Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026
08:26
Assessing Activity-based Anorexia in Mice
Published on: May 14, 2018
Women in applied behavior analysis
F K McSweeney1, P Donahoe, S Swindell
1Department of Psychology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA. fkmcs@mail.wsu.edu
The Behavior Analyst
|April 6, 2012
Summary
Women
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Psychology
- Women's Studies
Background:
- The representation of women in scientific fields is an ongoing area of research.
- Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is a field where women's contributions are significant.
- Understanding gender dynamics in academic publishing is crucial for career progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the participation of women in scholarly publications within applied behavior analysis.
- To compare women's authorship in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA) with other relevant journals.
- To identify potential barriers to women's advancement in the field.
Main Methods:
- A quantitative analysis of authorship and editorial board composition was conducted.
- Data were collected from the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA) and three comparable journals.
- The study period spanned from 1978 to 1997, examining trends over two decades.
Main Results:
- The percentage of articles featuring female authors and female first authors increased across all examined journals between 1978 and 1997.
- Women's participation in JABA was comparable to or exceeded that in other journals.
- Female editorship in Behavior Modification correlated with higher female author representation in special sections.
- Female representation on editorial boards of JABA, Behavior Modification, and Behaviour Research and Therapy did not increase during the study period.
Conclusions:
- Despite increased authorship, a "glass ceiling" appears to limit women's advancement to the highest levels in applied behavior analysis and related fields.
- The findings suggest systemic factors may impede women's progression into leadership and senior editorial roles.
- Further research is needed to address and dismantle these barriers to gender equity in science.
Related Concept Videos
01:21Behavior Modification
Behavioral approaches have often been criticized for ignoring mental processes and focusing solely on observable behavior. However, these approaches provide an optimistic perspective for individuals seeking to change their behaviors. Rather than concentrating on intrinsic personality traits, behavioral approaches suggest that even longstanding habits can be modified by changing the reward contingencies that maintain them.
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
A real-world application of operant conditioning principles is applied...
01:28Behaviorism
The field of behaviorism was pioneered by figures such as Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner fundamentally shifted the focus of psychology to the observable and controllable aspects of human and animal behavior. This shift marked a critical evolution in the discipline, emphasizing scientific rigor and experimental methodology.
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
The core premise of behaviorism is its focus on observable behavior rather than internal thoughts or feelings. This approach argues that true scientific...
01:26Modeling in Therapy
Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in situations...
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
00:54What is Behavior?
Behaviors are actions that an organism engages in—they can be related to finding food, reproducing, defending against threats, and many other possible actions. Behaviors include activities related to the environment around the animal—such as migration—as well as social interactions within a species or population. Many behaviors involve motor output—that is, muscle movements—while others involve less visible actions, such as learning.
01:22Behavior Therapy
Behavior therapy incorporates diverse techniques rooted in classical conditioning principles to address maladaptive behaviors and anxiety disorders. These methods aim to reduce avoidance behaviors, foster adaptive coping mechanisms, and alter associations between stimuli and responses, making them effective in a wide range of therapeutic contexts.
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...
Exposure therapy is a cornerstone of behavioral treatment for anxiety disorders. It involves systematic exposure to feared stimuli, either in real...