Perspectives on Behavior Science - *CLOSED* Call for Papers: Behavior Science Contributions to Public Policy
Guest Editors:
Derek Reed, Ph.D., University of Kansas
Kaston Anderson-Carpenter, Ph.D., M.P.H., Michigan State University
Allison Kurti, Ph.D., Food & Drug Administration
Anthony Biglan, Ph.D., Oregon Research Institute
Submission Deadline: November 1, 2021
Behavior Science has a rich history of producing data relevant to public policy. In 1988, The Behavior Analyst published the report of the Association for Behavior Analysis Task Force on Public Policy (Fawcett et al., 1988) that detailed ways behavior analysts could leverage behavior science to enter the policy arena and evoke change (also see Task Force on Public Policy of the Association for Behavior Analysis, 1988). Despite our field’s long-standing efforts to “behavioralize” culture (Michael, 1980), policy issues of yesterday remain policy issues today with respect to drugs, economics, climate, energy, health, social welfare, education, and criminal justice, to name a few. Behavior scientists are uniquely suited and prepared to inform such policies, given that behavior is central to each issue.
Basic studies can reveal environmental influences over important behavior in ways that can be incorporated in policy-making (e.g., Horner & Sugai, 2015; Hursh & Roma, 2013; Newland & Bailey, 2016). Applied studies can showcase both efficacy and effectiveness in translating behavior science to guide scalable intervention, while evoking relevant responses by policymakers and stakeholders (e.g., Detrich & Keyworth, 2016; McConnell, 2020; Moore & Mattaini, 2001). As detailed by Baer et al. (1987), techniques and findings from applied research can be harnessed to help frame problems as behavioral targets with actionable solutions in ways to leverage decision-maker and media interests. Moreover, applied work can also help in leveraging crises into setting events that spur action.
The purpose of this special section is to provide exemplars of behavior science applications relevant to public policy, critically review areas with clear policy implications, describe societal needs that have been addressed by behaviorally informed policy, and introduce policy-relevant areas ripe for behavior science applications. We invite reviews of published work relevant to public policy, tutorials on engaging in behavioral analyses of policy-relevant responses, “how-to” papers on interacting with policy-makers/constituents, or conceptual papers detailing areas in need of behavior analytic work in the policy arena. Authors should draft manuscripts in a manner to be consumed by broad readerships in an effort to promote impact and reach beyond behavior analysis.
When submitting identify your manuscript as being part of the Special Section on Behavior Science Contributions to Public Policy.
References
Detrich, R., & Keyworth, R. (2016). Leveraging evidence-based practices: From policy to action. Learning Disabilities: A Contemporary Journal, 14(2), 121-142. Available at https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1118515.pdf
Fawcett, S. B., Bernstein, G. S., Czyzewski, M. J., Greene, B. F., Hannah, G. T., Iwata, B. A., ... & Seekins, T. (1988). Behavior analysis and public policy. The Behavior Analyst, 11(1), 11-25. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392450 (this opens in a new tab)
Horner, R. H., & Sugai, G. (2015). School-wide PBIS: An example of applied behavior analysis implemented at a scale of social importance. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 8(1), 80-85. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-015-0045-4 (this opens in a new tab)
Hursh, S. R. (1991). Behavioral economics of drug self‐administration and drug abuse policy. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 56(2), 377-393. https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.1991.56-377 (this opens in a new tab)
Hursh, S. R., & Roma, P. G. (2013). Behavioral economics and empirical public policy. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 99(1), 98-124. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.7 (this opens in a new tab)
Mattaini, M. A. (2019). Out of the lab: Shaping an ecological and constructional cultural systems science. Perspectives on Behavior Science, 42(4), 713-731. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614-019-00208-z (this opens in a new tab)
McConnell, S. (2020). How can experiments play a greater role in public policy? Three notions from behavioral psychology. Behavioural Public Policy. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1017/bpp.2020.18
Moore, S. K., & Mattaini, M. A. (2001). Consequence analysis: An on-line replication. Behavior and Social Issues, 11(1), 71-79. https://doi.org/10.5210/bsi.v11i1.102 (this opens in a new tab)
Newland, M. C., & Bailey, J. M. (2017). Behavior science and environmental health policy: Methylmercury as an exemplar. Policy Insights from the Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 4(1), 96-103. https://doi.org/10.1177/2372732216686084
Task Force on Public Policy Association for Behavior Analysis. (1988). Recommendations of the task force on public policy. The Behavior Analyst, 11(1), 27-32. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392451