The ACBS Board of Directors is pleased to present the Final Report of the ACBS Task Force on the Strategies and Tactics of Contextual Behavioral Science Research.
Two and one-half years in the making, this Report is the result of several hundred hours of work by a 19 member Task Force, which was very carefully assembled by former ACBS President Louse Hayes and has been working ever since.
The Task Force members are: (Chair) Steven C. Hayes, (Co-Chair) Rhonda M. Merwin
(Executive Committee) Louise McHugh, Emily Sandoz, Jacqueline A. Tjak, Francisco J. Ruiz
(Additional Taks Force Members) Dermot Barnes-Holmes, Jonathan B. Bricker, Joseph Ciarrochi, Mark R. Dixon, Kenneth Fung, Andrew T. Gloster, Robyn L. Gobin, Evelyn R. Gould, Stefan G. Hofmann, Roscoe Kasujja, Maria Karekela, Carmen Luciano, and Lance M. McCracken
This ground-breaking report is the first of its kind, not just in CBS, but to our knowledge in any of the major behavioral science associations. This report is important because it is meant to say to ourselves and the world what it is that we want from our science. It addresses the kinds of research we think we need and why. In a deep sense it is meant to speak to our values and goals as an Association.
The full report has been accepted by JCBS (the Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science) for publication and is now available here.
As you will see when you read it, many of these ideas are cutting edge, and we hope and trust that the Report will make an impact even beyond the bounds of ACBS itself. While all of you always have the ability to download JCBS articles for free as ACBS members, the Board of Directors has authorized the publication of the Report as an open access document. It is thus available for free to everyone, worldwide, and can be distributed without restriction.
You can help ACBS make a difference by sharing this important report with your colleague, students, other listservs, social media, and the like. Please distribute it widely and engage others in the discussion of its contents. There will also be a discussion of the Report at the World Conference on 25 June (Friday) at 4:00pm CEST as well, with major discussants including Anne Marie Albano, Michelle Craske, and Vikram Patel.
The aspirational motto of ACBS is "creating a behavioral science more adequate to the challenge of the human condition." On behalf of the Association, a group of 19 of your respected colleagues have pondered how we can best continue that journey over the next several years. The Board has accepted the Report as an official statement of the Association.
We hope that you find it to be forward looking and uplifting, and we hope it reflects the kinds of research you would like to see as a part of contextual behavioral science.
Sincerely,
ACBS Board of Directors