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On Strategies and Tactics for Behavioral Research on Sustainability: Challenges and Solutions for Measurement, Experimental Control, and Interpretation |
Monday, May 27, 2013 |
2:00 PM–3:20 PM |
102 A (Convention Center) |
Area: CSE/TPC; Domain: Theory |
CE Instructor: Richard G. Smith, Ph.D. |
Chair: Richard G. Smith (University of North Texas) |
WILLIAM L. HEWARD (The Ohio State University) |
HENRY S. PENNYPACKER (University of Florida) |
SIGRID S. GLENN (University of North Texas) |
MARK P. ALAVOSIUS (University of Nevada, Reno) |
Abstract: As behavior analysts become increasingly active in issues relating to sustainability, challenges to our traditional research strategies are becoming apparent. Although behavior analysis holds a great deal of promise to contribute toward the development and evaluation of solutions to critically important matters of sustainable behavior change, our emphasis on direct measures of individual behavior, precise control and management of environmental variables, and single-participant experimental designs may be seen as barriers to our ability to do so. How can we bring behavioral analyses to bear on issues of such scale while maintaining the integrity of our dependent variables, the rigor of our methodology, and the coherence of our interpretations? How do we define and measure behaviors that occur in private (e.g., recycling habits at home), or only occasionally (e.g., use of reusable bags when shopping), or only once (e.g., purchase of energy-efficient windows in one’s home)? Are indirect measures or measures of collective behavioral practices reasonable alternatives for behavior analysts? How might we take advantage of emerging technologies, such as smart-metering, while preserving participants’ right to privacy? These and other issues relevant to conducting research on sustainable behavior change will be addressed. |
Keyword(s): Sustainability |
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