2018-19 Events and Colloquia

The Department of Psychology at Western Michigan University hosts presentations and a variety of events each year.

Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | Jan. | Feb. | March | April

September

Dr. Whitney Kleinert and Dr. Joshua Lipschultz Brown Bag

Sept. 19, 2018

"Meta-Analysis of Single Case Designs"
Single case research designs (SCD) are frequently used to examine the effectiveness of interventions. Meta-analytic procedures are a useful mechanism for synthesizing outcomes across multiple studies of a given target behavior or intervention. This brown bag talk will build participants’ knowledge in (a) general meta-analytic practices involving SCDs and (b) potential future directions in this area. Examples from a recently conducted “mega-analysis” (i.e., a synthesis of meta-analyses) of SCD autism intervention research will be incorporated.

"The Relative Effects of Feedback Accuracy and Trainer Verbal Behavior on Performance During an Analogue Task"
Recent OBM research has examined both the effects of inaccurate feedback (FB) on performance as well as rumors created due to inaccurate rules. The current study assessed the relative effects of two independent variables on performance during an analogue work task: the type of verbal behavior regarding FB accuracy provided during training by confederates posing as participants (i.e., being told during training that FB accuracy during their task would be incorrect) and the actual FB accuracy to which participants were exposed during the analogue work task. Results suggested that the type of verbal behavior regarding FB accuracy provided during training by confederates posing as participants and the level of FB accuracy to which participants were exposed both affected performance on the analogue task. Implications of these findings in practical settings will be discussed.

October

Dr. Iser (Willie) Deleon Brown Bag

Alumni Achievement Award Recipient 2018

Professor at University of Florida

Oct. 5, 2018

This brown bag presentation will be a non-directed general discussion. Dr. Isler (Willie) DeLeon is currently a Professor of Psychology at the University of Florida. He has previously been a faculty member at John Hopkins School of Medicine and Director of Research Development at the Kennedy Krieger lnstitute. Dr. DeLeon has authored or coauthored 80 peer reviewed publications, many of which have appeared in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, one of the most prestigious peer reviewed journals in behavior analysis. A prolific researcher, he has also been the Pl or co-Pl on nearly 10 million dollars of extramural funded research, often collaborating with other leading behavior analysts in the United States. He is regularly featured as an invited speaker at state and national conferences and his listing of conference presentations spans an amazing array of topics and venues.

Dr. Iser (Willie) DeLeon Colloquium

Alumni Achievement Award Recipient 2018

Professor at University of Florida

Oct. 5, 2018

"Exploring Determinants of Reinforcer Effectiveness in Persons with Neurodevelopmental Disorders"
Instructional and therapeutic arrangements for persons with neurodevelopmental disorders rely on the identification and use of effective consequences. Behavior analysts have devised numerous useful procedures for identifying reinforcers in this population but have perhaps paid less attention to the conditions under which reinforcers remain effective and how their use alters that effectiveness. I will describe several lines of research from my lab designed to identify how varying contexts or use histories can influence reinforcer value. I will focus most directly on: 1) behavioral economic concepts related to stimulus substitutability, 2) the “continuity” of reinforcement, and 3) the relation between historical effort and subsequent value.

Sonia Lewis Brown Bag

Founder/Educational Consultant for Lewis Learning Systems

Oct. 26, 2018

Sonia Lewis hosts an open discussion with department graduates students about her background and Q&A. 

Sonia Lewis Colloquium

Founder/Educational Consultant for Lewis Learning Systems

Oct. 26, 2018

"Elementary Literacy in MI: What Behavior Analysts Need to Know and What We Can Do"

November

Dr. Doug Woods Training

Dean/Tic and OCD-Spectrum Clinic Operator

Nov. 2, 2018

"Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tic and Tourette’s"
Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics (CBIT) is a behavioral intervention for Tic and Tourette related behaviors. This behavioral evidence-based treatment is one of the most effective in treating Tic and Tourette related disorders in the world and is widely recognized and utilized across the world. Dr. Woods is a Western Michigan University alumnus and has trained multiple professionals across the world in both CBIT and Habit Reversal Therapy (HRT). Dr. Woods currently operates the Tic and OCD-Spectrum Disorders Clinic at Marquette University and is the current dean of the Marquette University Graduate School.

Sponsored by CPGSO

Dr. Todd Ward Brown Bag

President/Founder of bSci21Media, LLC

Nov. 2, 2018

"Open Discussion with Dr. Todd Ward"
Todd A. Ward, Ph.D., BCBA-D, is the President and Founder of bSci21Media, LLC, which owns the top behavior analytic media outlet in the world, bSci21.org. bSci21Media aims to disseminate behavior analysis to the world and to support ABA companies around the globe through the Behavioral Science in the 21st Century blog and its subsidiaries, bSciEntrepreneurial, bSciWebDesign, bSciWriting, and the ABA Outside the Box CEU series. Dr. Ward received his Ph.D. in behavior analysis from the University of Nevada, Reno under Dr. Ramona Houmanfar. He has served as a Guest Associate Editor of the Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, and as an Editorial Board member of Behavior and Social Issues. Dr. Ward has also provided ABA services to children and adults with various developmental disabilities in day centers, in-home, residential, and school settings, and previously served as Faculty Director of Behavior Analysis Online at the University of North Texas. Dr. Ward is passionate about disseminating behavior analysis to the world and growing the field through entrepreneurship.

Sponsored by IOGSO

Dr. Todd Ward Colloquium

President/Founder of bSci21Media, LLC

Nov. 2, 2018

"Fulfilling Skinner’s Vision through Entrepreneurship"
As early as 1938, in his book Behavior of Organisms, B.F. Skinner envisioned a science of behavior applicable to the entire world. He later referred to this as a “technology of behavior” and frequently discussed large-scale social issues such as pollution, nuclear war, and education. To Skinner, the science of behavior applied to every aspect of behavior in its full complexity. Today, 79 years later, we have not come close to fulfilling Skinner’s vision for the world. In this presentation, we will explore the current state of this “technology”, potential obstacles to implementation, and provide concrete steps that you can take to generate a novel behavior analytic business idea today.

Sponsored by IOGSO

Dr. Don Cooney Brown Bag

Associate Director of the Walker Institute
Associate Professor at Western Michigan University, School of Social Work

Nov. 9, 2018

"Person in Environment: The Meeting of Psychology and Social Work"
Dr. Cooney joined the School of Social Work faculty in 1977. He teaches courses on the history of social welfare, community practice, social change, and race and culture. Dr. Cooney is active in many social justice organizations and serves as a City Commissioner for Kalamazoo. Dr. Cooney has a committed interest in community practice, social justice, and confronting institutional prejudice and inequality.

Sponsored by CPGSO

Dr. Glenda Crookes Brown Bag

Executive Director of Judge Rotenberg Educational Center, Inc.

Nov. 9, 2018

"Organizational Management; Applying the Principles of Behavior to the Management of a Large Residential Treatment Center"

Dr. Glenda Crookes Colloquium

Executive Director of Judge Rotenberg Educational Center, Inc.

Nov. 9, 2018

"An Overview of the Services and Treatment at a Controversial School for Special Needs Individuals"
Glenda Crookes, director of the Judge Rotenberg Educational Center, will present an overview of the services and treatment at a controversial school for special needs individuals. The talk will include case studies of difficult clients, the unique educational program, and an overview of the program as a whole, including the use of aversive interventions on the most difficult clients.

Dr. Jonathan Baker Brown Bag

Faculty Specialist at Western Michigan University, Department of Psychology

Nov. 30
1710 Wood Hall
1 to 2:30 p.m.

"BCBA Supervision Training"

Sponsored by BAGSO

December

Dr. Brad Huitema Colloquium

Professor at Western Michigan University, Department of Psychology

Dec. 7
Location TBA
4 p.m.

Title and Abstract TBA

January

Practitioner Job Panel Discussion

Variety of presenters TBA

Jan. 18, 2019
Location and Time TBA

Midwestern Behavior Analysis Job Fair

The Midwestern Behavior Analysis Job Fair is an annual event that is organized by graduate students for the Department of Psychology at Western Michigan University.

Jan. 25, 2019
Bernhard Center
9 to 10 a.m.–Registration/Sign in
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.–Expo
1 to 3 p.m.–Interviews (optional)

Dr. Carol Pilgrim Brown Bag

Credentials TBA

Jan. 25, 2019
2734 Wood Hall
1 p.m.

Title and Abstract TBA

Dr. Carol Pilgrim Colloquium

Jan. 25, 2019
Location TBA
4 p.m.

Title and Abstract TBA

February

Dr. Steve Ragotsky Brown Bag

Adjunct Professor at Western Michigan University, Department of Psychology

Feb. 1, 2019
Location and Time TBA

Title and Abstract TBA

Sponsored by BAGSO

Dr. Lisa Baker Brown Bag

Professor at Western Michigan University, Department of Psychology

Feb. 8, 2019
Location and Time TBA

Title and Abstract TBA

Sponsored by BAGSO

Graduate Research Day

Variety of graduate students at Western Michigan University, Department of Psychology

Feb. 15, 2019
2028 Brown
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Schedule TBA

March

Dr. Carl Binder Brown Bag

Credential TBA

March 29, 2019
2734 Wood Hall
1 p.m.

Title and Abstract TBA

Sponsored by IOGSO

Dr. Carl Binder Colloquium

Credential TBA

March 29, 2019
Location TBA
4 p.m.

Title and Abstract TBA

Sponsored by IOGSO

Dr. Carl Binder Workshop

Credential TBA

March 30, 2019
Location and Time TBA

Title and Abstract TBA

Sponsored by IOGSO

April

Dr. Anthony Defulio Brown Bag

Assistant Professor at Western Michigan University, Department of Psychology

April 5, 2019
Location and Time TBA

Title and Abstract TBA

Sponsored by BAGSO

Dr. Amanda Karsten Brown Bag

Faculty Specialist II at Western Michigan University, Department of Psychology

April 19, 2019
Location TBA
11:30 a.m.

Title and Abstract TBA

Sponsored by BAGSO