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Writing and publishing popular press books requires a set of skills, not natural to basic and applied researchers trained to publish in peer-referred behavior analytic journals or to practice behavior analysis in applied settings. This article provides suggestions and examples. These include finding a distinctive idea, securing a contract, hiring an agent (or not), deciding on a publisher, and writing engagingly for a broad audience. The last is the greatest challenge. Among my recommendations are to read good prose, good models, and good books about publishing; talk to experienced colleagues; read aloud to judge the appropriateness of your vocabulary and style; and interject humor, imagery, and drama. Book publishing is a long and difficult process, but it is possible. It has a great potential for bringing behavior analytic research, practice and theory to the attention of the general public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers the author's insight on the comment regarding his article on changing course and approach toward training of next generation of behavior-analytic scientists to become collaborative scientists through collaboration, with particular focus on the shift from behavior analysis to achieve mainstream relevance. He discusses the basis of his suggestions for future of the experimental analysis of behavior (EAB) compared to other areas of behavioral science.

Although the field of behavior analysis provided the formative experiences and much of the profession training that have fueled a long and satisfying career, I now find that I am turning away from behavior-analytic research and teaching. My reasons for making this change stem from concerns about the costs and potential benefits of basic behavior-analytic research strategies and the isolation of behavior analysis from mainstream science. I offer some suggestions for strengthening the profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines two important messages for behavior analysts contained in the book "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies," by Jared Diamond. It provides an environmentalist explanation of the different fates of the world's cultures that are compatible with the views of many behavior analysts. It details ways for behavior analysts to investigate the neglected forms of individual behavior.

Three groups of college students were asked to determine how points were earned in a task that allowed the assessment of response variability. All students received points for sequences of eight presses distributed across two keys (four presses on each key). One group received a point for each correct sequence, one group received points on a fixed-ratio 2 schedule, and one group received points on a random-ratio 2 schedule. There were no significant differences in nonverbal response variability across the three groups, and the fixed-ratio 2 and random-ratio 2 groups obtained equivalent point totals. However, participants in the random-ratio group were significantly more likely to write verbal descriptions of the task that made reference to performance-consequence relations that were not in effect. The results demonstrate that superstitious rule generation is more probable when consequences are random and not merely intermittent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the contingency statements produced by uninstructed human subjects exposed to a task that assessed nonverbal response variability. Relationship of self-instructions to nonverbal behavior; Environmental conditions associated with accurate and inaccurate rule-generation; Causal status of self-rules.

Examines effects of intermittent consequences on the accuracy of participants' descriptions of experimental task demands. Earning of points in a task that allowed assessment of response variability; Point rewarding system; Likelihood of writing verbal descriptions of the task that made reference to performance-consequence relations that were not in effect.