Michael Palmer

Other titles

Director of the Certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis (C-ABA) Program

I am an Associate Teaching Professor and the Director of the Certificate in Applied Behaviour Analysis (C-ABA) Program at the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton. I earned my Master’s degree in 2014 and my Ph.D. in 2017 from Central Michigan University and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) in 2015.

While at CMU, I worked as a behaviour interventionist, lead therapist, and clinical supervisor at the Central Autism Treatment Center, gaining hands-on experience supporting individuals with autism. I was also part of Michigan’s first Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program cohort, which gave me a deeper appreciation for interdisciplinary approaches to neurodevelopmental care.

Since moving to New Brunswick in 2017, I have been actively involved in growing the field of behaviour analysis in the Atlantic Provinces, previously serving as President of the Atlantic Provinces Association for Behaviour Analysis (APABA) and contributing to its research and advocacy efforts.

As an instructor, I strive to make learning engaging, inclusive, and practical. I mostly teach courses in the C-ABA Program such as Foundations of Learning and Introduction to ABA, with a focus on providing students with skills they can apply beyond the classroom.

My teaching philosophy is guided by three core values: Collaboration, Growth, and Application. As the C-ABA Program Director and faculty member, I find it especially rewarding to mentor students who are preparing for careers in behaviour analysis and other helping professions.

My scholarly interests focus on improving the quality of life for employees and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as critically examining long-standing beliefs within the behaviour sciences to determine which hold up to scientific scrutiny.

I am also passionate about making ABA more compassionate, neuro-affirming, and beneficial to those who receive services grounded in ABA.

Research and publications

Palmer, M. G. (2023). Giving performance feedback that makes a difference. In Hall, C., Maich, K., & Anderson, B. M. (Eds.) People Skills for Behavior Analysts (1st ed.). Routledge.

Palmer, M. G. (2023). Interviewing strategies: Integrating practices from industrial/organizational psychology into behaviour analysis for successful hiring. In Hall, C., Maich, K., & Anderson, B. M. (Eds.) People Skills for Behavior Analysts (1st ed.). Routledge.

Palmer, M. G. & Johnson, C. M. (2023). Observing the behavior of organisms in organizational behavior management. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 44 (2), 125-149 .

Palmer, M. G. (2023). Statement on the Use of Procedures that Increase Risk of Harm [White Paper]. Atlantic Provinces Association for Behaviour Analysis.

Palmer, M. G., Black, J. L., Levis, C., Robinson, N., Kaye, S., Legacy, D., & Nau, P. (2021). Statement on the Professional Practice of Behaviour Analysis in the Atlantic Provinces [White Paper]. Atlantic Provinces Association for Behaviour Analysis.

Palmer, M. G., & Johnson, C. M. (2019). Experimenter presence in human behavior analytic laboratory studies: Confound it? Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, 19(4), 303–314.

Education

• Ph.D. (Experimental Psychology) Central Michigan University (2017)
• M.S. (Applied Experimental Psychology) Central Michigan University, (2014)
• M.S. (Applied Experimental Psychology) Central Michigan University, (2014)

Teaching

• Undergraduate courses:
  • PSYC 2515 - Foundations of Learning
  • PSYC 3125 - Single Case Research Design
  • PSYC 3515 - Introduction to Applied Behaviour Analysis
  • PSYC 3565 - Clinical Behaviour Change
  • PSYC 3575 - Organizational Behaviour Management
  • Practicum Courses in ABA

Professional awards and achievements

• MI-LEND Fellow
• Nominated for UNB Faculty of Arts Award for Excellence in Teaching (2018, 2021, 2022)
• Nominated for the Dr. Allan P. Stuart Award for Excellence in Teaching (2020)
• CHSBS Student Paper Competition Award (2014)