Association for Behavior Analysis International

The exponential growth of the field over the last several years has warranted some concerns regarding quality as it pertains to graduate training programs, staff training, and service delivery. In his presidential address at the sixth annual conference of the Association for Behavior Analysis, Michael (1980) described good news and bad news regarding the growth of behavior analysis (now titled “Flight from Behavior Analysis”). In a similar fashion, this panel will address some of the good news and bad news as it relates to the field in the present day. As a result of the growth and demand for services, behavior analysts are now confronted with contingencies that were never encountered during the field’s formative years. Although the growth is promising and much good has resulted, these contingencies have also led to the development of some major concerns. In this panel, six main concerns and potential solutions will be discussed. These concerns include graduate training programs, staff training, ABA as a business and private equity, large caseloads, burnout, and turnover.

Professors, assistant professors, or adjunct faculty in higher education institutions. Any individuals that work in a service delivery or applied setting. These individuals may include clinical directors, assistant clinical directors, individuals that provide supervision to behavior analysts, clients, and/or direct care staff, staff trainers, or direct care staff.