Association for Behavior Analysis International

In recent years, many behavior analysts have been making concerted efforts to expand the variety of areas in which we practice and conduct research. This has led to an increase of research in a variety of socially-significant areas, including the health and wellness field. Some of the research in this area has included a.) increasing the amount of physical activity in which an individual engages, b.) increasing healthy food choices over non-healthy food choices, and c.) decreasing unhealthy behaviors such as smoking or other addictive habits. Behavior analysts have been extremely effective and valuable in their efforts in these areas; however, unless students are directly associated with the professors conducting research in this area, they are unlikely to be aware of the significant impact behavior analysts have made to the health and wellness field. To assist in the ongoing encouragement of behavior analysts to pursue a variety of socially-significant areas, this panel will highlight and discuss the research opportunities and possible clinical-career opportunities for behavior analysts in the health and wellness field.

How can you use your behavior-analytic training to create a culture of caring and sustainable behavior at your university? By collaborating across disciplines, we can create an environment where people work together to solve the world's toughest problems. Two years ago, prominent figures from behavior analysis and an array of other fields came together at an ABAI-sponsored conference to work together to integrate behavioral and other approaches to creating a more sustainable and caring culture. As a field, behavior analysis can take a leading role in such efforts, and grass-roots programs within university training programs can serve as a springboard from which tomorrow's leaders can develop their skills and expertise. The panelists in this discussion will discuss their experiences developing programs to bring a behavior analytic approach to efforts to increase sustainability and promote active caring within their university communities. Each panelist will share barriers, solutions, and successes in starting and maintaining student-centered programs of this type at their universities.

Three presentations about behavioral economics will be given in this panel discussion. These presentations will include discussions about behavioral economic research and its implications to the applied domain of behavior analysis.

Currently, the demand for applied behavior analytic services far exceeds the number of individuals that can provide them. As a result, service providers have multiplied the number of individuals they hire in order to meet this need. Despite this increase in individuals working with clients, the number of qualified behavior analysts that can provide effective supervision for these individuals is in short supply. Specifically, in rural areas, the lack of access to qualified behavior analysts often results in poor supervision experiences and long delays in receiving appropriate training. Furthermore, the lack of access to adequate support results in further delay for individuals pursuing credentials. In order to address this problem, researchers and practitioners have begun to provide supervision and training via remote technologies. In rural areas, where behavior analysts are in short supply, remote technologies can be one solution to the problem. Providing supervision via remote technologies allows for expert supervision and training for individuals in areas that might not otherwise get access to effective supervision. In this series, three expert panelists will review and discuss empirically based approaches to supervision and training via remote technologies. In addition, they will discuss implications and suggestions for future research in this area.