Contemporary Developments in Behavior Analysis (Virtual Conference)

Denice Rios Mojica- Culturally Responsive Mentorship in Behavior Analysis: Empowering the Global Majority- 1 BACB CEU DEI, 1 QABA CEU, 1 IBAO CEU Cultural

Recent publications have called on behavior analysts to adopt cultural competence and cultural humility in their clinical practice. Although it is important to focus on cultural competence and cultural humility when providing therapeutic services to clients, it is just as important to apply the same philosophy when we train and mentor future behavior analysts. Culturally responsive mentorship refers to recognizing culturally shaped beliefs, perceptions, and judgments in a mentorship relationship and being cognizant of cultural differences and similarities between the mentor and mentees. Practicing culturally responsive mentorship when training and mentoring future behavior analysts aligns directly with being culturally competent and practicing cultural humility. The purpose of this 1-hour presentation is to share results of a survey on culturally responsive mentorship distributed to faculty teaching in behavior analytic programs. We will summarize results and share strategies and resources on how to best support future behavior analysts from historically marginalized groups.

After attending this presentation:

1. Attendees will identify the definition of culturally responsive mentorship
2. Attendees will identify barriers with typical mentorship practices
3. Attendees will identify strategies and practices for culturally responsive mentorship practices.

Denice Rios, Ph.D., BCBA-D earned her bachelor's and master's degree from California State University, Northridge and her doctoral degree in Behavior Analysis from Western Michigan University. Her research interests include examining effective staff training strategies (e.g., feedback), assessment and treatment of problem behavior, use of behavior analytic strategies via telehealth, assessment and treatment of elopement occasioned by transitions, and addressing microaggressions in the workplace. Dr. Rios is also passionate about issues related to equity and inclusion within the field of behavior analysis. Dr. Rios has published research in a number of peer-reviewed journals including: Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, and the Journal of Behavioral Education. She has presented her research in regional, national, and international conferences.

Bethany Raiff- The Application of Behavior Analysis to Substance Use Disorders- 1 BACB CEU Learning, 1 QABA CEU, 1 IBAO CEU General

Applied behavior analysis has been successful in being disseminated in the domains of autism and developmental disabilities. Although the science and technology of behavior analysis is relevant and is being used effectively in other domains such as health and addiction, these areas receive less attention in the field and do not have clear career pathways. For the purposes of this talk I will review current research applying behavior analysis to the domain of substance use disorders. Finally, I will discuss potential barriers to the dissemination of applied behavior analysis within this domain, along with some potential next steps.

After attending this presentation:

1. Attendees will be able to identify how applied behavior analysis has been used in the area of substance use disorder.
2. Attendees will be able to identify at least two steps that would need to occur for the successful dissemination of applied behavior analysis to substance use disorders.

Dr. Raiff received her PhD from the University of Florida, after which she worked as a principal investigator for four years at the National Development and Research Institutes, Inc. in New York City. She moved to Rowan University in 2012, where she is currently a Full Professor in the Department of Psychology, a Dean's Fellow for Research and Graduate Affairs in the College of Science and Mathematics, and Director of the Health and Behavioral Integrated Treatments (HABIT) Research Unit. Dr. Raiff's primary research interests include developing and evaluating the integration of technological innovations with behavioral economic interventions addressing an array of topics, including smoking, opioid use disorder, physical activity, and diabetes management. Dr. Raiff has been the recipient of numerous NIH grants to develop and evaluate smartphone and technology-delivered contingency management interventions. She is the past President of Division 25 of the American Psychological Association and former Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.

Alison Betz- Leading with Impact: Critical Leadership Skills and Self-Assessment in Clinical Settings-1 BACB CEU Supervision, 1 QABA CEU, 1 IBAO CEU Supervision

The purpose of this talk is to review critical skills that those in a leadership position within a clinical setting must possess. Such skills include time management, delegation, feedback loops, developing systems and processes, and creating a safe work environment. Furthermore, this presentation will go in depth on how we can assess our leadership skill set and introduce a continuous improvement model that can be used to enhance any leadership skill, including those skills required by supervisors.

After attending this presentation:

1. Attendees will be able to select the steps within a continuous improvement model that can be used to implement a self-improvement plan
2. Attendees will be able to identify/select 6 critical leadership behaviors that should be continually assessed and targeted for improvement when needed.

Dr. Alison Betz, VP of Business Development, holds a PhD from Utah State University and having completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Munroe-Meyer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center, she brings a wealth of academic rigor and practical expertise to her work. With a background at Florida Institute of Technology, teaching from verbal behavior to organizational behavior management (OBM), her commitment to advancing the field is evident in her primary research and clinical interests, such as behavior-based safety, supervision and leadership, and evidence-based treatment for individuals with autism as well as severe behavior. Her contributions extend to numerous publications in behavioral journals and co-authored book chapters. Recognized for her expertise, she has served on the editorial boards of prominent publications such as the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Education and Treatment of Children, and Behavior Development Bulletin. Through her work at ABA Technologies she continues to drive innovation and excellence in behavior analysis, providing cutting-edge solutions to individuals and organizations seeking to effect positive behavioral change.

Erica N. Feuerbacher- How to Ethically Engage in Applied Animal Research & Practice: Understanding and Expanding our Scope of Competence- 1 BACB CEU Ethics, 1 IBAO CEU Ethics, NO QABA Credit

The field of applied animal behavior (AAB) continues to grow in popularity. With new interest from students, and the utility of AAB work serving as an alternative to traditional lab animal classes, more human ABA practitioners and basic researchers are dipping their toes in the AAB pool. While more research in AAB is needed and encouraged, ensuring that researchers and practitioners are moving into AAB with the appropriate knowledge and skills to best serve the animals, their caregivers, and the field of behavior analysis is crucial. The inappropriate choice or application of behavioral techniques in animal populations can have dire consequences to the animal, including potentially euthanasia, and can damage the public image of behavior analysis. In this presentation, we will outline the knowledge and skills needed to work ethically and safely in the field of applied animal behavior, while highlighting the risks of conducting research or practice outside of our scope of competence. We will especially focus on issues of identifying a scope of competence with a new species, new setting, or new behaviors, and implementing humane, effective, and socially valid interventions. We will discuss where to find current best practices; refer back to the BACB code of ethics to determine our training approach; and identify resources for expanding one's scope of competence into AAB.

After attending this presentation:

1. Attendees will be able to identify some of the challenges of entering the field of applied animal behavior
2. Attendees will be able to identify ways to fill holes in your scope of competence, as it relates to applied animal behavior

Dr. Erica Feuerbacher is an Associate Professor in the School of Animal Sciences at Virginia Tech and director of the Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare Lab, where she focuses her research on dogs and horses. She also coordinates the online Masters program in Applied Animal Behavior & Welfare at Virginia Tech. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Florida and her Master's in Behavior Analysis at the University of North Texas. She is a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Her research focuses on understanding domestic animal behavior and learning from a behavior analytic perspective, using applied animal behavior to solve behavioral issues in dogs and horses, and identifying interventions that improve shelter dog welfare. She has published her research in a variety of scientific journals and has won awards for her research and teaching. She is passionate about humane, effective animal training, and working with owners, trainers, and shelter staff to improve our interactions with animals.

Tara A. Fahmie- Developments and Debates in the Assessment and Treatment of Unsafe Behavior- 1 BACB CEU Learning, 1 QABA CEU Trauma Informed Care, 1 IBAO CEU General

This talk will summarize recent developments and debates in the assessment and treatment of aggression, property destruction, self-injury, and other unsafe behavior. It will begin with a broad overview of the evolution of practices in the assessment and treatment of unsafe behavior and will move to contemporary considerations for efficient, effective, safe, and compassionate applications. Debate surrounding isolation and synthesis of reinforcers will be contextualized. Results of the presenter's recent survey study on trauma-informed approaches to unsafe behavior will be reviewed. The talk will end with a call to action for researchers and clinicians specializing in this area.

After attending this presentation:

1. Attendees will be able to identify three recent advancements in the assessment of unsafe behavior
2. Attendees will be able to compare the purpose of isolated and synthesized functional analyses
3. Attendees will be able to identify two general ways to apply trauma-informed care commitments to unsafe behavior.

Dr. Tara Fahmie is an Associate Professor and Associate Director of the Severe Behavior Program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe Meyer Institute. She previously held an appointment as associate professor at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). She earned her master's degree from the University of Kansas and her PhD from the University of Florida. Dr. Fahmie is a BCBA-D and has over 15 years of experience implementing behavior analysis with various populations in clinics, schools, and residential settings. Her main area of expertise is in the assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior; she has conducted research, authored chapters, and received grants for her global work in this area. Her initial interests in the functional analysis of problem behavior and acquisition of social skills in young children led to her emerging passion for research on the prevention of problem behavior.

Greg J. Madden- Gamification of Health Behavior, Demand-Curve Behavioral Economics, and Impulsivity- 1 BACB CEU Learning, 1 QABA CEU, 1 IBAO CEU General

The purpose of this 1 hour presentation is to teach the audience the basics of demand-curve behavioral economics, with an emphasis on the importance of price variables on consumption. Thereafter, I will apply that analysis to two areas of my own research: improving health-impacting behaviors of children in schools, and reducing impulsive choice in rats and, one day soon I hope, children in schools. In addition to behavioral economics, the audience will learn a few core principles of gamification, and a few techniques for producing large and lasting changes in impulsive choice.

After attending this presentation:

1. Attendees will be able to identify the critical components of successful gamified interventions.
2. Attendees will be able to identify the definition of an impulsive choice.
3. Attendees will be able to identify the most efficient method for reducing nonhuman impulsive choice.

Dr. Gregory J. Madden received his academic training from the University of North Texas, West Virginia University, and the University of Vermont. His research in behavior analysis has investigated methods for reducing impulsivity, reducing pollution-impacting behaviors, and using game-design principles to improve healthy decision-making. These research lines have been supported with over 7 million dollars in grants from the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the US Department of Agriculture. Dr. Madden has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, which have been cited by his scientific peers over 12,000 times. He has served as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior and the APA Handbook of Behavior Analysis. Currently, he is the co-EIC (with Dr. Florence DiGenarro Reed) on the three-volume 2nd Edition of the APA Handbook of Behavior Analysis. Madden is the lead author of a widely used textbook titled An Introduction to Behavior Analysis, which is in its second edition. When not at work, Dr. Madden enjoys spending time in the mountains and hiking new trails around the world with his wife and their friends.

Presenter Disclosures

• Disclosure Statements Drs. Betz, Fahmie, Feuerbacher, Madden, Raiff, and Rios Mijoca do not have any financial disclosures or conflicts to disclose.
• All speakers receive an honorarium for presenting at the 2025 Contemporary Developments in Behavior Analysis Conference.

The Asynchronous Session is a 2-hour session that includes four talks, three of which are presented by recent Simmons Doctoral Program Graduates and one by a Simmons Doctoral Student who will soon defend her dissertation. The purpose of the Asynchronous Session is to provide attendees the opportunity to learn about some of the recent research conducted by Simmons Doctoral Students. Continuing education or professional development credit is provided to those who view all of the presentations and answer a minimum of 80% of the post-test questions correctly.

After attending this two-hour presentation session, attendees will be able to:

1. Identify the purpose of each of the studies presented;
2. Identify the outcomes of each of the studies presented; and
3. Identify concerns and/or future directions of study mentioned by the presenter(s) for each study presented.

The following presentations are included in the Asynchronous Session:

Human Preference and Switching Under Imposed Response Requirements presented by Elliott Nerland, Ph.D., BCBA, LABA

Presenter Description: The purpose of this presentation is to provide participants with empirical research related to human participant's preference and performance under experimental conditions as described by generalized matching law. This translational research will provide participants with a basic understanding of the experimental conditions under which the matching law and generalized matching law have historically been researched with non-human subjects and human participants, the effect of an imposed response requirement upon switching between two concurrent schedules of reinforcement under experimental conditions of reinforcement and implications for further research within translational research as it applies to the generalized matching equation.

Translational research produces data that are essential to the growth of both the experimental analysis of behavior as well as the application of the scientific principles of behavior in applied settings. The matching law has presented a measure of choice and preference within the context of behavior-environment relations in experimental settings with non-human participants. It is imperative that research with human participants continues. Such translational research will provide further insight as to the effects of concurrent schedules of reinforcement with human participants. Additional understanding of the variables responsible for inconsistencies among studies will further the extrapolation of experimental findings into applied settings.

Presenter Bio: Elliott Nerland, Ph.D., BCBA, LABA received his doctorate in behavior analysis from Simmons University in May of 2023. Elliott completed his doctoral research in the area of translational research, specifically related to the Generalized Matching Law. Elliott has been studying and practicing in the field of special education since 2006 and Board Certified Behavior Analyst since 2009. Elliott is currently a Licensed Applied Behavior Analyst in the state of Massachusetts. During his career he has primarily worked in public school settings as a district wide or building based clinician supporting students, families and educators ranging in ages from 3-22 years old with a variety of identified disabilities. Elliott is currently supporting Boston Public Schools as a Program Director for Applied Behavior Analysis. Elliott's ongoing areas of interest within the field of behavior analysis and education include Behavioral Skills Training, the behavioral interpretation of self-control, group reinforcement contingencies and translational research.

A Comparison of Static Versus Dynamic Picture Representation When Teaching Autistic Children to Identify Verbs presented by Gina Parise Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, LABA

Presentation Description: The purpose of this presentation is to discuss research comparing static images (still pictures) and dynamic representations (videos) in verb acquisition for autistic children. The goal is to examine which format is more effective in supporting learning, engagement, and generalization of action words. The audience will learn the differences between static and dynamic picture representations in teaching verbs, research findings on which approach enhances comprehension and retention, and practical implications for ABA practitioners, educators, and caregivers working with autistic children. Understanding the most effective way to present visual information can enhance language intervention strategies, leading to improved communication skills in autistic individuals. This research provides evidence-based guidance for selecting optimal teaching materials in ABA therapy and special education settings.

Presenter Bio: Gina Parise is the Clinical Director and Board Certified Behavior Analyst at Child Builders ABA. She holds a doctoral degree in Behavior Analysis from Simmons University and has over fifteen years of experience working with autistic individuals in clinical and educational settings. Her research focuses on optimizing language acquisition strategies using visual supports. In her presentation, she will discuss findings from a study comparing static versus dynamic picture representation in teaching verbs to autistic children.

An Evaluation of De-escalation Strategies with the Use of Biofeedback presented by Dr. Dylan Palmer

Presentation Description: The purpose of this research was to examine the use de-escalation techniques with the availability of physiological data by employees in an analogue work environment on work related task with six employees at a congregate care facility. The participants were taught how to read the physiological data obtained through the EliteHRV™ device and how changes in those data may impact their performance at work. During the training, the participants were taught to perform two different de-escalation strategies. Following the acquisition of these skills, participants were exposed to a challenging task and a sequencing task. The dependent variables were the completion of the challenging task, the number of correct responses on the sequencing task, a self-report survey during each condition, and their physiological data. The participants demonstrated differential performance and differential physiological data on the sequencing task following one or both de-escalation techniques, and provided initial evidence to support that spending time to train staff on personal de-escalation techniques was beneficial in an analogue setting.

Presenter Bio: Dr. Dylan Palmer, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LABA, is a dedicated leader in the fields of behavior analysis and education, with over a decade of experience in training, consulting, and performance management. As the Operations Director at the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center, he oversees onboarding, compliance, and training for over 1,000 employees. An experienced instructor, Dr. Palmer has also served as an adjunct professor at Simmons University, specializing in behavioral assessment and pedagogy. His expertise in organizational behavior management and instructional design has been instrumental in improving staff training systems and retention initiatives.

Teaching Compassionate Behaviors to Behavior Analysts for Staff Supervision presented by Lauren Savioli

Presentation Description: The purpose of this presentation is to share current research in the area of compassionate services in ABA. The current literature related to compassionate ABA will be reviewed. Compassionate care places a strong emphasis on building relationships and working together to support and alleviate suffering of clients. Research has started to examine how to train these skills in developing BCBAs®. One method of this training includes Behavioral Skills Training (BST). In the present study, 11 compassionate behaviors were identified, as modeled from Rohrer and Weiss (2023). These 11 compassionate behaviors were broken down into three skill sets: basic skills, interest in the supervisee, joining with the supervisee. When included in a supervision session, these skill sets were identified to be aligned with compassionate supervision. These compassionate behaviors were trained to BCBAs® who were in their first 0-3 years of practice. BST was utilized to train these behaviors via telehealth to be utilized in supervision practices. All three participants improved their demonstration of compassionate behaviors in post-training probe sessions. Additionally, these compassionate skills generalized to naturally occurring supervision meetings for at least 1 participant.

Presenter Bio: Lauren has worked in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis since 2007. Prior to her career at Nashoba Learning Group, Lauren worked at the May Institute and Kennedy Hope Academy. At these organizations she received experience working with and providing clinical oversight to children and adolescents in day and residential programs. Lauren joined NLG in 2011 where she has held several clinical and administrative positions. She is currently the Director of Clinical Practice for the organization and oversees clinical services for their school and adult program. Lauren has been a part of several professional presentations and is currently obtaining her doctorate in Applied Behavior Analysis through Simmons University.

• Disclosure Statements: The presenters featured in the Asynchronous Session do not have any financial disclosures or conflicts to disclose.
• The research highlighted in the Asynchronous Session was conducted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Doctorate of Philosophy in Behavior Analysis Degree at Simmons University.