With repeated measurement systems in place, behavior analysts can verify treatment effectiveness. Functional analysis of the causes of behavior. Identifying crucial factors that motivate, prompt, and maintain the behavior of interest. An emphasis on using positive reinforcement to build and maintain desirable behavior rather than focusing only on decreasing undesirable behavior. As behavior analysis moves forward into the 21st century, the field is also influenced by relevant ideas and contemporary research from evolutionary biology, physiology, neuroscience, systems theory, and other disciplines.
Career choices are varied.
Major application areas range from working with special populations such as autistic or developmentally disabled clients, to skill acquisition with normal children in school settings, to improving adult employee performance in business. Some doctoral level behavior analysts have careers in behavioral research at universities, medical schools, and health science centers. Send mail to Threshold, Inc. with questions or comments about this web site.