Alicia M. Alvero & John Austin (2004).
The effects of conducting behavioral observations on the behavior of the observer.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
37, 457-468.
Behavior-analytic approaches to occupational safety are often effective for improving safety in
organizations, and have been successful in a wide variety of settings. The effects of these safety
processes are thought to arise primarily from the behavioral observation process and the delivery
of feedback. Typically, supervisors or employee observers involved in behavioral safety
implementations conduct observations. The present study was an attempt to assess the effects of
conducting observations on an observer's safety performance. An ABC multiple baseline
counterbalanced across two sets of behaviors was conducted in a simulated office. The target
behaviors involved knee and back positions during lifts; back, shoulder, and feet positions while
sitting; neck and wrist positions while typing; and neck position during phone use. Substantial
improvements in safety performance occurred after participants conducted observations on a
videotape of a confederate's performance. The possible behavioral functions responsible for this
change, and the implications of these findings for applied settings, are discussed.
DESCRIPTORS: behavioral safety, office safety behaviors, conducting observations, observer
performance