Don later gained early admittance to the University of Chicago where he received his doctoral degree in 1957 under the direction of Jacob L. Gewirtz (Poulson, 2002).
Collectively, Baer and Bijou established the behavior analysis approach to child development at the University of Washington (Anonymous, 2002).
An influential paper titled "Effect of withdrawal of positive reinforcement on an extinguishing response in young children" was written during this time (Baer, 1961).
This research article established the effectiveness of "withdrawal of positive reinforcement" as a means of reducing behavior (Baer, 1961, p. 1).
Due to various professors retiring, the University of Kansas decided to dissolve its Home Economics Department in the early 1960s.
Horowitz and Donald Baer had conversed at American Psychological Association (APA) meetings for years and became great friends.
At the University of Kansas, Baer began recruiting behavioral researchers for his newly formed department (Glover, pp. 146).
The fruits of their research yielded the development of the discipline of applied behavior analysis (ABA) at the University of Kansas late in the 1960s.
Applied behavior analysis concentrates on "empirically-based interventions into problems of individual, social, and cultural importance" (Anonymous, 2002, p. 1).
According to Glover (1987), Baer established at Kansas "one of the outstanding centers for research in applied behavior analysis" (pp. 146).
Twenty years later, Baer et al. published an updated version, "Some still current dimensions of applied behavior analysis" (pp. 406).
Baer and colleagues urged school systems to establish maintenance programs to help developmentally delayed children to continue and improve on their question-asking strategy.
By maintaining this ability with the children, they will not only improve question-asking but save the school system valuable time and money from remedial training.
Baer also spent much time traveling to other countries, including Australia, Japan, and Spain, while serving as a distinguished visiting professor.
Author of Publication on Donald Baer: Kevin Phelan - University of North Carolina, Wilmington - 2008 - PSY 410 - History and Systems of Psychology - Final Paper