Break out of the Skinner Box! Evidence-based Practice, What It Is and What It Isn’t

Behavior analysts are required to implement procedures based in the science of behavior analysis and derived from the research. Current trends within our field seem to focus on implementing “evidence- based” procedures, usually taken from a list of procedures recognized by a secondary entity such as What Works Clearinghouse as opposed to using an analytical and problem solving approach. The purpose of this presentation is to highlight some common practices within behavior analytic intervention and discuss the evidence-base relating to these practices. The presentation concludes with discussion of evidence- based practice as a problem-solving model and an example of this application with a child diagnosed with autism.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to summarize the research for at least 3 commonly used behavior analytic interventions
2. Participants will be able to summarize the research for at least 2 less commonly used interventions
3. Participants will be able to explain considerations that should be made when determining if something is evidence-based
4. Participants will be able to explain the continuum of research from no research to well-established
5. Participants will be able to describe and provide examples of resources versus interventions
6. Participants will be able to describe the three prongs of the evidence-based practice model