Association for Behavior Analysis International

In Mexico, the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) carries out a survey every two years on the quality and impact of government work (ENCIG: “Encuesta Nacional de Calidad e Impacto Gubernamental”). This survey investigates corrupt practices and satisfaction with services provided by the government. Although INEGI publishes a report, data is available to encourage analysis from different disciplines. In this work, principles of behavioral economics were used to offer a plausible explanation for the survey responses. For example, ENCIG 2021 data (answered by 39,930 residents across the country) showed that people reported different frequencies of corrupt acts depending on who would be involved in the report. When the corruption report included their participation, they reported less frequency. Results also suggested that belief in corruption in government processes is learned by reference (“hearing from someone else”) and not by direct experience. This is consistent with the assumption that individuals tend to find justifications for their dishonest actions. The analyzes performed not only provide empirical evidence for behavioral approaches to corruption, but can also help behavioral researchers design more ecological tasks to assess corruption. For example, interviewees' reports of trust in different social institutions would determine options used in a task.

nfluencing purchasing patterns of individuals can exert bottom-up economic pressure on corporations and investors to develop eco-friendly alternatives to existing products. The current study extends previous work in Young & McCoy (2016), Matthews et al (in press), and Hutchenson et al (2023), by evaluating and analyzing consumer choices of chocolate bars in attempts to increase sustainable consumption using Relational Density Theory (RDT). Before the study, participants were randomly split into four groups for stimuli training (Positive, Negative, Mixed, and Control). In the task they will be presented with pairwise combinations of images of chocolate bars with various advertising features. They will then be asked to make hypothetical purchasing selections. Following the task, each group will receive relational training using stimuli with differing functions, such as approach or avoid functions. Participants will then retake the same computerized task. Participants will also complete pre and post-test of assessments such as the climate anxiety questionnaire. Results have implications for applications of how climate anxiety can predict pro-environmental behavior. Discussion will highlight potential limitations, future research, and highlight the importance of pro-environmental behavior.

Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions (NDBI) consists of behavioral and developmental interventions that are implemented in a natural setting to teach new skills and decrease challenging behaviors (e.g. aggression, flopping, screaming). This term was developed by Dr. Laura Schreibman in 2015 as a way to categorize interventions that share the same principles and methods. Previous research has proven Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions to be an effective and successful model of intervention for increasing motivation, skill acquisition, and appropriate behaviors. Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions. In this systematic review we summarized the research on one Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions - incidental teaching. The purpose of this review was to (a) evaluate the extent to which incidental teaching has been evaluated in the literature, (b) examine the characteristics of participants included in incidental teaching studies, and (c) evaluate the extent to which generalization has been studied in the incidental teaching research. In this presentation we'll discuss major findings and implications for research and practice.

The research field Implementation science has traditionally focused on the implementation of evidence-based practices, but the field has increasingly recognized the importance of addressing de-implementation (i.e., the process of reducing low-value care). Most studies on de-implementation strategies have used a combination of strategies without addressing factors that sustain the use of LVC and there is a lack of information about which strategies are most effective and what mechanisms of change might underlie these strategies. Applied behavior analysis is an approach that could be a potential method to gain insights into the mechanisms of de-implementation strategies to reduce LVC. Three research questions are addressed in this study: (1) What contingencies (three-term contingencies or rule governing behavior) related to the use of LVC can be found in a local context and what strategies can be developed based on an analysis of these contingencies? (2) Do these strategies change targeted behaviors? (3) How do the participants describe the strategies’ contingencies and the feasibility of the applied behavior analysis approach? Method In this study, we used an applied behaviors analysis to analyze contingencies that maintain behaviors related to a chosen LVC, the unnecessary use of X-rays for knee arthrosis within a primary care center. Based on this analysis, strategies were developed and evaluated using a single-case design and a qualitative analysis of interview data. Results Two strategies were developed: a lecture and feedback meetings. The results from the single-case data were inconclusive but some of the findings may indicate a behavior change in the expected direction. Such a conclusion is supported by interview data showing that participants perceived an effect in response to both strategies. Conclusion The findings illustrate how applied behavior analysis can be used to analyze contingencies related to the use of LVC and to design strategies for de-implementation. It also shows an effect of the targeted behaviors even though the quantitative results are inconclusive. The strategies used in this study could be further improved to target the contingencies better by structuring the feedback meetings better and including more precise feedback.

Human trafficking (HT) programs often lack well-defined goals, fail to record data directly from survivors and do not assess enhancements to survivors’ quality of life (Krieger et al., 2022). To address the lack of research surrounding effective program evaluations, this project aimed to evaluate an HT housing program in southern Florida guided by recommendations from Macy et al. (2022). A retrospective analysis of 63 case files was conducted to evaluate the level to which wrap-around service provision resulted in successful completion of the program. Successful completion of the program required that survivors demonstrated effective finance management and were able to acquire and maintain housing and employment. Following preliminary data analysis for six case files that met these markers for success, data show that survivors obtained employment and housing within an average of 2 months of starting the program, received six service referrals and completed the program within an average of 27 months. This study will add to the limited literature on trauma-informed approaches for providing continuity of care services to this population.