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 Examining Diversity Across Academic Behavior Analytic Spaces |
| Monday, May 26, 2025 |
| 8:00 AM–9:50 AM |
| Convention Center, Street Level, 154 AB |
| Area: CSS/PCH; Domain: Theory |
| Chair: Mariah Willis-Moore (Utah State University) |
| Discussant: Thomas G. Szabo (Vanderbilt University) |
| CE Instructor: David Legaspi, M.S. |
| Abstract: Diversity in practices within academic behavior analytic spaces promote a more representative and inclusive science. This symposium analyzes diversity across key behavior analytic spaces: the Society for the Quantitative Analysis of Behavior (SQAB), the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (JEAB), the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA), Perspectives on Behavior Science (PoBS), Behavior Analysis in Practice (BAP), and the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management (JOBM). The first presentation assesses the growing participation of Latina women as authors in JEAB, JABA, PoBS, and BAP. The second presentation highlights gender and geographic diversity among JOBM editors, stressing inclusivity. The third presentation explores gender and country representation among SQAB presenters, identifying improvements and ongoing challenges. The final presentation examines the underrepresentation of female non-human animals in JEAB publications, emphasizing the need for better zoographic reporting. Together, these talks address representation gaps that influence the generalizability and impact of behavior analytic research. The symposium provides practical recommendations for integrating diversity into conference presentations, journal authors, journal editorship, and participant selections. Dr. Thomas Szabo will conclude with a discussion on the broader impacts of diversity in behavior analysis. |
| Instruction Level: Intermediate |
| Keyword(s): Authorship, diversity, Editors, speaker selection |
| Target Audience: the necessary prerequisite skills and competencies the audience should have, would be to have an understanding of the terms diversity and cultural competence in behavior analytic practice. These topics will be discussed in brief during the talks, but coming in with these skills would be helpful. |
Learning Objectives: 1. The audience members will be able to pinpoint approaches to contribute to diversity efforts in practice, publishing, and participant selection.
2. Attendees will be able to indicate the broader impacts of diversity and inclusivity in behavior analysis.
3. Learners will be able to identify the trend in the participation of Latina researchers in JEAB, JABA, PBS, and BAP. |
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| Participation of Latina Women as Authors in Behavior Analytic Research |
| Anita Li (University of Massachusetts Lowell), Hugo Curiel (Western Michigan University), CRISTAL CARDOSO SAO MATEUS (Western Michigan University) |
| Abstract: We reviewed all publications in the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (JEAB), Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA), Perspectives on Behavior Science (PBS), and Behavior Analysis in Practice (BAP) to identify Latina researchers. We analyzed journal articles and classified authors based on institutional affiliation—for the purpose of identifying Latina researchers—and then we separately conducted a surname analysis for confirmation. The data show an increase in the number of researchers with Latin American affiliations who have contributed to JEAB, JABA, PBS (1997–2022), and BAP (2008–2022). The increases varied across journals, with JABA and BAP having the highest number of Latina researchers among the journals reviewed. These analyses are very important because they provide data reflecting the participation of Latinas in four leading journals. We discuss implications of these data, possible barriers Latina researchers face, and highlight the continued need to support Latina researchers in the field of Behavior Analysis. |
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| Gender and Geographic Affiliation of Editors of the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management (2000–2022) |
| Hugo Curiel (Western Michigan University), LINDSAY ESSIG CROGHAN (Western Michigan University), Anita Li (University of Massachusetts Lowell), Alan D. Poling (Western Michigan University) |
| Abstract: We determined the presumed gender – based on pronouns – and geographic affiliation of the editorial boards for the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management from 2000 through 2022. Over that period, one of five editors was a woman, and all editors had a United States affiliation. Thirty-two percent of the unique associate editors and 28% of the members of the editorial board were women. All of the associate editors and 94% of the members of the editorial board had a United States affiliation. There was no trend in the percentage of women as editors or associate editors during the review period, but the percentage of women on the board of editors gradually increased over time. Our discussion focuses on the potential benefits of
increasing the number of people of various genders and individuals with non-United States affiliations on the editorial staff, as well as the value of increasing its diversity in other ways. |
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| Diversity and the Society for the Quantitative Analysis of Behavior: Analysis of Presenter Gender and Affiliation |
| DAVID LEGASPI (The Culturo-Behavior Science Innovation Network; Utah State University), Mariah Willis-Moore (Utah State University), Kiernan Callister (Utah State University), Daniel Santos Da Silva (Utah State University), Lucy Scribner (Utah State University), Amy Odum (Utah State University) |
| Abstract: We examined the diversity of all speakers in invited talks at the annual Society for the Quantitative Analysis of Behavior (SQAB) conference across presenter gender from 2004 - 2024 and country of professional affiliation from 2006 to 2024. For each year, we coded the gender and institution represented of each talk to examine presenter diversity over time. The percentage of presenters who were women increased across the years coded. For example, 0% of presenters were women in 2004, but 27% of presenters were women in 2022. The percentage of women first author presentations increased from 0% in 2004 to 29% in 2022. The number of countries represented by speakers across talks decreased from seven countries in 2006 to four countries in 2022. The North American countries represented 79% of all talks between 2006 and 2022. Our findings show some aspects of presenter diversity have increased over time. We hope to inspire actions to continue strengthening our community’s diversification. |
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| Female Animal Inclusivity and Zoographic Reporting in the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior |
| KIERNAN CALLISTER (Utah State University), Mariah Willis-Moore (Utah State University), David Legaspi (The Culturo-Behavior Science Innovation Network; Utah State University), Lucy Scribner (Utah State University), Daniel Santos Da Silva (Utah State University), Josephine Hannah (Utah State University), Amy Odum (Utah State University) |
| Abstract: Zoographics, or the characteristics of non-human animal subjects, were examined in the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (JEAB) up to the last complete year (1958-2023). Because females are commonly not included in research in other disciplines, animal sex in particular was evaluated to understand if this exclusionary trend extends to JEAB. Systematic coding of all non-human empirical articles within JEAB uncovered inconsistent reporting of zoographics and the disproportionate use of male over female subjects. Additionally, equal inclusion of both males and females was rare and animal sex was also commonly unreported. Although inclusion has improved in recent years of the journal, greater efforts are needed. To increase the replicability, generalizability, and translatability that suffers when female research subjects are excluded, we provide suggestions and resources to guide future research. |
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