The ABAI 44th Annual Convention is here, which means it is time to select from amongst the many interesting symposia, panels, posters, and tutorials. If you are interested in learning more about Relational Frame Theory (RFT), there are a number of presentations that will provide a contemporary behavior analytic perspective on language and cognition: Below are some options that stood out to me in my own review of the program. (Special thanks once again to Sebastian Garcia.)
- SQAB Tutorial: Relational Frame Theory: Past, Present, and Future : Dermot Barnes-Holmes will describe the historical and intellectual roots of RFT. In addition, he will explain the basic concepts of graphical representations in the Multi-Dimensional Multi-Level (MDML) framework and the Differential Arbitrarily Applicable Relational Responding Effects (DAARRE) model.
- Saturday, May 26, 2018
- 10:00 AM–10:50 AM
- Marriott Marquis, San Diego Ballroom B
- Contextual Behaviorism: A Panel With Discussion: Miguel, Rehfeldt, and Tarbox will describe principles of contextual behaviorism and link contextual behaviorism to Skinner’s verbal behavior theory. In addition, they will explain how practical issues in applied behavior analysis are tied to contextual behaviorism.
- Saturday, May 26, 2018
- 11:00 AM–11:50 AM
- Marriott Marquis, San Diego Ballroom B
Rules, Derived Relational Responding, and Understanding Complex Language: This applied symposium will discuss new evidence for teaching relational skills and complex responding to individuals with autism and related disabilities. More specifically, different methodologies that were implemented to develop sameness, difference, opposition, comparisons, hierarchy, and perspective-taking relational frames will be highlighted.
- Saturday, May 26, 2018
- 11:00 AM–12:50 PM
- Manchester Grand Hyatt, Seaport Ballroom F
- Expanding Horizons: Addressing Conceptual and Methodological Limitations in Analyses of Complex Behavior: This interesting symposium will explore two examples where horizons could be pushed to optimize behavior analysis’ influence in important domains of social significance. The first paper will review new or seldom used approaches to training and testing derived relational responding. The second paper will seek to describe cognitive phenomena in behavioral terms and propose approaches for researching them.
- Sunday, May 27, 2018
- 4:00 PM–4:50 PM
- Marriott Marquis, Grand Ballroom 10-13
- Beliefs, Deception, and RFT, Oh My! Teaching Complex Verbal Behavior to Children With and Without Autism: This applied symposium will present research evaluating assessment and interventions for complex verbal behavior based on RFT in children with and without autism.
- Saturday, May 26, 2018
- 10:00 AM–10:50 AM
- Manchester Grand Hyatt, Seaport Ballroom F
- Emerging Reliability and Validity Properties of the PEAK Relational Training System: This symposium will explore how the PEAK Relational Training System (an ABA assessment and treatment program based on RFT) promotes relational learning and how these skills are correlated with measures of intelligence, executive functioning, challenging behavior, and other verbal assessments. It is a good opportunity to analyze new behavioral protocols based on contemporary behavioral perspectives.
- Sunday, May 27, 2018
- 11:00 AM–12:50 PM
- Manchester Grand Hyatt, Seaport Ballroom F