Training Graduate Students to Effectively Disseminate Behavior Analysis and to Counter Misrepresentations

Abstract

Training graduate students to promote behavior analysis and counter misconceptions requires that graduate programs in behavior analysis contain a healthy dose of experimental analysis of behavior so that students understand the experimental foundations of their discipline. Moreover, graduate students should be required to study the theoretical and philosophical foundations of the field because most of the misconceptions of behavior analysis are conceptual and philosophical in nature. Programs should also teach graduate ABA students to think critically about the concepts and principles of behavior analysis in order to prepare them to defend it against misunderstandings and to be more effective practitioners. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)