Co-Author: Brandon Castillo
World Behavior Analysis Day (WBAD) is March 20th every year, commemorating the birthday of B.F. Skinner—the founder of contemporary behavior analysis. It was started in 2021 by the World Behavior Analysis Day Alliance (WBADA), whose mission and vision is to celebrate behavior analysis internationally while increasing awareness and use of behavior analysis. Celebrations for World Behavior Analysis Day start the week before and end on March 20th.
What is Behavior Analysis?
Behavior analysis is a field that looks at how behaviors interact with the environment. There are different branches of behavior analysis. In Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), the principles of behavior are applied to improve socially significant behavior, improve quality of life, and produce meaningful change.
Applied Behavior Analysis is what we provide here at Shaping Change, LLC. We look at the relationships and interactions between behavior and other people, settings, and what is going on in those settings. We do this through assessment, direct observation, and analysis of the information we gather. Our treatment plans are developed based on research and evidence-based practice and are tailored to meet the specific needs of each individual.
The Field of Behavior Analysis
The field of behavior analysis is younger, so to speak, than other related disciplines like psychology, but is growing rapidly! There was a time, not long ago, that behavior wasn’t studied and analyzed the way it is now in Behavior Analysis. Although there is no concrete date of origin, ABA has roots far back as the 1920’s when John Watson developed Behaviorism. From John Watson’s initial theories to Ivar Pavlov and his dogs to O. Ivar Lovaas’s Lovaas Method, ABA has evolved from a school of thought steeped in skepticism to one of the fastest-growing branches of psychology.
A recent study commissioned by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) found that there was 1942% increase in demand for Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) between 2010 and 2018. And we are just getting started!
Behavior Analyst Certification Board. (2019). US employment demand for behavior analysts: 2010-2018. Littleton, CO: Author
How are we celebrating WBAD?
At Shaping Change, LLC. we celebrate behavior analysis every day. We work to promote collaborative and compassionate practices of ABA. We educate others on how ABA can be beneficial in a wide range of areas and settings. This year, we continue to celebrate the passion we have for behavior analysis. We are committed to evidence-based practice, growing our knowledge, and serving our patients and families the best we can.
