Behavior and Social Issues - Call for Papers: Activism & Advocacy
As a part of Behaviorists for Social Responsibility’s Matrix Project (see www.bfsr.org (this opens in a new tab)), Behavior and Social Issues is soliciting examples of activism and advocacy work, discussed from a behavior analytic or behavioral systems framework. Such examples may include efforts by behavior analysts, or descriptions of efforts with which behavior analysts are familiar, and which they can discuss from a rigorous behavior science perspective. Submissions of 300-2000 words will be considered for publication in a special, on-going section Activism and Advocacy Notes section. (Longer submissions will be reviewed as regular articles for the journal.) Activism and Advocacy Notes will receive expedited review.
Examples of possible submissions might include an analysis of the activities of a refugee or sanctuary project, an advocacy campaign focused on a state legislature, a sustainability project within a local community, local organizing to meet the needs of homeless persons, or a national group working to protect public lands and waters. Submissions should conceptually or experimentally explore effective or ineffective efforts to shift patterns of interlocking contingencies, meta- and macrocontingencies, or behavioral systems dynamics involved in the focal advocacy effort. Attention to related literature (for example, literature on effective legislative lobbying) is desirable, but this attention need not be encyclopedic. The purpose of this project is to expand examples of behavioral systems advocacy from which students and other behavior analysts can benefit in their own activist work.
We especially encourage submissions by students of behavior analysis (as well as their instructors), and particularly encourage related individual or group assignments, that encourage activism within behavior analysis education programs.
Submission Information. All submissions should meet scientific standards, and be congruent with the BFSR mission of supporting social justice, human rights, and sustainability and environmental justice. Please submit manuscripts for this special section through the usual BSI on-line portal, being sure to select the Activism and Advocacy option for your submission.