JMU students attend 2016 VABA

On Saturday, April 16th, five graduate students, two faculty, and four alumni from the Psychological Sciences’ Behavior Analysis concentration attended the 12th Annual Virginia Association for Behavior Analysis Meeting and Conference, VABA, in Newport News, Virginia. Of the 21 posters presented during the poster session, eight were presenting research performed James Madison University, including research conducted through JMU’s Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services at its Inter-Professional Autism Clinic and its Applied Behavior Analysis/Parent Child Interaction Therapy clinic. Along with the poster session, students attended sessions about implementing behavior analytic concepts in pediatric settings and a presentation on improving positive behavior supports through coaching, presented by JMU’s own, Dr. Kerri Bethune. Additionally, two students from JMU were awarded scholarships for their participation in the conference. VABA is the professional organization for behavior analysts in Virginia and works to advocate for the field in the public and in the government It also provides opportunities for education and professional discourse among its members to further the academic, ethical, and professional goals of behavior analysis.