Evaluating Features of Behavioral Treatments in the Nonhuman Animal Laboratory
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Behavior Analyst Today
Volume
8
Publication Date
2007
First Page
136
Last Page
144
Abstract
Behavioral treatments for severe problem behavior are often derived from basic behavioral principles initially evaluated in the nonhuman operant laboratory. It is less common to see laboratory experiments conducted for the specific purpose of addressing nuances of behavioral treatments. Because of functional analysis/assessment methods that are now commonly used in applied behavior analysis, integrated basic and applied research is more feasible and bidirectional. This is true because a functional analysis identifies reinforcers for problem behavior and, thus, control of those reinforcers is possible in a way that is similar to controlling access to reinforcers in basic research. Because of our enthusiasm for the possibility of conducting basic research on common behavioral treatments, we initiated a rat laboratory for that purpose. In this paper, we describe some early work from the laboratory.
Recommended Citation
Borrero, J.C., Vollmer, T.R., Samaha, A.L., Sloman, K., & Francisco, M. (2007). Evaluating features of behavioral treatments in the nonhuman animal laboratory. The Behavior Analyst Today, 8, 136-144.