methods express less cynicism (p < .001), and those who used technology in their sessions express significantly higher professional efficacy (p = .007) and approached significantly lower cynicism (p = .055). Practitioners who viewed data tracking as distracting expressed significantly more exhaustion (p = .008) and cynicism (p = .016). Practical, training, and supervision implications for the field of ABA are discussed.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relative effects of two different types of feedback contents (objective vs. social comparison feedback) on fuel-efficiency while driving. Seven participants who commute with their own cars were recruited. As the dependent variable, fuel-efficiency was measured every weekday. An ABCB repeated measure design was adopted, in sequence of baseline (A), objective feedback (B), social comparison feedback (C), and objective feedback (B). In the objective feedback phase, the fuel-efficiency for each day was measured and the average fuel efficiency for two consecutive days was informed to all participants via text message. In the social comparison feedback phase, the average fuel-efficiency for two consecutive days for all participants was ranked and the individual rank score was provided to each participant via text message. The results indicated that both the objective and social comparison feedback was effective in increasing the fuel-efficiency. However, the relative effectiveness of the two different types of feedback was not clearly demonstrated.