APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS AT WEST-VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY - A BRIEF-HISTORY

The development of an emphasis on applied behavior analysis in the Dep artment of Psychology at West Virginia University is traced. The empha sis began primarily in the early 1970s, under the leadership of Roger Maley and Jon Krapfl, and has continued to expand and evolve with the participation of numerous behavior analysts and behavior therapists, b oth inside and outside the department. The development has been facili tated by several factors: establishment of a strong behavioral emphasi s in the three Clinical graduate programs; change of the graduate prog ram in Experimental Psychology to a program in basic Behavior Analysis ; development of nonclinical applied behavior analysis within the Beha vior Analysis program; establishment of a joint graduate program with Educational Psychology; establishment of a Community/Systems graduate program; and organization of numerous conferences. Several factors are described that seem to assure a stable role for behavior analysis in the department: a stable and supportive ''culture'' within the departm ent; American Psychological Association accreditation of the clinical training; a good reputation both within the university and in psycholo gy; and a broader community of behavior analysts and behavior therapis ts.