Cultural diversity within the field of applied behavior analysis

By Adriana Rodriguez, M.A., BCBA

Have you ever worked with a client and have a hard time with buy in from the parents? Are the parents not following the plan you developed? If so, have you thought of the family’s culture as a factor?

The increase in minority population arriving the U.S has made it difficult for health care providers, to provide culturally competent health care services (Welterin & LaRue, 2007). This is problematic, specifically for behavior analysts because our main goal is to implement behavior analytic interventions to solve problems of social significance (Baer, Wolf, & Risley, 1968). However, based on the definition of culture, we can presume that what is socially significant for an individual, might not be socially significant for another individual. This is an important distinction to make, specially when selecting goals for families who have a different cultural background. As behavior analysts, we might conduct an assessment and select a goal that might not be in line with the family’s culture. Thus, resulting problematic as the family might not follow the plan, or it might even make it difficult for the parents to buy-in the intervention. In recent years, more and more behavior analysts have become aware of this factor, thus increasing the research and awareness of including culture within applied behavior analysis (ABA). Despite of all our efforts, we still have a long way to go as a field in order to provide culturally competent services to the people we serve. However, the more educated we become on the topic, the better services we will be able to provide.

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WANT TO LEARN MORE? 

​The asynchronous online course “Behavior Analysis and Cultural Diversity: Best Practices” aims to provide the viewer with specific skills that can be use when working with families with a diverse cultural background. First, the presentation starts defining culture from a behavior analysts’ perspective. Then, it goes into more details about the importance of cultural awareness within our profession. Third, it discusses cultural awareness skills to acquire based on the recent literature. Finally, it goes over providing culture-centered interventions and discusses examples of how those interventions have been applied in the available research within ABA.

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References
Baer, D. M., Wolf, M. M., & Risley, T. R. (1968). Some current dimensions of applied behavior analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1(1), 91–97. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1968.1-91
Welterlin, A., & Larue, R. H. (2007). Serving the needs of immigrant families of children with autism. Disability & Society, 22(7), 747-760. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09687590701659600

about the Author

Adriana Rodriguez, M.A., BCBA is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). She earned her master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis and Clinical Science from Rollins College. Adriana has experience working with individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Fragile X syndrome, she has worked with a variety of age groups ranging from early intervention to young adults. Ms. Rodriguez’s graduate research focused on the effect of including cultural concerns when providing parent training on behavioral interventions. Currently, Adriana is working as a behavior analysts for a school district in Florida.