| Abstract: As the number of programs offering coursework in behavior analysis continues to grow, a troubling consequence of this may be seen in the diminishing quality of supervision, as inexperienced BCBAs provide supervision to BCBA candidates. Successful behavior analysts possess the right combination clinical and intangible “soft skills” - commitment to ethics, ability to collaborate, think critically, make appropriate “in the moment” decisions, be effective in different cultural and socio-economic situations, and ability to effectively communicate with all key stakeholders, across settings. As the common supervision paradigm in the field of behavior analysis focuses on “teaching to the test,” the field may have created thousands of “by the book” BCBAs good at following rules but lacking in ability to make decisions that are contextually appropriate. In short, ability to think critically. This, combined with inability to influence parties in the service delivery process, is surely diminishing the effectiveness of the science of behavior analysis. This panel will explore basic, intermediate and advanced critical thinking skills that behavior analysts must possess to be effective service providers and supervisors. We will discuss the importance mastering to fluency critical skills, such as verbal mediation, to help increase problem solving and abstract reasoning skills. |