Submission Deadline: September 16, 2011

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General Instructions

The California Association for Behavior Analysis invites persons engaged in research, teaching, or practice to submit proposals for presentations at the 30th Annual Western Regional Conference on Behavior Analysis. Presentations on conceptual, experimental, and applied behavior analysis are desired, including research reports, technical presentations, case studies, and program descriptions. Commentaries and reviews of methodological, legal, ethical, social, philosophical, and historical issues are welcome, as are presentations in areas such as behavioral medicine, behavioral pharmacology, behavioral neuroscience, physiology, biology, psychology, public health, and education. Promotion, marketing, and sales of products and services are to be done via ads in the conference program book or exhibit booths, not in conference presentations.

Submissions will be reviewed by the CalABA Conference Committee; not all submissions will be accepted.

Priority will be given to submissions that meet the following criteria:    (top)

• Abstract describes the presentation clearly and completely but succinctly (minimum 100 words, maximum 250 words).
• Content of the presentation is behavior analytic, or is clearly relevant to behavior analysis theory, research, methodology and/or practice.
• Presentation is scholarly or scientific and is not designed primarily to promote or market any product, service, agency, program, materials, etc.
• If the presentation describes research, the abstract clearly describes the research methods and makes it clear that data collection has been completed at the time of submission.
• Content is consistent with the Behavior Analyst Certification Board Guidelines for Responsible Conduct (see BACB.com), including the guideline specifying that behavior analysts use and recommend interventions that have proved effective in scientific studies.
• The Conference Committee is particularly interested in presentations that address topics that have been under-represented at recent CalABA conferences, or which past conference attendees have requested, such as: experimental analysis of behavior; conceptual behavior analysis; organizational behavior management; behavioral pharmacology and toxicology; clinical behavior analysis; applications of behavior analysis in human development and gerontology, brain injury and disease, physical rehabilitation, substance abuse, health behavior, animal training, parenting, and regular education; research methods; ethical and professional behavior; the practice of behavior analysis; and research that bridges basic and applied areas.

Please note that all presenters whose submissions are accepted are expected to deliver the presentation or arrange for it to be delivered at the conference. Failure to do so may result in rejection of future conference submissions. All presenters must register for the conference.

Audio/Visual Equipment    (top)

Audio/visual equipment must be ordered in advance. Due to budget constraints, CalABA will only provide the audio-visual equipment listed in the submission instructions. Presenters who wish to use other equipment must provide it themselves.

Presentation Formats    (top)

Address

An address is an oral presentation, usually reporting research or discussing a conceptual, historical, methodological, professional, or applied topic. All addresses are 60 minutes in duration.

Symposium

A symposium comprises a series of presentations organized around an empirical, conceptual, methodological, historical, or practical theme, organized and submitted by a chairperson who moderates the session. There may be 3 presentations followed by remarks from a discussant that integrate the presentations, or 4 presentations. Symposia are 90 minutes in duration.

Panel Discussion

Panel discussions involve 3-4 panelists who comment on a theme or topic and/or take questions from the audience; the discussion is moderated by a chairperson. Panel discussions are 90 minutes in duration.

Poster

Posters consist of visual displays of information, usually reporting empirical research. Posters are organized into poster sessions by the Conference Committee. Presenters will have 15 minutes prior to the session to set up the poster, and must remove all materials within 15 minutes after the end of the session. Please note that posters for graduate programs that wish to participate in the CalABA Graduate Program Expo must be submitted via the conference advertising application.

Guidelines

• Your poster is similar to a condensed version of an APA report. It should include the same sections, but in an abbreviated format.
• You will be provided a tabletop for your poster. Your poster should be free standing or you may bring your own easel.
• Your poster should be about 4' x 4' in size.
• The poster session area will not provide projection equipment, electrical outlets, etc.
• Posters must only report findings of the research. No advertising or product identification by brand name is allowed.
• At least one of the authors must be by the poster to answer attendees' questions at all times.

Helpful Hints

• The text of your poster should be visible from at least 1 meter away. As a result, you should use a large font for your primary text (20 point or larger) and an even larger font for your headings.
• Avoid fonts that are script or difficult to read.
• Use graphs, and/or tables (preferably color) to show results. Graphics make your poster more interesting.
• A neutral poster is more amenable to the eye than a brightly colored background. A splash of color here and there, perhaps highlighting central finding(s) or provocative results, will make your poster "stand out" from the crowd.
• Try to keep your poster simple and avoid artsy or ornate presentations. Any color that is used should call attention to your poster, not obscure it.
• Although handouts are not required, it is recommended that you come prepared with a brief handout that summarizes your presentation that can be given other attendees (50 copies are recommended).

Workshop

A workshop is an intensive educational session presented by an individual or team of individuals. The audience is expected to gain skills or knowledge that they can apply in their work. This is typically accomplished through active audience participation and, when feasible, skill practice. Workshop presenters must provide appropriate handouts to reduce note-taking requirements, and encourage application of workshop content. CalABA will duplicate a reasonable quantity of handouts if given sufficient advance notice. Submissions for workshops must indicate the level of knowledge and skill required for audience members to benefit from the workshop (i.e., introductory, intermediate, advanced). Workshops are either 3 hours or 6 hours in duration. Presenters receive 20% of the workshop fees paid by those enrolled in their workshop.

IMPORTANT: Applying for Continuing Education Consideration    (top)

CalABA is accredited as a provider of continuing education by the following organizations:

• Behavior Analyst Certification Board (for BACB Type 2 continuing education)
• California Board of Psychology Mandatory Continuing Education Program for Psychologists (MCEP)
• California Board of Behavioral Sciences
• California Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Board

The CalABA Professional Standards Committee is responsible for managing CalABA's continuing education program. We are committed to providing a number of quality continuing education opportunities at the 2012 conference for Board Certified Behavior Analysts® and Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts®, as well as California licensed psychologists, marriage and family therapists, licensed clinical social workers, and certified speech-language pathologists and audiologists.

Not every presentation at the CalABA conference can be offered for continuing education for every category of certificant or licensee, however, because each of the accrediting organizations has specific criteria for continuing education events and instructors with which CalABA must comply. Therefore, the Professional Standards Committee asks everyone who submits a proposal for an address, symposium, or workshop at the CalABA conference to review the continuing education section of the submission form to see if your presentation might qualify for continuing education units (CEUs). If it does, we strongly encourage you to provide the information requested to enable the Professional Standards Committee to determine if your presentation can be offered for CEUs, including an abstract that makes it clear that the content and level of instruction will be post-certification or licensure, i.e., will contribute to the professional development of individuals with advanced degrees and credentials. If your presentation is approved for continuing education for one or more professions, it will:

• help attract an audience for your presentation
• help ensure that professionals attending the conference keep up with developments in the field
• help maintain the integrity and vitality of the field
• support CalABA and its continuing education program