Faculty

Edward K. Morris, Ph.D.

Professor and Chairperson

Department of Applied Behavioral Science
4020 Dole Human Development Center
Department Phone: 785.864.4840
Office phone: 785.864.0519
Fax: 785.864.5202
E-mail: ekm@ku.edu

B.S. Denison University (Psychology), 1970
M.A. University of Illinois (Developmental Psychology), 1974
Ph.D. University of Illinois (Developmental Psychology), 1976
Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BACB)

Undergraduate Specialty Area(s)

Basic Research and Conceptual Foundations

Undergraduate and Graduate Courses

ABSC 693 Practicum in Historical and Conceptual Foundations
ABSC 798 Conceptual Foundations of Applied Behavioral Science
ABSC 821 Behavior Analysis of Child Development
ABSC 841 Legal, Ethical, and Professional Isues
ABSC 921 History and Systems of Psychology
ABSC 931 Verbal Behavior

Research and Scholarly Interests

My main interests lie in "history and theory" in the behavioral, social, and cognitive sciences, with an emphasis on behavior analysis. This includes both the natural science of behavior (i.e., the experimental analysis of behavior) and behavior’s natural history (e.g., development, language, cognition). Among my current interests are the role of contextualism in behaviorism, context in the analysis of behavior, the history of applied behavior analysis, and the integration of behavior analysis with like-minded perspectives (e.g., ecological approaches to cognition).

Service and Professional Interests

I have served as president of the Association for Behavior Analysis and Division 25 for Behavior Analysis of the American Psychological Association. Currently, I am president of Kansas Association for Behavior Analysis and of the University of Kansas chapter of Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society. I have served as editor of The Behavior Analyst and two newsletters -- The Recorder (APA Division 25's newsletter) and The Interbehaviorist. Among my professional interests are the teaching and dissemination of behavior analysis.

Representative Publications

Morris, E. K., Higgins, S. T., & Bickel, W. K. (1982). Comments on cognitive science in the experimental analysis of behavior. The Behavior Analyst, 5, 109-125.

Morris, E. K. (1988). Contextualism: The world view of behavior analysis. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 46, 289 323.

Midgley, B. D., & Morris, E. K. (1992). Nature = f(nurture): A review of Oyama’s The ontogeny of information: Developmental systems and evolution. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 58, 229-240.

Morris, E. K. (1992). The aim, progress, and evolution of behavior analysis. The Behavior Analyst, 15, 3-29.

Todd, J. T., & Morris, E. K. (1992). Case studies in the great power of steady misrepresentation. American Psychologist, 47, 1441-1453.

Todd, J. T., & Morris, E. K. (Eds.). (1994). Modern perspectives on J. B. Watson and classical behaviorism. Westport, CT: Greenwood.

Todd, J. T., & Morris, E. K. (Eds.). (1995). Modern perspectives on B. F. Skinner and contemporary behaviorism.  Westport, CT: Greenwood.

Morris, E. K. (2003). Behavior analysis and a modern psychology: Programs of direct action. In K. A. Lattal & P. N. Chase (Eds.), Behavior theory and philosophy (pp. 275-298). New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Press.

Morris, E. K., Lazo, J. F., & Smith, N. G. (2004). Whether, when, and why Skinner published on biological participation. The Behavior Analyst, 27, 153-169.

Morris, E. K., Altus, A. E., & Smith, N. G. (2005). B. F. Skinner’s contributions to applied behavior analysis. The Behavior Analyst, 28, 99-131.

Midgley, B. D., & Morris, E. K. (Eds.). (2006). Modern perspectives on J. R. Kantor and interbehavioral   psychology. Reno, NV: Context Press.

Morris, E. K. (in press). A case study in the misrepresentation of applied behavior analysis in autism: The Gernsbacher lectures. The Behavior Analyst.

Morris, E. K. (in press). Behavior analysis and ecological psychology: Comparisons, contrasts, and complementarities. A review of Harry Heft’s Ecological Psychology in Context. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.