The Global Association of Applied Behavioural Scientists

About GAABS

The Global Association of Applied Behavioural Scientists is the first and only professional association to bridge behavioural science in academia with the real-world dynamics encountered by practitioners in the field. GAABS members must demonstrate their commitment to ethical and evidence-based intervention approaches to be admitted to the association. With members from around the globe, GAABS:

  • Promotes ethics in behavioural science application

  • Distributes annual awards for the highest calibre work that demonstrates real-world applicability for practitioners

  • Conducts cross-cutting research

  • Establishes baseline real-world understanding

  • Works to advance the practice of behavioural science in the field

GAABS’ Purpose

Applied behavioural science is a growing and unregulated field. No function exists to serve the interests of bona fide practitioners. Consequently, the needs of professional practitioners and those that commission services are currently under-represented.

GAABS was founded to address this gap by:

  • Safeguarding and maintaining the quality and standards of applied behavioural scientists;

  • Representing the legitimate interests of current and future members; 

  • Promoting the discipline’s most important insights and applications.

GAABS’ Goals

Serve as a quality stamp for members and help individuals or organisations interested in acquiring Behavioural Science expertise navigate and identify high-performing practitioners. 

Promote high-quality ethical behavioural science application in all arenas through a set of agreed principles. 

Bridge academia and practice and increase awareness of the field’s most important insights. 

Encourage and support a responsible concern for human rights, ethical and  environmental issues, consistent with the UN sustainable development goals. 

Safeguard the authenticity and integrity of applied behavioural science, taking measures to eliminate conduct which might place this at risk. 

  • “The need for a professional body of behavioural scientists is great. The resolution in the form of GAABS is inspired.”

    Robert Cialdini, Emeritus Professor at the Arizona State University and GAABS Advisor

  • “Amidst rapid global growth of applied behavioral science, developing quality standards and safeguarding ethical practices are important goals for GAABS to undertake.”

    Jennifer Lerner, Thornton F. Bradshaw Professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and GAABS Advisor

  • “GAABS has a member base of excellent and inspiring behavioural practitioners. The Awards are the platform they deserve to showcase their high quality behavioural science applications.”

    Pelle Hansen, Behavioural Scientist at Roskilde University and GAABS Advisor