Tactics of just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive scientific research
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Abstract
The principles of social justice, equity, diversity, inclusion (JEDI) have received increasing attention in behavior analysis circles, but the conversation has largely centered on implications for applied behavior analysis practice and research. It may be less clear to researchers who conduct basic and translational research how JEDI principles can inform and inspire their work. This article synthesizes publications from behavior analysis and other scientific fields about tactics of JEDI-informed research. We organized this scholarship across five stages of research from developing the research question to sharing findings and curated sources for an audience of behavioral science researchers. We discuss reflexive practice, representation, belongingness, participatory research, quantitative critical theory, and open science, among other topics. Some researchers may have already adopted some of the practices outlined, some may begin new practices, and some may choose to conduct experimental analyses of JEDI problems. Our hope is that those actions will be reinforced by the behavior analysis scientific community. We conclude by encouraging the leadership of this journal to continue to work toward the structural changes necessary to make the experimental analysis of behavior just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive.
Behavior-analytic scholarship related to issues of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) has expanded in the past decade, but for the most part the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (JEAB) has not participated in the conversation. JEAB's stated primary purpose, “the original publication of experiments relevant to the behavior of individual organisms” (Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1958), does not mention JEDI issues specifically, but we believe that there is a need for JEDI scholarship in JEAB for two reasons. First, basic research journals are not immune from exclusionary practices, and the subscribers, authors, and editors who read, contribute to, and publish them are not excused from doing the work needed to ensure that behavior analysis is open to anyone. Second and perhaps more important, JEDI issues are central to our science because they are central to our humanity. Through action or inaction, every organization and community of humans takes a position on JEDI issues. In this article, we contemplate what it might mean to incorporate JEDI principles into basic research in the experimental analysis of behavior. We humbly offer suggestions about how researchers and journal leadership could address JEDI issues in the pages of this journal.
