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Strengthening the research–practice loop in applied animal behavior: Introduction to the special issue
Author(s) -
Alligood Christina,
Edwards Timothy,
Mahoney Amanda
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of the experimental analysis of behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.75
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1938-3711
pISSN - 0022-5002
DOI - 10.1002/jeab.791
Subject(s) - animal behavior , computer science , behavioural sciences , context (archaeology) , engineering ethics , applied behavior analysis , management science , basic research , data science , animal learning , psychology , cognitive science , cognitive psychology , developmental psychology , zoology , paleontology , autism , library science , engineering , economics , psychotherapist , biology
Though operant learning has been applied to socially significant animal behavior for many years, connections between these practical applications and the basic science that supports them have weakened over time. There is a need for replications and extensions of technologies derived from basic research to applied animal settings, and for practical questions to be taken back to the lab where they can be modeled and studied under controlled conditions before incorporating the results in applied behavior‐change research and practice. This special issue highlights ways that behavior analysis can contribute to and support the development of evidence‐based applications with animals. Articles in this issue provide context for the relationship between basic research and practice in animal behavior, apply basic principles to animal behavior practice, and investigate practical problems using basic research techniques. Each of these is important for a robust interchange between basic science and practice. Here we comment on the contributions of each article to the literature and identify directions for future research.