APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE PRACTICE - SOME CURRENT DIMENSIONS

• NCJ Number: 69176
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: (JUNE 1980) Pages: 131-145
• Author(s): E K MORRIS
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 15 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PRESENTED AT THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CRIMINOLOGY CONVENTION, PHILADELPHIA (PA), NOVEMBER 1979

Annotation

DEVELOPMENT OF A BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS APPROACH TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE IS AN EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT, AND HUMANE ADDITION TO CURRENT PROBLEMSOLVING TECHNIQUES, AS IS DEMONSTRATED BY ANALYSIS OF SEVEN DIMENSIONS OF THIS TECHNIQUE.

Abstract

THE SEVEN DIMENSIONS ARE THE APPLIED DIMENSION; THE METHODOLOGICAL, BEHAVIORAL, TECHNOLOGICAL, AND ANALYTIC DIMENSIONS; THE OUTCOME DIMENSIONS OF EFFECTIVENESS AND GENERALITY, AND THE RELEVANCE TO A CONCEPTUAL SYSTEM. EACH OF THESE DIMENSIONS IS DESCRIBED AND ILLUSTRATED THROUGH PUBLISHED BEHAVIORAL LITERATURE ON CRIME AND DELINQUENCY. THREE GENERAL ASSUMPTIONS MUST BE FOLLOWED IF APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS IS TO BE EFFECTIVE: (1) GOOD PRACTICE SHOULD BE GOOD RESEARCH; (2) BEHAVIORAL GOALS, PROCEDURES, AND EFFECTS SHOULD BE SOCIALLY VALIDATED; AND (3) A SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE SHOULD BE ADOPTED WHEN FOCUSING ON BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS AND INTERVENTION. SUCH A SYSTEMS APPROACH WILL AVOID THE NARROW USE AND SCOPE OF BEHAVIORAL PROCEDURES AND SET THE TECHNOLOGY ON A PROPER COURSE FOR SOLVING LARGE-SCALE SOCIAL PROBLEMS. A LIST OF 56 REFERENCES IS INCLUDED.