Skip to main content
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis logoLink to Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
. 1991 Winter;24(4):621–636. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1991.24-621

Some values guiding community research and action

Stephen B Fawcett 1
PMCID: PMC1279615  PMID: 16795759

Abstract

The dual purposes of applied research—contributing to understanding and improvement—are only partially served by method systems that encourage studying (with increasing precision) a narrow range of questions of modest societal importance. To optimize contributions to challenging societal problems, a field's cherished standards should be adapted to support more adventuresome forms of community research and action. This paper outlines 10 values for community research and action, based on insights from the fields of behavioral and community psychology. These values—reflect the goals and challenges of establishing collaborative relationships with research participants, determining research goals and methods, designing and disseminating interventions, communicating research findings, and advocating for community change. Critical challenges are outlined, and implications for the field and its clients are discussed.

Keywords: behavioral community psychology, methodology, community behavior analysis

Full text

PDF
621

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Baer D. M., Wolf M. M., Risley T. R. Some current dimensions of applied behavior analysis. J Appl Behav Anal. 1968 Spring;1(1):91–97. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1968.1-91. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Baer D. M., Wolf M. M. Some still-current dimensions of applied behavior analysis. J Appl Behav Anal. 1987 Winter;20(4):313–327. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1987.20-313. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Balcazar F. E., Seekins T., Fawcett S. B., Hopkins B. L. Empowering people with physical disabilities through advocacy skills training. Am J Community Psychol. 1990 Apr;18(2):281–296. doi: 10.1007/BF00931305. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Fawcett S. B., Mathews R. M., Fletcher R. K. Some promising dimensions for behavioral community technology. J Appl Behav Anal. 1980 Fall;13(3):505–518. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1980.13-505. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Fawcett S. B., Seekins T., Whang P. L., Muiu C., de Balcazar Y. S. Involving consumers in decision-making. Soc Policy. 1982 Fall;13(2):36–41. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Fawcett S. B. Social validity: a note on methodology. J Appl Behav Anal. 1991 Summer;24(2):235–239. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1991.24-235. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Holland J. G. Behaviorism: part of the problem or part of the solution. J Appl Behav Anal. 1978 Spring;11(1):163–174. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1978.11-163. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Rappaport J. Terms of empowerment/exemplars of prevention: toward a theory for community psychology. Am J Community Psychol. 1987 Apr;15(2):121–148. doi: 10.1007/BF00919275. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Schwartz I. S., Baer D. M. Social validity assessments: is current practice state of the art? J Appl Behav Anal. 1991 Summer;24(2):189–204. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1991.24-189. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Seekins T., Fawcett S. B., Cohen S. H., Elder J. P., Jason L. A., Schnelle J. F., Winett R. A. Experimental evaluation of public policy: the case of state legislation for child passenger safety. J Appl Behav Anal. 1988 Fall;21(3):233–243. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1988.21-233. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Seekins T., Fawcett S. B. Effects of a poverty-clients' agenda on resource allocations by community decision makers. Am J Community Psychol. 1987 Jun;15(3):305–320. doi: 10.1007/BF00922700. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Seidman E. Back to the future, community psychology: unfolding a theory of social intervention. Am J Community Psychol. 1988 Feb;16(1):3–24. doi: 10.1007/BF00906069. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Stolz S. B. Adoption of innovations from applied behavioral research: "Does anybody care?". J Appl Behav Anal. 1981 Winter;14(4):491–505. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1981.14-491. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Suarez de Balcazar Y., Bradford B., Fawcett S. B. Common concerns of disabled Americans: issues and options. Soc Policy. 1988 Fall;19(2):29–35. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Whang P. L., Fletcher R. K., Fawcett S. B. Training counseling skills: an experimental analysis and social validation. J Appl Behav Anal. 1982 Fall;15(3):325–334. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1982.15-325. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Willems E. P. Behavioral technology and behavioral ecology. J Appl Behav Anal. 1974 Spring;7(1):151–165. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1974.7-151. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Wolf M. M. Social validity: the case for subjective measurement or how applied behavior analysis is finding its heart. J Appl Behav Anal. 1978 Summer;11(2):203–214. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1978.11-203. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis are provided here courtesy of Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior

RESOURCES