The Julie Vargas Award was created by Dr. Julie Vargas of the B. F. Skinner Foundation. Two awards of $250 each were available each year and awarded at our annual conference. See past recipients below.
Congratulations to the 2019 Award WinnerJocelyn DiazCalifornia State University, Sacramento Title - The Role of Verbal Behavior on the Establishment of Comparative Relations Advisor: Caio Miguel, Ph.D., BCBA-D Past Recipients - Congratulations!2018Geoffrey Richard Browning California State University, Fresno Title - Being a Social Climber: The Effects of a Rock Climbing Intervention on the Social Interactions and Motor Skills of Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder Advisor: Dr. Marianne Jackson Kimberly Magat California State University, Sacramento Title - A Comparison of Instructive Feedback and General Praise for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder Advisor: Dr. Megan Heinicke 2017 Chelsee Rodriguez California State University, Fresno Paper: It’s Not Always a Stranger That’s the Danger: A Safe-Word Intervention for Abduction Prevention in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Advisor: Marianne Jackson, PhD, BCBA-D Grecia Mendoza California State University, Fresno Paper: Evaluating the Effects of High-Probability/Low-Probability Sequences on a Measure of Interrogative Suggestibility Advisor: Marianne Jackson, PhD, BCBA-D 2016 Adrienne Jennings “The Role of Intraverbal Naming on the Emergence of Generalized Equivalence Classes” - CSU Sacramento under advisement of Dr. Caio Miguel Kelli Hill “Using Equivalence-Based Instruction to Teach Piano Skills to Children” - CSU Sacramento under advisement of Dr. Caio Miguel |
| 2015 Lorraine Becerra California State University, Northridge An Analysis of Two Modifications to the MSWO Preference Assessment Format DeLeon, I. G., & Iwata, B. A. (1996). Evaluation of a multiple-stimulus presentation format for assessing reinforcer preferences. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 29(4), 519-533. |
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| 2015 Lisa Stedman-Falls California State University, Northridge A Comparison of a Humanoid Robot to a Simulated Client in Training Research |
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| 2014 Melissa Mendoza California State University, Northridge Can Behavioral Staff Be Trained to Implement Paired-Stimulus Preference Assessments Using Only a Self-Instructional Package? References Graff, R. B., & Karsten, A. M. (2012). Evaluation of a self-instruction package for conducting stimulus preference assessments. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 45(1), 69-82. |
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| 2014 Denice Rios California State University, Northridge A Component Analysis of Feedback
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| 2013 Tracy Larson University of the Pacific Treatment Implications of a Functional Analysis Of Moderate-To-Vigorous Physical Activity In Young Children Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that children engage in 60 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) every day of the week (CDC, 2013), current estimates suggest that most children do not (Troiano et al., 2008). Inadequate physical activity increases the risks related to a number of health problems in children (Reilly & Kelly, 2011), however, these risks are mitigated, at least in part, by increasing activity to levels correlated with health benefits (Ross et al., 2000). The functional analysis methodology proposed by Iwata, Dorsey, Slifer, Bauman, & Richman (1994) provides an efficient and effective way to identify functional relationships, and lends itself to investigating the variables responsible for increased levels of MVPA. In the current study, the functional analysis methodology was used to assess relationships between MVPA and environmental events (i.e., Attention, Interactive Play, Alone, and Escape), which were alternated with a control condition in a multielement design. Results of the current study indicated that all four participants were most active in the Interactive Play condition and the percentage of MVPA varied across test and control conditions. In addition, the frequency and duration of bouts of MVPA was greatest in the Interactive Play condition for all participants. The current study presents a methodology for identifying environmental contingencies that support increased levels of MVPA in young children, and holds great promise for improving our understanding of the variables related to physical activity so that effective interventions can be designed to improve children's health and wellbeing. References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013, February 19). Childhood obesity facts. Retrieved from http://cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm Iwata, B. A., Dorsey, M. F., Slifer, K. J., Bauman, K. E., & Richman, G. S. (1994). Toward a functional analysis of self-injury. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27(2), 197-209. Reilly, J. J., & Kelly, J. (2011). Long-term impact of overweight and obesity in childhood and adolescence on morbidity and premature mortality in adulthood: systematic review. International Journal of Obesity, 35(7), 891-898. Ross, R., Dagnone, D., Jones, P. J., Smith, H., Paddags, A., Hudson, R., & Janssen, I. (2000). Reduction in obesity and related comorbid conditions after diet-induced weight loss or exercise-induced weight loss in men. A randomized, controlled trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, 133(2), 92-103. Troiano, R. P., Berrigan, D., Dodd, K. W., Mâsse, L. C., Tilert, T., & McDowell, M. (2008). Physical activity in the United States measured by accelerometer. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 40(1), 181-188. |
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| 2012 Vissy Kobari-Wright California State University, Sacramento The Effects of Listener Training on Naming and Categorization by Children with Autism Recent studies have demonstrated that the skill of sorting objects by category develops with no direct training when objects occasion the same speaker and listener behavior (naming). The purpose of the current study was to examine the role of listener training in the emergence of speaker behavior and categorization. Participants included four children diagnosed with autism (ranging from 4-5 years of age). The effects of listener training were evaluated using a nonconcurrent multiple-baseline design across participants. Three children, who failed to categorize or emit the speaker behavior during pretraining were able to do so during posttraining probes. The fourth participant required the direct training of speaker behavior in order to categorize the stimuli. These results suggest that listener training may be an efficient way to produce novel categorization in children diagnosed with autism, as long as full naming is developed. |
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| 2012 Allison Morley University of the Pacific Descriptive and Experimental Analyses of Variables Maintaining Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity in Preschool Children Direct observation provides information regarding variables (i.e., context and composition) related to moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA). However, in most research of this kind, environmental variables are not manipulated and, therefore, functional relationships cannot be determined. Recently, a functional analysis methodology was developed to assess the effect of outdoor activity context on MVPA in preschool children (Hustyi, Normand, Larson, & Morley, in press). Because results from Hustyi et al. differed from those reported in descriptive assessment studies, the purpose of the current study was to compare directly the results yielded from descriptive analyses of MVPA to those of functional analyses in the same children. Descriptive and functional analyses were conducted on a daycare playground, with the functional analysis conditions arranged in a multi-element experimental design. Results indicated correspondence between the descriptive and functional analyses for both participants in the 1-to-1 peer and group compositions, however there was limited or no correspondence in the solitary compositions. Previous research has demonstrated poor correspondence between descriptive and functional analyses, albeit with different behavioral targets and mostly different populations (e.g., Lerman & Iwata, 1993; Pence et al., 2009; Thompson & Iwata 2007). The current data may suggest the importance of a functional assessment of variables evoking MVPA in children. Results may also suggest that descriptive assessments are sufficient for such purposes, although typically require more time to complete than do functional analyses. The data derived from such functional assessments can be used to arrange optimal environments for evoking and maintaining MVPA. |
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| 2011 Mychal Machado University of the Pacific Picture This: Smoking Cues as Elicitors of Compensatory Responses in Smokers The current study extends previous research on conditional compensatory responses and illicit drugs to smoking by exposing ten adult smokers (n = 5) and nonsmokers (n = 5) to smoking and non-smoking related imagery in an ABCBC reversal design. Pre and post slideshow carbon monoxide (CO) levels were taken as the main measure of compensatory responding. Heart rate and blood pressure readings also were recorded. Results demonstrated that CO measures of smokers were lower following a visual presentation of smoking-related images as compared to a presentation of non-smoking-related images. This drop in CO levels was not evident in
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| 2010 Alice A. Keyl Utah State University Effects of Methylphenidate on the Within-Session Response Rates of Rats Changes in response rates during experimental sessions may reflect systematic decreases in reinforcer effectiveness. One important area of interest to examine is whether therapeutic drugs potentially enhance or decrease the effectiveness of reinforcers. The present basic research study examined the effects of methylphenidate on within-session response patterns of 4 rats. Subjects were administered methylphenidate (3.0 - 17.0 mg/kg) while responding for food pellets on a random-interval 45 s schedule of reinforcement. Overall, results suggest that methylphenidate may maintain the effectiveness of the reinforcer longer. This result may have important clinical implications for individuals taking stimulant drugs such as methylphenidate. |
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| 2009 Yun-Yi Tsai California State University, Los Angeles Effects of Antecedent Interventions on Behaviors for Children with Autism This study evaluated the effects of using picture activity schedules with and without choice on task engagement behaviors of children with autism. An alternating treatment design within a multiple baseline across subjects was used to compare the effectiveness of two different interventions. For each child, a preference assessment was conducted before the data collection. A momentary time sampling procedure was used to record the on/off-task behaviors and a frequency recording method was used to record the number of the adult prompts during independent work activities. The results show the participants demonstrated increases in on-task behavior and decreases in the number of the adult prompts when choice making opportunities were provided with the activity schedules. |
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| 2008 Jennifer Soeda California State University, Fresno The Importance of Function in Treatment Selection for Children with Minor Behavior Problems Although functional assessment procedures have shown considerable value within the field of applied behavior analysis, concerns regarding time and efficacy have hindered their consistent use within schools. This study assessed the comparative effectiveness of function-based versus nonfunction-based interventions for high incidence, low severity behavior problems in four typically developing children. Results via an ABAC research design indicated that interventions based upon a functional behavior assessment were more effective and efficient at reducing off-task behaviors than an intervention which attempted to create a new function for appropriate behavior across all participants. Social validity measures also indicated the functional intervention to be more effective, efficient, and easier to implement. |
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| 2007 Monica T. Francisco University of the Pacific Using Progressive Ratio Schedules as a Means of Evaluating Absolute and Relative Reinforcer Value We conducted paired-stimulus preference assessments with three children to determine high- and low-preferred edibles, which were associated with arbitrary tasks. Responding was evaluated in reinforcer and progressive ratio (PR) assessments, under concurrent and single operant schedules. Results showed that for two of three participants, low-preferred stimuli functioned as reinforcers when evaluated independently of high-preferred stimuli and under gradually increasing response requirements. Results suggest that when use of high-preferred stimuli is unfeasible, delivery of relatively less-preferred stimuli may maintain appropriate behavior, even as response effort is increased. In addition, results of the PR evaluation are suggestive of stimulus value. |
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| 2006 Judah Axe Ohio State University |
2005 Isaac L. Bermudez CSU Los Angeles |
2004 Daniel Openden UC Santa Barbara |
2003 Adel C. Najdowski University of Nevada, Reno |
2002 Ralph N. Pampino, Jr. University of the Pacific |
2001 Elizabeth Benedict Northeastern University |
2000 Kyle Ferguson University of Nevada, Reno |
1999 Doniel Drazin UC Santa Barbara |
1998 Deirdre Fitzgerald University of Nevada, Reno |
