Official Newsletter of the Verbal Behavior Special Interest Group
Volume #1 Issue #1
May 2000
Welcome to VB News
In Recognition of
Mark Sundberg
Matthew Normand
Florida State University
As editor, I would like to welcome all of you
the (re) inaugural issue of VB News. After a
lengthy hiatus, the Verbal Behavior Special
Interest Group (VB SIG) is again in the
publication business! In the coming months
we hope to provide an opportunity for SIG
members to share their work and other
accomplishments with other members. In
addition, it is hoped that this newsletter will
prove to be a useful tool in soliciting,
organizing, and reporting on verbal behavior
research and presentations.
Thanks go to all of the individuals who
generously gave of their time and energy to
contribute to this newsletter. A brief glance at
the contents of this issue is testament to the
contributions of many respected and
(undoubtedly) busy behavior analysts.
Jack Michael
Western Michigan University
This issue of VB News would seem to be an
especially appropriate place to acknowledge
the accomplishments of Mark Sundberg. Mark
was a founder and a constant participant in
ABA's Verbal Behavior Special Interest Group
(VBSIG) since it began in 1978-79. In 1981
he enthusiastically supported the decision by
SIG members to start a newsletter, and the first
edition, called VB NEWS was published in
1982 with Mark and Kent Johnson as editors.
Mark was editor of Volume 2, and co-edited
Volume 3 with Joe Spradlin. The number and
length of submissions to the newsletter had
increased to the point where a real journal was
continued on page 2
Anyone wishing to contribute to the next issue
of VB News is encouraged to do so.
Submissions should be sent to the following
address:
Matthew Normand
Department of Psychology
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1270
Articles also may be submitted via E-mail at:
normand@psy.fsu.edu. Feel free to contact me
with any questions that you might have.
Mark Sundberg
Photo courtesy of Jack Michael
VB News 1
VB News - 2
Sundberg
continued from page 1
needed, so with Volume 3 the name was
changed from VB News to The Analysis of
Verbal Behavior. Mark was then the editor of
the next 11 Volumes and was also the business
manager for the journal until it was taken over
by ABA in 1997. As the editor of anew
journal Mark had to encourage potential
authors and solicit manuscripts, an activity that
he carried out with a high level of effectiveness
and creativity. From its inception, TAVB was a
place for the publication of articles dealing
with conceptual issues, basic research, and
applied research concerned with a behavioral
analysis of language as conceptualized in B. F.
Skinner's Verbal Behavior. Because of content
and/or methodological limitations many of
these articles did not fit into the publication
goals and policies of the major behavioral
journals, but were nevertheless important to
those of us primarily interested in verbal
behavior.
Another accomplishment coming from the
same commitment to the importance of
studying the theoretical and practical
implications of verbal behavior is the book
(with Jim Partington) Teaching Language to
Children with Autism or Other Developmental
Disabilities and their more recent manual, The
Assessment of Basic Language and
Learning Skills: The ABLLS. Here Mark and
Jim refine and expand on Skinner's analysis
and at the same time make their approach to
verbal behavior more easily used by
individuals who are not behaviorally trained
psychologists or special educators. The
resulting package is now one of the most
important theoretical and practical tools for
dealing with language instruction.
Because of his own published articles and
books and because of his role with TAVB,
Mark has probably contributed more to the
dissemination and further development of B. F.
Skinner's analysis of human language than any
other person or organization.
In addition to his work with the VB SIG and
the journal, Mark also played a major role in
developing the Northern California
Association for Behavior Analysis (now called
the California Association for Behavior
Analysis, CALABA) into a thriving
organization that now supports a wide variety
of professional activities for behavior analysts
in addition to a very successful annual
conference. It is important to add at this point
that in his work with CALABA as well as with
editing and managing the journal; Mark had a
very effective and equally dedicated partner in
the person of his wife, Cindy Sundberg.
TAVB Needs You
Hank Schlinger
Editor, TAVB
That's right, The Analysis of Verbal Behavior
(TAVB) needs you, or more specifically, it
needs your help. The Journal is in a precarious
situation. It is only published once a year, not
because it wouldn't be desirable to publish it
more often, but because the number of
submissions and, hence, accepted manuscripts
is still quite small. On top of that, as I pointed
out in a TAVB report posted on the VB SIG
discussion page of the web site some months
back, the Journal is in the red to the tune of
several thousand dollars, this despite Jack
Michael’s very generous contribution of the
proceeds form the sale of his book Concepts
and Principles of Behavior Analysis. So, you
ask, "How can I help"?
I general you can help by becoming involved
in a variety of ways. I outline two below.
First, you can either submit your own
manuscripts, or you can recruit others
continued on page 3
VB News - 3
the library at your College or University to
order TAVB. Also, as you interact with other
ABA (and even non-ABA) members, you can
to submit manuscripts to the Journal. Also, you promote the Journal. I would guess that one
can encourage others to do verbal behavior
relatively untapped audience for the Journal is
research or to write on verbal behavior topics.
applied behavior analysts. In Volume 16, there
Also, when you attend ABA, you can be on the were several articles with either direct or
lookout for papers, posters etc. that would be
indirect applied implications, including those
appropriate for TAVB and then encourage the
by Drash, High and Tudor (on using mand
authors to consider submitting their work to the training to teach echoic behavior in young
Journal. If you are presenting on one of the
autistic children), Shimamune and Jitsomori
many fine VB symposia organized by SIG
(on the use of grammar instruction and fluency
members, consider writing your presentation in training to teach articles to native Japanese
manuscript form and submitting it to TAVB.
speakers), and Hupp and Reitman (on the
That way you can kill two birds with one
effects of stating CSSs on compliance in
stone.
children). Surely, there are many behavior
analysts working in the applied arena who
If you or others need ideas for VB research,
would be interested in these articles.
look no further than Mark Sundberg's article
"301 research topics from Skinner's book
I would encourage more research articles with
Verbal Behavior (TAVB, Volume 9, 1991).
direct implications for applied work.
Several directions for verbal behavior research
and scholarship were also suggested in the
I would also welcome some discussion among
special section in Volume 15, titled, "Current
the VB SIG members on ways to increase
Status and Future Directions of The Analysis of circulation of and subscriptions to TAVB. I
Verbal Behavior." In fact, I expected some in- know that the SIG can exist without the
response or reaction papers to the articles
Journal, and vice versa, but the two have from
contained in that section, but so far I have
their very inception been closely linked. It
received none.
would be a shame for one to be lost. I have
recently witnessed what appears to be a surge
In Volume 16 Dave Palmer called for those
in growth of and interest in the VB SIG, as
familiar with traditional topics in verbal
evidenced by the VB SIG web page started and
behavior to author tutorials and I hope
managed by Bill Potter, the very successful
someone heeds his call.
SIG meeting at last year's ABA (which
unfortunately I was unable to attend),
In my almost three years as Editor, I have only organized by Bill Potter, among others, which
received one book review, Esther Shafer's very generated officers such as Sam Leigland, Matt
nice review of Sundberg and Partington's
Normand, David Reitman, Bill Roth, and Janet
Teaching Language to Children with Autism or Twyman and who have already actively
Other Developmental Disabilities that
contributed to the SIG, and the recent activity
appeared in Volume 16, but that was solicited
by SIG members such as Tom Critschfield and
by me. I would certainly appreciate receiving
Barry Lowenkron to ensure that the SIG and
unsolicited reviews of relevant books.
the verbal behavior area will have a significant
and noticeable representation at ABA.
A second thing you can do is to help sell
copies of the Journal. One way is to encourage
continued on page 4
TAVB
continued from page 2
VB News - 4
Report from the Chair
Bill Potter
Chair, VB SIG
With the SIG year coming to a close, it is only
fair that the praises be sung for those who have
made it a productive year. Tom Critchfield did
an amazing job of organizing a number of
symposia at ABA 2000 (see the VB
presentations listed in this issue) and offered
great suggestions for SIG activities. Matt
Normand for getting this newsletter into shape
(and published!). Janet Twyman and Sam
Leigland have been exploring crossdisciplinary collaborations (see Janet’s article
in this issue). Janet has also been great at
providing general SIG advice. David Reitman
of course holds all our fates in his hands, so
thanks for his selfless creation of the business
account (he used his own $$ initially) and for
carefully tracking our income, as well as
expenses. Thanks to Hank Schlinger for his
contribution to this issue, general SIG advice
and for promoting a solid connection between
the SIG and The Analysis of Verbal Behavior,
and to Jack Michael, also for his contribution
to this issue. Also, a big thanks to those
members who have repeatedly asked to help
(we are going to take you up on your offers!),
and finally those members who have sent in
their dues.
Financial Status
Talking about dues, David reports that our
financial status is as follows:
24 Regular members ($10 for 1999 dues):
$240
1 Student member ($5):
$5
Donations:
$165
Total
$410 (less bank fees, a balance of
$404.62)
continued on page 5
TAVB
continued from page 3
Now we need the same effort devoted to the
Journal. As Editor for the past two years, I
have tried to both nurture and nurse the Journal
to keep it an attractive professional journal
and, with the help of the authors who have
submitted articles (both accepted and not
accepted) and the very fine editorial board, I
am proud of what we have accomplished. In
fact, I think that TAVB is unique among
behavior analytic journals. Notwithstanding the
fact that it is devoted exclusively to verbal
behavior, it includes a wide range of formats
including experimental, theoretical,
philosophical, and applied articles. With the
increased attention to the importance of verbal
behavior both experimentally and theoretically,
as well as the increased attention to teaching
verbal behavior to people with developmental
disabilities, such as autism, and even children
in regular educational settings, I think that the
Journal could become preeminent in the field.
But it needs your help.
VB News - 5
Report
continued from page 4
Some of those funds will go toward mailing
the newsletter, but most of the distribution will
be “on-line”. David notes that members
should probably hold off and pay dues at ABA,
but for those who will not be attending,
David’s address is:
David Reitman, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Louisiana State University
236 Audubon Hall
Baton Rouge, LA 70803
Email: dreitma@unix1.sncc.lsu.edu
Website and Listserv
I was not updating the website
(http://psyc.csustan.edu/verbalbehavior) for a
while as we were scheduled to move to the
Cambridge site with the help of Ken Stephens.
That may still occur, but Ken has his hands full
these days with a new verbal-behavior related
business (see article this issue on VB
applications). However, the discussion web is
still active and I will update the site soon (if
not already – that is by the time that you read
this!). Some new additions will be this
newsletter, and possibly some of Jack
Michael’s objectives for his Verbal Behavior
course (he is in the process of updating and
reorganizing them this semester). Also, we
may still move some of the website’s functions
to the Cambridge Center site in the future. The
listserv (Verbalbeh@listbot.csustan.edu) is still
functioning nicely, although the frequency of
use in not extremely high, several people are
using it to pass along some interesting
questions and information.
Business Meeting and Agenda, ABA 2000
First, the VB SIG business meeting time was
left out of the ABA program due to a
“hyperglitch” (thanks to ABA for quickly
making new arrangements!). The meeting time
will be:
Saturday, May 27th, 7:00-7:50 pm,
in Suite 8219
Some of the agenda items will include what to
do with the money we have, fostering
interdisciplinary collaborations, along with
other items to be announced. Please pass the
meeting time along to interested persons, as it
is not published in the ABA program.
I look forward to another productive year,
promoting VB among ABA members and to
the world!
We Are Not Alone
Janet S. Twyman
Fred S. Keller School
VB SIG Liaison
We are not alone in our interest in behavior
whose consequences are mediated by listeners
(although we may be the only ones to
characterize our interest that way). At the last
VB SIG meeting, Sam Leigland and I were
tapped as “liaisons” between members of the
VB SIG and the broader community of
“language” people. The purpose of this column
is to acquaint members of the VB community
with other organizations, groups, persons,
publications, or resources that are also
interested in communication, language,
thinking, in other words, verbal behavior. It is
hoped that these resources may serve as a
starting point for information, dialogue,
education, or even collaboration among all of
us interested in understanding language,
communication and verbal behavior.
The largest organizational group in America
for people interested in language is ASHA or
continued on page 6
VB News - 6
Not Alone
continued from page 5
the American Speech-Language Hearing
Association (www.asha.org). It is designed to
meet the needs of professionals, students and
consumers. According to their website:
ASHA is the professional,
scientific, and credentialing
association for more than
96,000 audiologists, speechlanguage pathologists, and
speech, language, and hearing
scientists. The mission of
ASHA is to promote the
interests of and provide the
highest quality services for
professionals, and to advocate
for people with communication
disabilities.
Their annual convention (held last November
in San Francisco) typically attracts thousands
of speech pathologists, audiologists, teachers
of the speech and hearing handicapped,
students, and others. ASHA is a powerful
organization that oversees the credentialing
required across the country for SLP (speechlanguage pathologists) to practice. It
frequently sends representatives to Capital Hill
to speak on relevant issues and is an active
lobbying force. The organization publishes
two journals, a newsletter and serves as a
nationwide placement agency. How many of
us are also members of ASHA? In the interest
of forging relationships, how about presenting
some of our work at their national conference,
or inviting them to speak at ours? Or, perhaps
inviting a good researcher or prominent
member to publish in The Analysis of Verbal
Behavior?
ASHA’s primary purpose is to serve the needs
of people looking at delayed or disordered
language. However, there are numerous other
resources that look at language from a variety
of perspectives.
Following is an initial list of these other
organizations and resources, which will be
updated as our awareness increases. As I was
gathering information for the list, I couldn’t
help thinking, “We could add relevant
information here,” "We have something to say
about that," and "We could be of benefit here."
Perhaps knowledge of these outlets for
information will encourage some of us to post
on these listservs or submit informational
pages or leaflets. Or even create our own as
part of the VB SIG webpage, with links to the
major search engines.
Please email to the verbal behavior listserv any
additions to this list you have. We hope it will
grow into a comprehensive database that will
be of use to everyone.
Journals
Asha
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Best Practices in School Speech-Language
Pathology
Brain and Language
Journal of Childhood Communication
Disorders
Journal of Children’s Communication
Development
Journal of Speech-Hearing Research
Language Learning
Language, Speech and Hearing Services in the
Schools
Linguistics and Education
Seminar in Speech and Language
Topics in Language Disorders
Organizations
 ASHA
10801 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
800-638-8255
www.asha.org
continued on page 7
VB News - 7
Not Alone
continued from page 6
 T.A.L.K. (Taking Action against
Language disorders of Kids)
22980 Donna Lane
Bend Oregon 97701
541-389-0004
T.A.L.K.’s mission is to provide
information, resources, advocacy to the
public, medical and educational community
on the importance of early recognition and
treatment of speech and language
disorders in children.
 National Institute on Deafness and other
Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
National Information Clearinghouse
Building 31, Room 3C-35
9000Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20892
301-496-7243
www.nih.gov/nidcd
The NIDCD supports human
communication research.
Listservs
 Children’s Language Disorders
to subscribe send an e-mail message to:
listserv@listserv.arizona.edu In the body
of the message type: subscribe cnet_childrens_lang_disorders Your Name
 latetalkers
to subscribe by emailing a blank message
to: latetalkers-subscribe@onelist.com
Websites
Communicate: A resource for speech
professionals working with individuals with
developmental disabilities.
http://communicative.listbot.com/
Communication Disorders:
www.famlyvillage.wisc.edu/lib_comd.htm
Apraxia-Kids: www.apraziakids.org/index.html
Provides information about apraxia of speech
in children or developmental verbal dyspraxia
Leaflets/Short Publications/News Stories
www.healthtouch.com/level1/leaflets/ASLHA/
ASLHA002.htm = Child Language
www.healthtouch.com/level1/leaflets/ASLHA/
ASLHA034.htm = What is language?
www.healthtouch.com/level1/leaflets/ASLHA/
ASLHA037.htm = Children’s speech
www.healthtouch.com/level1/leaflets/ASLHA/
ASLHA071.htm = Language birth-2
www.healthtouch.com/level1/leaflets/ASLHA/
ASLHA072.htm = Language 2-4 years
www.healthtouch.com/level1/leaflets/ASLHA/
ASLHA073.htm = Language 4-6 years
whyfiles.news.wisc.edu = go to the more
stories section to see science-based articles on
language learning
http://babyparenting.about.com/parenting/baby
parenting/msublearn.htm = has numerous
articles on how kids learn and how to promote
healthy language development
Some Relevant Researchers
Dr. Patricia Kuhl
University of Washington, Seattle - web page:
http://faculty.washington.edu/pkkuhl/ . Dr.
Kuhl has done valuable empirical
investigations of the role of the environment
(linguistic community) on the strengthening of
native speech sounds in infants, young children
and adult speakers.
Dr. Margaret Harris
Royal Holloway University of London (web)
http://psyserver.pc.rhbnc.ac.uk/staff/mharris.ht
ml
Dr. Harris researches the role of caretaker
speech on language acquisition and addresses
the methodology difficulties of the nature vs.
nurture line of questioning (publication:
Language Experience and Early Language
Development: From Input to Uptake)
Corporations Supporting Language Curriculum
and Materials
Communication Skill Builders (A Harcourt
Health Sciences Company)
Scientific Learning (A Neuroscience
Company)
VB News - 8
Applications of
Verbal Behavior:
New Behavioral Companies
Bill Potter
California State University, Stanislaus
Chair, VB SIG
Several new companies, founded and run by
Behavior Analysts, are in the process of
developing products related to verbal behavior.
First, T.V. Joe Layng writes:
Headsprout is a digital media company
that provides unique digital learning
environments for children. Going far
beyond "edutainment," these
environments not only entertain, but
actually teach children complex
subject-matter while they are having fun.
This is accomplished by great
graphics, games, and stories, all built
around a proprietary, ground
breaking, instructional technology. Over
25 years of basic and applied
learning science research has gone into
the development of Headsprout
Digital Worlds (TM) for children.
Other Behavior Analysts involved in this
venture are Kent Johnson, Ed Anderson, and
Greg Stikeleather. One of the first products
they are planning on offering is program to
help children learn to read. Unfortunately, not
much more information is available as the
project is being kept low key, probably due to
competition for such products in the
marketplace. Many of you are familiar with
Kent and Joe’s work at Morningside Academy
in Seattle. They will present information about
this new enterprise at ABA 2000, May 30th –
9 am, in room Lanai 148.
Next, Ken Stephens writes:
There’s another new behavioral company
on the business landscape -- Applied
Behavior Systems. Originally formed by
Bill Hutchison (VB SIG Member), it will
produce software products to train verbal
behavior in various populations. The first
product prototype (“Speech Teach”) is
currently in trials with autistic and DD
children. It trains verbal relations by
presenting video or still photography of
objects or actions, and then prompts the
child to emit the response. The software
incorporates proprietary voice recognition
technology to detect and judge the
response. A software agent, based on
behavioral principles Bill has developed
(and for which patents have been
awarded), keeps track of response
strength in the emerging repertoire and
manages the presentation of trials and the
appropriate level of prompts until mastery
has been achieved. This is a technology
that models stimulus-response
associations within a proprietary,
behaviorally-based “neural network,”
incorporating genetic algorithms and a
unique form of computer-based training
to speed up the time for the software to
learn. This unique methodology allows
the software to evolve as the applications
for the software expand.
Initially, the on-line training will focus
on tacts, intraverbals and increasingly
complex autoclitics, but it will also
provide guidance to parents and teachers
on how to teach the various verbal
relationships “off-line” and how to train
for generalization away from the
computer. The entry level for the first
product assumes at least a minimal
echoic repertoire, but a subsequent
continued on page 9
VB News - 9
Behavioral Companies
continued from page 8
Not only does the company have the strongest
group of “behavioral software engineers”
product will train basic articulation and echoic around and good instructional designers, but it
repertoires. As it develops more instructional
is also strong in other areas that will be critical
content, the company plans to release a product to its success. A talented marketing
to retrain verbal behavior in adults who have
department is headed by Ineke van Ieperen,
suffered head injury or strokes, a similar
formerly a consultant with McKinsey and
product to teach English as a second language, Company. The engineering department is
and possibly a product to aid deaf and hearing- fortunate to include some of the key
impaired speakers in maintaining
engineering talent from BehavHeuristics, who
understandable articulation. Later products
have worked together for many years.
will serve more mainstream educational
markets, including second language
The new company, which is considering
acquisition.
changing its name to something recognized by
a greater segment of the marketplace, is
Bill serves as Chief Scientist of the new
headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. Bill
company. Ken Stephens, who was Bill’s
Hutchison will make a presentation at ABA
partner at BehavHeuristics (another behavioral- 2000 on this project on May 29, at 3 pm, in
based company) for many years, is the CEO.
room Maryland A.
Besides Bill and Ken, other behavior analysts
who will be involved in the company, either as Good luck to both companies!
employees or consultants, so far include Bill
Potter (VB SIG member), Matt Morris, Bruce
Lombardi, Yana Shelton, Mark Sundberg (VB
SIG member), Janet Twyman (VB SIG
member), Steve Kemp, and Mike Todt.
VB SIG BUSINESS MEETING
Saturday, May 27th, 7:00-7:50 pm, in Suite 8219
VB News - 10
The following pages include all the Verbal Behavior related presentations at ABA (as of
compilation of this newsletter), obtained from the ABA website: www.wmich.edu/aba.
ABA 2000
PROGRAM SCHEDULE FOR VRB
# 18 Symposium
5/27/2000
1:00 PM - 2:20 PM Maryland A VRB
Research and Conceptual Issues in Verbal Behavior: An Introduction and Tutorial
Chair: Hank Schlinger (University of California, Los Angeles)
Discussant: Hank Schlinger (University of California, Los Angeles)

Using Verbal Reports as Data: A Tutorial. THOMAS S. CRITCHFIELD (Illinois
State University)

Conceptual Issues in Verbal Behavior: A Tutorial. DAVID C. PALMER (Smith
College)
# 41 Symposium
5/27/2000
2:30 PM - 3:50 PM Maryland A
Verbal Behavior: Where We've Been and Where We're Going
Chair: Matthew Normand (Florida State University)
Discussant: Sam Leigland (Gonzaga University)
VRB

Publication Trends in The Analysis of Verbal Behavior: 1982-1998. MATTHEW
NORMAND (Florida State University), Jeffrey Foss, and Alan Poling (Western
Michigan University)

Some New Approaches to Investigating Verbal Behavior. BILL POTTER
(California State University, Stanislaus)

301 Research Topics from Skinner's Book Verbal Behavior: A Status Report.
MARK L. SUNDBERG (Behavior Analysts, Inc.)
# 54 Invited Event
4:00 PM - 4:50 PM Maryland A
5/27/2000
Words Are Not Things
Chair: Bruce Hesse (California State University, Stanislaus)
VRB
JAY MOORE (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)
On a traditional view, words are things that refer to other things. On a behavior analytic view,
verbal behavior is "behavior that is reinforced through the mediation of other people, but only
when the other people are behaving in ways that have been shaped and maintained by a verbal
environment or language" (Skinner, 1986, p. 121). An appreciation that verbal behavior is
ongoing, functional operant activity occasioned by certain factors and reinforced by its
consequences, particularly with respect to other individuals of the same verbal community, first
of all clarifies a number of topics that are traditionally troublesome, such as meaning, usage,
grammar, syntax, and traditional structural parts of speech. Second, it helps to understand issues
VB News - 11
in the philosophy of science, such as theories and explanations. Third, it emphasizes that such
important phenomena as "equivalence classes" need to be understood appropriately, so that there
is no risk of reinstating the traditional view that words are things that refer to other things.
Dr. Jay Moore received his Ph.D. in 1975 from the University of California, San Diego. He is
currently a professor in the psychology department at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee,
where he has taught since 1977. Dr. Moore has published over fifty papers relevant to behavior
analysis in a wide variety of journals including Journal of the Experimental Analysis of
Behavior, Behavior and Brain Sciences, Behaviorism, Psychological Record, The Analysis of
Verbal Behavior, and The Behavior Analyst. He has served as the editor of The Behavior Analyst
and has been on the editorial boards of several professional journals. Dr. Moore has also served
in many other roles for the Association for Behavior Analysis, including coordinator for
convention papers in Theoretical and Philosophical Analyses of Behavior (1981-1984); Journal
Advisory Board, The Behavior Analyst (1984-1989, 1991-1994); Chair of the Accreditation
Board (1992-1994); and Coordinator of the Standards, Accreditation and Professional Affairs
Board (1995-1997, 1998-2000
VB SIG BUSINESS MEETING
th,
Saturday, May 27 7:00-7:50 pm, in Suite 8219
# 106 Symposium
5/28/2000
9:00 AM - 10:20 AM
Maryland A VRB
From Verbal Behavior Theory to Classroom Practice: Further Studies in Increasing
Communication Repertoires
Chair: Susan Silvestri (Fred S. Keller School)
Discussant: David Palmer (Smith College)

The Effects of a Pairing Procedure on Mand Acquisition. SO-YOUNG YOON and
GINA BENNETT (Fred S. Keller School)

Testing the Role of "Self-Echoics" in the Joint Control of Rule Statements. Janet
Twyman, DEBORAH MEINBERG, and Summer Lucas (Fred S. Keller School)

Teaching Intraverbals to Preschool Children with Speech and Communication
Delays. KAZUKO TSUKAGOSHI, Gina Bennett, and Janet Twyman (Fred S. Keller
School)
VB News - 12
# 117 Symposium
5/28/2000
10:30 AM - 11:50 AM
Maryland A
A Verbal Behavior Sampler
Chair: Bill Roth (University of Kansas)
Discussant: David Reitman (Louisiana State University)
VRB

Clinical Applications in Verbal Behavior. CAROLINE I. MAGYAR (University of
Rochester School of Medicine)

The Demonstration of Receptive and Productive Tacts and Mands by Atlantic
Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Trancatus) Utilizing Recorded Dolphin Whistles as
Auditory Stimuli and Responses. WILLIAM J. ROTH (University of Kansas)

Verbal Behavior in Cultural Context: Verbal Self-Reports of American and
Chinese Natives. Donna Golden, Rachel Tears, Jennifer Sparks (Auburn University), and
THOMAS S. CRITCHFIELD (Illinois State University)
# 149 Symposium
5/28/2000
1:30 PM - 2:50 PM Maryland A VRB
Mand Training for Children with Autism: Some Important Issues
Chair: Stein Lund (Bancroft NeuroHealth)

Teaching Mands for Information by Manipulating Establishing Operations.
MARK L. SUNDBERG, Melisa Loeb, Lisa Behrmann, and Katie Endicott (Behavior
Analysts, Inc.)

Modifying Instructional Techniques to Teach Different Mand Topographies.
JOHN C. BARNARD and Nina C. Wilde (Bancroft NeuroHealth)

Training Nonverbal Children with Autism to Mand: Issues in Choosing
Augmentative Systems. AIMEE ANDERSON and Laura Schreibman (University of
California, San Diego)

Incidental Teaching: Training Teachers to Identify and Reinforce Mands. DAVID
W. SIDENER and Sebastien Bosch (Western Michigan University)
VB News - 13
# 176 Symposium
5/28/2000
3:00 PM - 4:20 PM Maryland A VRB
Teaching Verbal Behavior to Pre-Schoolers: An Analysis of Treatment Approaches
Chair: Carl Cheney (Utah State University)
Discussant: Ernest Vargas (West Virginia University)

Comparing Instruction in 1:1 versus Group Settings for Pre-Readers: Effects on
Verbal Behavior and Incidental Learning. Jeanne Marie Speckman, CHRISTINE
KELLY, and Nyla Lamm (Babies Prep School)

A Functional Analysis of Physical Contact and Echoics, Tacts and Mands.
JEANNE MARIE SPECKMAN, Farasha Williams and Susan Mariano (Babies Prep
School)

Comparison of Bilingual Teaching Methods on Rate of Acquisition. AMOY HUGH
BALTER and Widna Santos (Babies Prep School)
# 227 International Symposium
5/29/2000
9:00 AM - 10:20 AM
Maryland A
Verbal Behavior and Derived Stimulus Relations
Chair: L. Kimberly Epting (Auburn University)
Discussant: Michael L. Markham (Florida International University)
VRB

Stimulus Equivalence and the Analysis of Conceptual Combination. JULIE K.
CLOW (Auburn University)

A Tangled Web? Implications of Derived Stimulus Relations Research for a
Behavior Analysis of "Lying." SIMON DYMOND (Anglia Polytechnic University)

Skinner's Verbal Behavior and Relational Frame Theory: Conflicting or
Complementary Analyses? GENAE HALL (Oakland, CA)
# 237 Symposium
5/29/2000
10:30 AM - 11:50 AM
Maryland A VRB
Classic Issues in Verbal Behavior
Chair: Bruce Hesse (California State University, Stanislaus)
Discussant: David C. Palmer (Smith College)

Links and Curiosities between Verbal Behavior and the Developmental
Literature. JODY LANDIS and Bill Potter (California State University, Stanislaus)

Some Recent Applications of the Verbal Summator. DEB BROWN, Mike Wilson,
Bill Potter (California State University, Stanislaus), Andrew Gardner (Iowa State
University), and Janet Twyman (Fred S. Keller School),

Word Meaning: A Verbal Behavior Account. BARRY LOWENKRON (California
State University, Los Angeles)
VB News - 14
# 255 Poster Session
5/29/2000
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Marriott Salon 2
VRB
86. An Investigation into the Relationship between Task Performance and Own Verbal
Accounts of That Performance. FRANK HAMMONDS (Auburn University)
87. Behavioral Dynamics of Training and Testing Preparations in Stimulus Equivalence
Research. MICHAEL CLAYTON (Shenzhen University, P.R. China)
88. Behavioral Interventions with Language-Delayed Infants. NADIA MAHABIR, Martha
Pelaez, Cynthia Cardenas, Lyret Carasquillo, Tara Calvani, Brenda Johnson, and Maria
Calvalho (Florida International University)
89. Establishing a Writing Repertoire among Middle School Children with Developmental
Delays. VEVEKANAND MADHO (New York City Board of Education)
90. Expressive and Receptive Tacts (Object Labels) and Mands (Requests) Utilizing
Dolphin Emitted Sounds as Discriminative Stimuli and Responses. WILLIAM J. ROTH
(University of Kansas/IMMS)
91. Learning with Delayed Reinforcement: An Investigation of Self-Generated Rules. TOM
BYRNE, Sarah McNulty, Debra Connors, Coarine Maloy, Jennifer MacMillan, Quinton
Babcock, and Felicia Duguay (Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts)
92. Promoting French Fluency with Precision Teaching. DELIA BEN CHAABANE, Slim
Ben Chaabane, and Barry Morgenstern (The Ohio State University)
93. Protocol Analysis and Silent Dog Method Applied to the Study of Sensitivity to
Contingencies. FRANCISCO CABELLO, M. Carmen Luciano, Sonsoles Valdivia, and
Inmaculada Gómez (Universidad de Almería)
94. Quantitative Modeling of Rule-Governed Behavior. JAIME ROBLES (Universidad
Católica Andrés Bello) and Guillermo Yaber (Universidad Simón Bolívar)
95. Reducing a Chronic Vocal and Motor Tic through Attention Manipulation. MARK E.
WILDMON, Nancy Grace, Cheryl Knight (Kennedy Krieger Institute), and T. Steuart
Watson (Mississippi State University)
96. Stimulus Quivalence with Intraverbals. LUIS A. PEREZ-GONZALEZ (University of
Oviedo)
97. Teaching Functionally Equivalent and Socially Acceptable Form of Communication to
Replace Inappropriate Behaviors. SO-YOUNG YOON, Ioanna Tsiouri, Gina Bennett, and
Deborah Meinberg (Fred S. Keller School)
98. The Components of Fluent Prose Reading: Conceptual and Methodological
Preliminaries. DAN PALMER and Vicki Lee (Monash University)
99. The Effect on Insensitivity of Different Rule-Following Histories. Inmaculada Gómez,
M. CARMEN LUCIANO, Olga Gutierrez, and Mónica Hernández (University of Almería)
100.
The Effects of a Self-Management Program to Decrease the Frequency of Tobacco
Chewing. DAVID BICARD (The Ohio State University)
VB News - 15
101.
The Effects of Automatic Reinforcement on Vocal Behavior of Children
Diagnosed with Autism. CAIO MIGUEL, Sebastien Bosch, Jack Michael and (Western
Michigan University)
102.
The Effects of Stating Contingency-Specifying Stimuli on Compliance in Children.
STEPHEN D. A. HUPP, David Reitman, Andrea Ridgway, Patrick O'Callaghan, and
Monique LeBlanc (Louisiana State University)
103.
The Functional Analysis of Linguistic Acquisition: Preliminary Data. CARLOS
B.A. DE SOUZA and Francois Tonneau (Centro de Estudios e Investigaciones en
Comportamiento - Universidade de Guadalajara)
104.
Training Mands and Intraverbals within a Typical Routine Using Time Delay
Procedures. KIMBERLY P. WEBER, Beth Ann Jacobs, and Barbara L. Simpson (Gonzaga
University)
# 256 Paper Session
5/29/2000
1:30 PM - 02:20 PM
Maryland A
Applications of Verbal Behavior
Chair: Matthew Normand (Florida State University)
VRB
Shaping Verbal Behavior in a Young Child with Down's Syndrome. KAREN WAGNER and
Janice Renk (Behavior Services of Brevard, Inc.)
A Behavioral Analysis of Affection. FERNANDO GUERRERO, Jorge O. Nossa, Carlos
Cortes, Oscar Javier Robayo, Luisa Fernanda Cañon, Ingrid Buff (Konrad Lorenz University),
and Rene Quiñones (University of Nevada, Reno)
# 278 Invited Event
5/29/2000
3:00 PM - 3:50 PM Maryland A VRB
Computers Learn and Teach Verbal Behavior
Chair: Bill Potter (California State University, Stanislaus)
WILLIAM R. HUTCHISON (Applied Behavior Systems)
The author will describe a new computer system to teach developmentally delayed children to
talk. This system is interesting for behavior analysts in at least 3 ways. The first is that the
curriculum to be taught is based on Skinner's analysis of verbal behavior, which will show the
value of this analysis to teachers and parents using it. The second is that the voice recognition
component is a computer model of operant learning in which the stimuli are speech sounds and
the responses are simulated motor movements of speech articulators (lips, tongue, glottis, velum,
and diaphragm). The third is that the new verbal behavior teaching system will be used not only
to train developmentally delayed children, but also to train a copy of the computer model of
operant learning. The long-term objective is a robotic simulation of an operant organism learning
increasingly complex verbal behavior. The simulation should not only enhance our own
molecular understanding of verbal behavior, but also prove the sufficiency of Skinner's analysis.
VB News - 16
Dr. William Hutchison received his Ph.D. in 1976 from the State University of New York at
Stony Brook. He has a unique combination of skills including an extensive history of computer
programming, formal training in behavior analysis, and an excellent grasp of the concepts from
Skinner's book Verbal Behavior. Among his long list of publications and professional
accomplishments is his development of the Seventh Generation (7G) system, an autonomous
adaptive agent capable of learning complex behaviors, verbal behaviors, and goal-oriented
behaviors. He has developed systematic training procedures for teaching 7G agents to imitate,
name objects and actions, follow instructions, memorize verbal sequences including rules and
facts, use correct word order, solve problems requiring creativity, and follow explicit memorized
rules in novel situations (with pending patents). Dr. Hutchison has also converted 7G to Java and
developed virtual reality (VRML) and robotic implementations. Additionally, he has added
speech synthesis, voice recognition, and vision to the agent, and developed automatic learning of
syntax, conditioned reinforcement of verbal behavior, stimulus equivalence phenomena,
selective attention, and the replication of experiments with children learning logical relations.
# 331 International Symposium
5/30/2000
9:00 AM - 10:20 AM
Maryland A VRB
Verbal Behavior and Self-Awareness: Empirical Approaches
Chair: Scott Beal (Auburn University)
Discussant: Cloyd Hyten (University of North Texas)

Effects of Feedback, Reinforcement, and Observation Vantage Point on Verbal
Report Bias and Accuracy. SCOTT BEAL (Auburn University)

Acquisition of Reporting about Saying and Doing. M. CARMEN LUCIANO
(University of Almería)

The Experimental Analysis of Self-Editing: A Hybrid Approach. L. KIMBERLY
EPTING (Auburn University