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Presentations

MABA 2021

Detroit, MI

NEW for 2021!

Ethics Workshop

Matthew T. Brodhead

Michigan State University

A Behavioral Systems Approach to Ethics Training and Supervision

Professional and ethical behaviors are critical for high quality care and consumer protection. By using behavioral systems, behavior analysts may increase the probability of employees engaging in professional and ethical behaviors. This presentation will survey the basic components of behavioral systems analysis (BSA). Then, it will provide examples of how behavior analysts may use BSA to develop and implement their own behavioral systems to improve ethical behavior of employees and to ultimately increase the quality of care they provide. In the end, this workshop aims to provide a pragmatic, solutions-oriented, and socially valid approach to ethics that focuses on teaching employees “what to do” in certain situations, instead of using a punitive “how not to behave” approach.

2021

SUPERSIZED

Speaker List

Amanda Karsten

Western Michigan University

Welcome Address as MABA President

Bridget Taylor

Alpine Learning Center

Keynote Address

Training and Treating Wholeheartedly:

Identifying a Role for Compassion Practices in the Profession of Behavior Analysis

Within certain areas of healthcare, it has been documented that treating patients with compassion and empathy can have important benefits, such as increasing patient satisfaction, enhancing adherence to treatment, and improving clinical outcomes (Kirby et al., 2017). The field of behavior analysis has only recently begun to identify compassion practices which might have applications in our work. Taylor, LeBlanc and Nosik (2019) for example, proposed that clinical outcomes of clients may be enhanced by improving relationships with their caregivers. This presentation reviews survey data documenting parent perception of compassionate care by behavior analysts, as well as behavior analysts’ impressions of training in this area (Leblanc, Taylor, & Marchese, 2019). Behavioral responses that may comprise compassionate care will be presented along with considerations for how compassionate care of our clients and ourselves can enhance our work as behavior analysts, and potentially improve clinical outcomes.

Amy Odum

Utah State University

Keynote Address

Title Coming soon!

Abstract coming soon!

Claudia L. Dozier

University of Kansas

Recent Advances in Assessment, Intervention, and Prevention of Behavior Disorders

Behavior disorders exhibited by individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities pose challenges to instruction or place them and others at risk. Three general approaches are used to conduct functional behavioral assessments (FBAs) for the purpose of determining maintaining variables for problem behavior (Iwata et al., 2000). These approaches include anecdotal (indirect) methods, descriptive (naturalistic) analysis, and functional (experimental) analysis. Results of FBAs are then used to develop a function-based intervention to reduce the occurrence of problem behavior (Hagopian et al., 2012). Several general categories of function-based treatments have been shown to be effective including antecedent interventions, extinction, and differential reinforcement. Furthermore, recent research suggests that environments may be set up that are based on the common functions of problem behavior and empirically validated environmental interventions to prevent the occurrence of problem behavior (e.g., Hanley et al., 2007). In the current presentation, I will discuss recent research from my lab in assessment, intervention, and prevention of problem behavior. Specifically, I will discuss research on comparing isolated versus synthesized contingencies in functional analysis methodology, research evaluating interventions in the absence of extinction for the treatment of problem behavior, and preliminary data on a prevention package based on common functions of problem behavior.

Kathryn Kalafut

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Animal Welfare and Behavior Analysis

The term animal welfare can be tricky to define, but most would agree that an animal’s behavior is an important variable in determining their individual welfare. Collecting meaningful behavioral data in captive environments presents various challenges that often calls for unique solutions. Developing and implementing these unique solutions requires collaboration across individuals with diverse areas of expertise. This talk will explore the research on the relationship between behavior and animal welfare, the unique challenges in conducting behavioral research in captive animal environments, and the diverse expertise required to overcome these challenges. Various on-going research projects will be used to highlight these challenges and review potential solutions. The goals of these projects include, increasing water intake in domestic and exotic cats; measuring individual swimming behavior in 30 little blue penguins; and developing an apparatus for an Asian Elephant to indicate her preferences for environmental conditions.

Claudia Drossel

Eastern Michigan University

Introduction to Behavior Therapies and Dual Diagnoses

While behavior analysts commonly do not receive training in modern behavior therapies, such as behavioral activation, acceptance and commitment therapy, functional analytic psychotherapy, or dialectical behavior therapy, these therapies can be understood from a behavior analytic perspective. This primer will orient the audience to fundamentals of behavior therapies and has three broad aims: (1) to introduce current thinking about mental health; (2) to clarify the link between behavior therapies and behavior analytic philosophy and science; and (3) to promote the application of behavioral principles and processes to case conceptualizations and treatment techniques for clinical presentations, including dual diagnoses.

Sarah Lechago

University of Houston -

Clear Lake

A Short Story About Cultural Competence in Practice

As behavior analysts, we have a great deal of responsibility as autism treatment developers and providers to the people that we serve. Chief among our responsibilities is the ethical and compassionate treatment of the families that we serve, and a dedication to scientifically robust treatment interventions. One other important feature to practice that has recently settled in the forefront of our field’s consciousness is a dedication to cultural competence. In this presentation, I will present on my own experiences that have influenced my research on bilingualism in autism treatment, my own lessons learned, and lessons taught to my graduate students in introducing ABA to an underserved community at the border between Mexico and Texas, and my research on training clinical competence in graduate students in behavior analysis.

Matthew Locey

University of Nevada, Reno

Discounting: Behavior or Behavioral Process?

Behavior analysts have been talking about discounting for over 50 years. But have we all been talking about the same thing? Most behavior analysts talk about people discounting – e.g., ‘gamblers discount money more than non-gamblers’. This would suggest that discounting is a behavior – something we do. But other behavior analysts talk about delay, effort, probability, or social distance as the agents of discounting: e.g., ‘delay discounts money more for gamblers than non-gamblers’. This would suggest that discounting is a behavioral process rather than a behavior. Is this simply a matter of personal preference or is one account superior to the other? If we want to include human and non-human animal phenomena, the behavioral process account is likely more parsimonious. However, a series of studies suggest verbal behavior plays a critical role in typical discounting studies with humans. So, perhaps we have been applying the “discounting” term to two distinct phenomena: verbal behaviors and (non-verbal) behavioral processes. Although this ambiguity may seem trivial, it has likely led to a host of misinterpreted data. This includes casting doubt on all of our conclusions with respect to the discounting of non-monetary commodities with humans.