Behavior analysis has a language problem. The science has developed a precise technical vocabulary that allows practitioners to communicate complex concepts efficiently with one another, but this same vocabulary creates a barrier when behavior analysts attempt to communicate with the people who matter most: clients, caregivers, educators, allied professionals, and the general public.
Provider: BehaviorLive — via Motivity
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Join Free →Communication is one of the most foundational skills organisms have. Scientists and practitioners of behavior analysis have mastered communicating with each other, but when it comes to talking with non-behavior analysts, including our clients and their caregivers, we don't speak the same language. We use lingo no one has ever heard of before, which is not a great way to market a science who is attempting to expand or communicate appropriately to those who rely on our services. Researchers have been suggesting for decades that a second set of everyday terms needs to be created in order to replace technical jargon and to improve the spread of accurate behavior analysis information (Bailey, 1991; Lindsley, 1991; Marshall, 2023; Neuman, 2018, Ryndak Samuel, 2024). This presentation will teach behavior professionals: the importance behind speaking in plain language about behavior analysis with lay audiences, ethical problems which could arise when speak and don't speak in plain language about the ABA, with whom to use jargon and plain language, and how to translate our behavior analytic jargon into plain language using suggestions from the book: Talk Behavior to Me: The Routledge Dictionary of the Top 150 Behavior Analytic Terms and Translations with interactive exercises. Participants will identify Ethics Code 2.08, and learn the importance behind speaking basically about behavior analysis to lay audiences. o Participants will be able to identify problems which could arise when speaking and not speaking plainly about ABA, and with whom to use jargon and plain language. o Participants will learn how to translate behavior analytic jargon into plain language lay audiences.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1 | Ethics |
| COA | 1 | — |
I am a BCBA, entrepreneur, and author who specializes in dissemination and behavioral sports psychology. I aim to grow the field of behavior analysis into many specialties as possible by teaching other behavior professionals how to speak about behavior analysis in their audience's language.
Dig into the research behind this topic — plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
279 research articles with practitioner takeaways
256 research articles with practitioner takeaways
252 research articles with practitioner takeaways
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All behavior-analytic intervention is individualized. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. Treatment decisions should be informed by the best available published research, individualized assessment, and obtained with the informed consent of the client or their legal guardian. Behavior analysts are responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their competence and adhering to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.