Sammendrag:

Vollmer and Pendergrass (2025) recently provided commentary on the implications of social validity in contemporary applied behavior analysis. In the current presentation, Dr. Vollmer will extend this discussion by showing specific examples of challenging decisions related to social validation. Social validity (Wolf, 1978) refers to the extent to which goals, procedures, and outcomes are acceptable to consumers. Wolf’s seminal introduction to social validity remains crucial for present-day research and practice. However, it is difficult at times to ascertain who should be considered the consumer (e.g., Parent? Child? Teacher?), and to identify boundaries and guidelines for social validation. By way of medical analogy, a child may actively dissent receiving stitches as treatment for a severe wound, but a parent and physician agree there is medical necessity and that stitches are needed in the patient’s longer-term best interest. Similarly, behavior analysts face challenges with many goals (e.g., oral hygiene, self-feeding, bedtime management, classroom management) where a client may dissent, but others consent based on perception of the client’s longer-term best interest. Also, procedures (e.g., escape extinction) and outcomes (e.g., less than perfect behavior change) can be controversial and require special consideration when social validation is balanced. Examples from clinical cases and behavioral research will be described.