Why Be a Behavior Analyst?
William L. Heward, Ed.D., BCBA
"Why be a behavior analyst today and not something else?" Today's behavior analyst has access to conceptual tools, behavior change strategies, and measurement and evaluation tactics more powerful and sophisticated than ever before. Today’s behavior analyst can bring the technology of behavior change to bear upon a wider range of problems and opportunities than ever before. Several examples of how behavior analysis is helping to improve the human experience will be presented. By any measure, however, the potential of behavior analysis to help make the world a better place far exceeds its accomplishments to date. Five reasons will be offered why a person should become a behavior analyst and several actions recommended that behavior analysts, whether novices or experienced, can take to help narrow the gap between the tremendous potential of behavior analysis to contribute to the well-being of society and its limited impact to date.
William L. Heward, Ed.D., BCBA, is Professor Emeritus of Education at The Ohio State University (OSU) where he taught for 30 years. He has been a Senior Fulbright Scholar in Portugal and a Visiting Professor of Psychology at Keio University in Tokyo. Bill’s publications include more than 100 journal articles and book chapters and nine books, including the widely used texts, Applied Behavior Analysis, 2nd Edition (co-authored with his colleagues Drs. John O. Cooper and Timothy E. Heron) and Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education, which is in its ninth edition and has been translated into several foreign languages. In 2006 the American Psychological Association's Division 25 recognized Bill’s contributions to education by awarding him the Fred S. Keller Behavioral Education Award. A Fellow of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, he is currently serving as that organization’s President. Bill’s research interests include “low-tech” methods for increasing the effectiveness of group instruction and adaptations of curriculum and instruction that promote the generalization and maintenance of newly learned knowledge and skills.
The following publications authored by Dr. William Heward will be available at the on-site bookstore located in the registration area. Dr. Heward will also be available for a book signing on April 17 from 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm in the conference registration area.
Applied Behavior Analysis, 2/E
Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education, 9/E
Focus on Behavior Analysis in Education: Achievements, Challenges, & Opportunities
Behavior Analysis in Education: Focus on Measurably Superior Instruction