Thursday, February 8, 2007 • 1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.

Toward a Taxonomy of ABA Procedures: 25 Years of Defining the Problem

Dr. Johnston received his doctorate from the University of Florida in 1970 and is a professor of psychology at Auburn University. He has conducted laboratory and field research with both human and non-human species on a variety of topics, ranging from rumination to canine olfaction, most recently serving as Director of Behavioral Research for the Institute for Biological Detection Systems. His present activities focus on longstanding interests in the area of developmental disabilities. He serves as director of the Auburn University Department of Psychology’s master’s program in applied behavior analysis in developmental disabilities, and has for some years been involved with the Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation in facilitating the statewide delivery of sound habilitative services, following similar involvement in Florida’s mental retardation system while on the faculty of the University of Florida from 1975-1985. He has served as editor of The Behavior Analyst and on the editorial boards of the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior and the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, among others. Dr. Johnston has also served as president of the Association for Behavior Analysis, as well as for the Florida, Alabama, and Southeastern affiliated chapters of the Association, and has been president of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board since its founding. In addition to authoring numerous research, conceptual, and methodological publications, he is co-author (with H.S. Pennypacker) of the premiere contemporary text on behavior analysis research methods, Strategies and Tactics of Behavioral Research, now in a two-volume second edition. Other interests include teaching applied behavior analysis, and conceptual issues in the study of behavior.


2007 Glenda Vittimberga Memorial Lecturer    (top)
Dorothea Lerman, PhD, BCBA

Friday, February 9, 2007 • 4:00 p.m. - 4:50 p.m.

Further Evaluation of Brief, Intensive Training for Teachers of Children with Autism

CalABA Board member and CSU Los Angeles faculty member Glenda Vittimberga left us tragically and far too early in 2004. In collaboration with her parents, Dr. and Mrs. Bruno Vittimberga, the CalABA Board of Directors has established an annual lecture in Glenda’s memory. Each year a person is selected who either worked closely with Glenda, or does research or applied work in an area that was of interest to Glenda. Areas include the use of behavior analysis in school psychology and speech pathology; a multidisciplinary approach to intervention for children with communication and behavior disorders; parent training and education; family-focused treatment; and communication-based interventions for individuals with severe behavior disorders. This year’s lecturer, Dorothea Lerman, shares Glenda’s interests as well as her commitment to teaching and advancing behavior analysis. Dr. Lerman is currently an Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Houston - Clear Lake, where she is the director of a master’s program in applied behavior analysis. Before joining the faculty at UHCL, she was an Associate Professor in the School Psychology Program at Louisiana State University. She received her doctoral degree in Psychology from the University of Florida in 1995, specializing in the experimental analysis of behavior. Her areas of expertise include autism, developmental disabilities, functional analysis, teacher and parent training, and treatment of severe behavior disorders (e.g., aggression, self-injury). Dr. Lerman has published more than 45 research articles in professional journals and served as Associate Editor for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and Research in Developmental Disabilities. She was the recipient of the 2001 B.F. Skinner Award for New Researchers, awarded by Division 25 of the American Psychological Association. She also received the 2001 New Researcher Award from Division 5 of the American Association on Mental Retardation.

Poster Session and Cash Bar Social    (top)
Thursday, February 8 • 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Catch up on the latest in research and practice in behavior analysis while also catching up with old friends and making new ones, all at the same time!

Job Fair and Graduate Program Expo
Thursday, February 8 • 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Learn about master’s and doctoral programs in the region that offer an emphasis or track in behavior analysis. Faculty and students from a number of colleges and universities will be available to talk with interested parties. Employers seeking professionals with training and experience in behavior analysis will also be available to meet with prospective job applicants. This is a great opportunity for job seekers to learn about employment opportunities, and for employers to access the talented pool of Western Region behavior analysts.

2007 Luncheon, Awards Ceremony, and B. F. Skinner Foundation Auction    (top)
Friday, February 9 • 11:30 a.m. – 1:20 p.m.

Don’t miss out on this outstanding afternoon of food, fellowship and the opportunity to recognize contributors to the field. Celebrate the 2007 CalABA award recipients of the Outstanding Contributor Award and the Julie Vargas Student Research Award. Bid on rare B. F. Skinner memorabilia in an auction by the B. F. Skinner Foundation to benefit the B. F. Skinner Foundation and CalABA. One-third of the total auction proceeds will go to CalABA, with two-thirds going to the Foundation. Four items will be available this year (click on links for photos):

• Autographed hardcover Notebooks. In dust jacket. First edition and autographed by B. F. Skinner
• Manuscript page. Skinner's lecture notes for the talk he gave in 1981 in Milwaukee called "We Happy Few." This talk was never published. The page is complete with coffee stain.
• Silver cigarette case used by Skinner when he smoked. Sterling silver with BFS initials on it. It must have been used in the late 1920's and early 1930's. The style is art deco. It shows some wear from use.
• Envelopes. Open to bidding by students only. Envelopes that Skinner used for correspondence from William James Hall. Five envelopes, regular letter size.

Pre-register for the luncheon to make sure you have a seat for this event, as it is expected to sell out quickly.

2007 Julie Vargas Student Research Award

This cash award was established through a donation from Dr. Julie Vargas to promote research by students in the field of behavior analysis. The deadline for applying for this award is December 1, 2006. See the Julie Vargas Student Research Award web page for details and submission instructions.

Book Signings    (top)

Add to your behavior analysis library with personalized copies of important books authored by leaders in the field. Copies will be available for purchase in the CalABA store.

Thursday, February 8 • 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., Grand Peninsula Foyer. Mark Dixon will be signing copies of

• Gambling: Behavior Theory, Research, and Application
• Visual Basic for Behavioral Psychologists

Friday, February 9 • 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m., Grand Peninsula Foyer. Murray Sidman will be signing copies of

• Coercion and Its Fallout. Revised Edition
• Equivalence Relations and Behavior: A Research Story
• Tactics of Scientific Research: The Evaluation of Experimental Data in Psychology

Friday, February 9 • 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., Grand Peninsula Foyer. Jon Bailey and Mary Burch will be signing copies of

• Ethics for Behavior Analysts
• How to Think Like a Behavior Analyst