Thesis

I am happy to supervise your final thesis. Topics that particularly interest me can be found under “Projects.” Some of these topics have already been partially worked on.

Please note:

• I am open to all topics. However, I expect – especially if the topic suggestion comes from the student – that you have worked out a specific question that you want to answer in the final thesis. So do not say, “I want to write about...“  but “I would like to find out whether/how [etc.]...” (this is mainly for your benefit because it will make it easier for you to keep the “central theme” in your work later on).
• If you have one or more questions that are as specific as possible (I highly recommend that you make notes on this in advance), please email me and briefly explain your idea. We will then arrange an appointment to talk.
  
• At this meeting (and possibly others), we will further specify your idea and discuss how you might answer your research question.
• Before I sign the application for admission to the thesis topic (BSA: see also the information in BSA-Info on the subject of bachelor theses, in particular, the guidelines linked here), I expect a short synopsis.
• In the synopsis/exposé, you should essentially explain what you want to find out with your thesis (research problem and question) and how you want to do it (possible methods: literature research or empirical study; if empirical, then for example as a case study, non-experimental, or (quasi-)experimental study, e.g., a Single-Case-Design). Please keep in mind that the method must match the research question.
  

Research Foci

• Behavior Analysis with dogs and dog-owners (cooperation with the German professional association of dog trainers and behavior consultants)
  
• Behavior Analysis in Sports, Fitness and Health
  
• Behavior Based Safety (BBS) in industrial plants
• BBS in small businesses
• Behavioral Community Interventions
• The Barnum-Effect
  

Please see also the website on Behavior Based Safety (BBS)

Publications

Articles in Journals and Edited Books

2025

• Bördlein, C., & Kade, L. (2025). Behavior-based safety with paramedics. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management. doi.org/10.1080/01608061.2025.2454294
• Erbacher, J. C. E., & Bördlein, C. (2025). Dog-assisted interventions for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Research on Social Work Practice. doi.org/10.1177/10497315241307635
  

2024

• (2024, October 1). Behavioral Safety in Unusual Working Environments. Behavior Analysis Blogs. science.abainternational.org/2024/10/01/behavioral-safety-in-unusual-working-environments/
  
• Verhaltensbasierte Sicherheit (BBS) [Behavior-Based Safety]. In Arbeitsschutz besser managen (Vol. 05040). TÜV Rheinland. asm.tuev-media.de
  
• & Acikgoz, Y. (2024). Interview on behavioral psychology in Germany. In Y. Acikgoz (Ed.), Dialogues on Culture and Psychology: Interviews with Psychologists from Around the World. Ethics Press. ethicspress.com/products/dialogues-on-culture-and-psychology
  
• Göhring, A., & Bördlein, C. (2024). Using brief habit reversal to decrease speech disfluencies in public speaking. A systematic replication. Research on Social Work Practice. doi.org/10.1177/10497315241301372
  
• Kade, L., & Bördlein, C. (2024). Behavioral safety in a dental surgery facility. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management. doi.org/10.1080/01608061.2024.2382980
  

2023

• Behavior Based Safety (BBS): sicherheitsbewusstes Mitarbeiterverhalten positiv verstärken [Behavior-based safety: positively reinforcing safety-conscious employee behavior]. Werkwandel, 2023(2), 41-43.
• Jenseits von Schuld und Strafe – Menschenrechtliche Perspektiven der Verhaltensorientierten Soziale Arbeit [Beyond guilt and punishment. Human rights perspectives of behavioral social work]. THWS Science Journal, 6(1), 46-51. doi.org/10.57714/cj5c-z725
  
• Verhaltensorientierte Arbeitssicherheit und Sicherheitskultur [Behavior-based safety and safety culture]. Arbeitsschutz in Recht und Praxis, 4(11), 329-332.
  
• Wer heilt hat Recht. Stimmt das? [He who heals is right. Is that right?]. Skeptiker, 36(1), 27-30.

2022

• Behavioral safety for culture change. The Proceedings of Mechanical Engineering Congress, Japan, 2022(0), S171-102. doi.org/10.1299/jsmemecj.2022.S171-02
• Sicheres und gesundes Verhalten positiv verstärken – Die Methode Verhaltensorientierte Arbeitssicherheit (BBS) [Positively reinforcing safe and healthy behavior - The Behavior Based Safety Method (BBS)]. In Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung e.V. (DGUV) (Ed.), 6. Fachgespräch Psyche und Kultur der Prävention – Sicheres und gesundes Verhalten fördern durch Kulturentwicklung (pp. 22-25). DGUV. publikationen.dguv.de/forschung/dguv-report/4395/dguv-report-1/2022-6.-fachgespraech-psyche-und-kultur-der-praevention-sicheres-und-gesundes-verhalt
• Shimizu, S., Kan, C., Bördlein, C., Nobuhiro , M., Kobayashi, Y., Yasui, N., Asano, Y., Koremura, Y., & Hojo, R. (2022, 7-9 March 2022). Psychological and subjective well-being under corporative worksite at an automobile manufacturing. 2022 IEEE 4th Global Conference on Life Sciences and Technologies (LifeTech).
  

2021

• Bördlein, C., Richling, S. M., & Seniuk, H. (2021). Editorial: An introduction to the special section on international perspectives on cultural and social issues. Behavior and Social Issues. doi.org/10.1007/s42822-021-00079-7
  
• Bördlein, C., & Zeitler, L. (2021). Risikofaktor Notfall: Zum sicheren Verhalten von Rettungskräften im Einsatz [Risk factor emergency: On the safe behavior of rescue personnel in the field]. Rettungsdienst, 44(8), 722-726.
  
• Bördlein, C., & Zeitler, L. (2021). Sicheres Verhalten bei Rettungskräften [Safe behavior with rescue workers]. Sicherheitsingenieur, 53(5), 8-12.
• Hojo, R., Sujino, T., Bördlein, C., Koremura, Y., & Shimizu, S. (2021, 9-11 March). Risk distribution method from worker behavior measurement using Behavior-Based Safety procedure. 2021 IEEE 3rd Global Conference on Life Sciences and Technologies (LifeTech). doi.org/10.1109/LifeTech52111.2021.9391969
  
• Löbmann, R., & Bördlein, C. Verhaltensorientierte Gemeinwesenarbeit als Kompetenz zukünftiger (klinischer) Sozialarbeiter*innen [Behavioral community social work as a competency of future (clinical) social workers]. Klinische Sozialarbeit. Zeitschrift für Psychosoziale Praxis und Forschung, 17(1), 7-10.
  

2020

• Promoting hand sanitizer use in a University cafeteria. Behavior and Social Issues, 29(1), 255-263. doi.org/10.1007/s42822-020-00026-y
• & Sander, A. Habit reversal to decrease filled pauses in public speaking: A partial replication. Research on Social Work Practice, 30(5), 491-495. doi.org/10.1177/1049731519894663
• & Zeitler, L. Das Verhalten der Mitarbeiter verstehen. Die Performance Diagnostic Checklist-Safety. Sicherheitsingenieur, 52(3), 22-25.
• Hojo, R., Bördlein, C., Hamajima, K., Umezaki, S., & Shimizu, S. (2020, 10-12 March). For a quantitative evaluation of risk assessment - behavior-based safety. 2020 IEEE 2nd Global Conference on Life Sciences and Technologies (LifeTech), Kyoto, Japan. doi.org/10.1109/LifeTech48969.2020.1570619864
• Hojo, R., Bördlein, C., Kikkawa, N., & Shimizu, S. Wearables und verhaltensorientierte Sicherheit im Rahmen des unterstützenden Sicherheitssystems SSS in Japan [Safeguarding Supportive System (SSS) using wearable devices and behavior-based safety in Japan]. DGUV Forum(9), 26-28. forum.dguv.de/ausgabe/9-2020/artikel/wearables-und-verhaltensorientierte-sicherheit-im-rahmen-des-unterstuetzenden-sicherheitssystems-sss-in-japan
  
• Lehmann, D. C., & Bördlein, C. A systematic review of culturally adapted behavioral activation treatments for depression. Research on Social Work Practice 30(6), 688-702. doi.org/10.1177/1049731520915635
• Taube, V., & Bördlein, C. Social work research in German-speaking countries. Research on Social Work Practice, 30(5), 475-478. doi.org/10.1177/1049731520904132
• Vorbeck, B., & Bördlein, C. Using auditory feedback in body weight training. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 53(4), 2349–2359. doi.org/10.1002/jaba.723

2018

• Student-directed behavioral community interventions in social work education. Research on Social Work Practice, 28(6), 731-741. doi.org/10.1177/1049731518755011 
• Verhaltensorientierte Arbeitssicherheit und die Sicherheitskultur [Behavior-based safety and the safety culture]. Sicherheitsingenieur, 50(2), 32-35.

2016

• Verhaltensorientierte Arbeitssicherheit - Behavior Based Safety (BBS). Sicherheitsingenieur, 48(5), 22-24.

2013/2014

• Die Wirkung von Zucker auf Verhalten und Leistung. Skeptiker, 26(4), 156-161 and 27(1), 13-17. (Translation of Flora, S. R., & Polenick, C. A. (2013). Effects of sugar consumption on human behavior and performance. The Psychological Record, 63(3), 513-524).

2013

• Wissenschaftstheoretische und verhaltenswissenschaftliche Grundlagen der Verhaltensorientierten Sozialen Arbeit [Conceptual and behavior analytic foundations of behavioral social work]. In M. Blanz, F. Como-Zipfel & F.J. Schermer (Eds.), Verhaltensorientierte Soziale Arbeit. Grundlagen, Methoden, Handlungsfelder (pp. 34-60). Stuttgart: Kohlhammer. (First textbook on behavioral social work in German).

2012

• Verhaltensbasierter Arbeitsschutz: Prinzipien eines Behavior-Based-Safety-Programms (BBS). In B. Tünnesen (Ed.), Handbuch des EHS Managers (pp. 137-207). Göttingen: Sierke Verlag.

2010

• Arbeitssicherheit: Führung durch positive Verstärkung [Workplace safety: Leading through positive reinforcement]. Wirtschaftspsychologie aktuell, 17(1), 9-13. (Wirtschaftspsychologie aktuell is one of Germany’s leading journals for the practice of organizational psychology)
• Verhaltensorientierte Arbeitssicherheit bei Berufskraftfahrern – Konzepte und Erfolge [Behavioral safety with professional drivers]. In R. Trimpop, G. Gericke, J. Lau (Eds.), Psychologie der Arbeitssicherheit und Gesundheit (p. 191-194). Kröning: Asanger Verlag.

2009

• Der Faktor Mensch in der Arbeitssicherheit. PPF, 2009(4), 78-79.
• Verhaltensorientierte Arbeitssicherheit – BBS. Die BG, 121, 79-82.
• Verhaltensorientierte Arbeitssicherheit (Behavior Based Safety, BBS). Sicher ist sicher – Arbeitsschutz aktuell, 60, 131-132.

(several articles on Behavior Based Safety, published in German safety journals).

2006

• Evidenzbasierte Behandlung der Posttraumatischen Belastungsreaktion: Dünne Forschungslage [Evidence-based treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder: Only airy evidence]. Skeptiker, 19(2), 67-68. (Skeptiker is the German equivalent to Skeptical Inquirer)

2005

• Verhaltensorientierte Arbeitssicherheit. Positive Verstärkung für weniger Unfälle [Behavior Based Safety. Positive reinforcement for fewer accidents]. Sicherheitsingenieur, 36(9), 36-41 and (10), 34-41. (Sicherheitsingenieur is Germany’s leading journal for safety professionals)
• B. F. Skinner: Leben, Werk und heutige Rezeption [B.F.Skinner -Life, works and current reception]. Verhaltenstherapie und psychosoziale Praxis (VPP), 37(4), 713-720. (VPP is Germany’s leading journal for behavior therapists)

Books and Monographs

• (2022). Methoden der angewandten Verhaltensanalyse. Eine Einführung [Research Methods of Applied Behavior Analysis. An Introduction]. Eine Einführung. Kohlhammer.
• (2022). Verhaltensorientierte Arbeitssicherheit – Behavior Based Safety (BBS), 3rd ed. Erich-Schmidt-Verlag.
  
• Tosolin, F., Gatti, M., Sigurdsson, S. O., Alavosius, M. P., Austin, J., Bördlein, C., Hantula, D., Marella, F., McCarthy, M., & McSween, T. E. (2020, 23–27 June). Protocol for the management and the monitoring of the measurements for the COVID19 containment. Consensus Conference realized during the 14th European Conference on BBS and PM, Milano.
  
• (2018). (together with Anna Biebl). Anleitung „Liniengrafik erstellen mit Microsoft Excel®“ [Creating single-subject design graphs with Microsoft Excel – a tutorial for students and practitioners]. Published online: opus4.kobv.de/opus4-fhws/files/1760/Biebl_A_B%C3%B6rdlein_C_2018_Liniengrafiken+erstellen+mit+Microsoft+Excel.pdf
• (2016). Einführung in die Verhaltensanalyse (behavior analysis) [An Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis]. 2nd Ed. Alibri.
• (2009). Faktor Mensch in der Arbeitssicherheit – BBS [A textbook on Behavior Based Safety]. Erich-Schmidt-Verlag.
  
• (2001). Modellreaktanz. Warum tun Menschen manchmal das Gegenteil von dem, was ein Modell ihnen vormacht? [Reactance to modeling: Why do people sometimes do the opposite of what a model tells them to do?]. VWF Verlag für Wissenschaft und Forschung.

International Paper Presentations

• (2024). Behavioral Community Interventions – How to get involved successfully. 11th Conference of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis September 6th, 2024, in Brno, Czech Republic.
  
• (2023). Using a self-commitment to reduce the consumption of disposable coffee mugs. 49th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis (ABAI), May 30th, 2023, in Denver / USA.
  
• (2022). Behavioral safety for culture change. Mechanical Engineering Congress, Toyama, Japan, September 12th, 2022.
• (2022). Behavioral safety in unusual settings. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Japan (JNIOSH), Tokyo, September 7th 2022.
• (2022). BBS used in various worksites - Introduction of international activities. Mechanical Engineering Society of Japan, Tokyo, September 15th, 2022.
• (2022). Symposium „Behavioral Safety in Different Work Environments” (Chair and Paper “Behavior Based Safety with Rescue Assistants”) at the 48th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis (ABAI), May 28th, 2022, in Boston / USA.
• (2022). Invited Keynote-Address “Behavioral Safety in Unusual Settings” at the 10th Conference of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis June 16th, 2022, in Tampere, Finland.
• (2021). Behavioral safety in unusual settings. Oral presentation at the 10th International Conference on Safety of Industrial Automated Systems (SIAS). Streaming July 1st, 2021.
  
• (2021). Expanding behavioral safety to new areas. Symposium at the 47th Annual Convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI), Live Streaming May 29th, 2021. Chair and paper Using the PDC-Safety to facilitate safety with rescue assistants.
  
• (2020). Facing the Corona Crisis with Behavior Analysis. Invited Symposium at the 16th European Conference on Applied Behavior Analysis, Italy, Live streaming. June 24th - 27th, 2020.
• (2019). Promoting Hand Sanitizer Use in a University Cafeteria. Paper presented at the 45th Annual Convention of the ABAI, Chicago, May 25th, 2019.
• (2019). (with Alexandra Schönleber). Behavioral Safety in the Hairdresser’s shop. Poster presented at the 45th Annual Convention of the ABAI, Chicago, May 26th, 2019.
• (2019). A Certified Course Sequence for Specialists in Behavior Based Safety. Poster presented at the 6th European Conference on standardization, testing and certification in the field of occupational safety and health (EUROSHNET), Dresden, June 12th -14th, 2019.
• (2019). Recent Developments in Behavioral Safety. Symposium at the 10th international conference of the ABAI, Stockholm, September 29th, 2019. Chair and paper Behavioral Safety in Small Businesses – Examples.
• (2018). Behavior Analysis in Sport, Fitness and Health. Symposium at the 9th conference of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis (EABA) in Würzburg, September 21st, 2018. Chair and paper Behavior Analysis in Sports, Fitness and Health – Outlook and Research Agenda.
• (2018). Behavioral Community Interventions in Social Work Education. Paper presented at the 9th conference of the EABA, Würzburg, September 21st, 2018.
• (2017). Replications in Behavior Analysis. Replications for external vs. internal validity. Paper presented at the NAFO seminaret in Storefjell / Norway, May 5th, 2017.
• (2017). On disseminating Behavior Analysis in an anti-behavioristic environment: Behavior Based Safety in Germany. Invited Presentation at the 43rd Annual Convention of the ABAI in Denver / CO, USA, May 27th, 2017.
• (2017). (with Anja Sander). A partial replication of Mancuso & Miltenberger (2016). Using habit reversal to decrease filled pauses in public speaking. Poster presented at the 43rd Annual Convention of the ABAI in Denver / CO, USA, May 29th, 2017.
• (2017). Behavior Based Safety - Concept and Practical Implementation in Different Settings. Workshop at the 1st Applied Behavioral Analysis Conference in Bulgaria, in Sofia / Bulgaria, October 31st, 2017.
• (2014). (with Robert Schramm). Behavior Analysis in Germany. Poster presented at the 40th Annual Convention of the ABAI in Chicago / IL (USA) May 24th, 2014.
• (2014). BBS - Concept and practical implementation in manufacturing and at construction sites. Paper presented at the 4th International HSE Manager Conference in Munich / Germany, November 19th, 2014.

CV

DoB: 11 March 1967

Studied Psychology at the University of Bamberg from 1987 - 1994 and graduated as Diplom-Psychologe. I finished my exam with an A-degree (1,0). My priorities were occupational and theoretical psychology. Parallel to this I studied German linguistics from 1990 - 1997 and graduated as Diplom-Germanist.

From Jul. 1994 – Mar. 2001 contractor for the youth welfare office of Bamberg county as a youth therapist and counsellor. From Mar. 2000 - Nov. 2001 consultant / counsellor for a job-project with developmentally delayed youths.

From Dec. 1996 - Nov. 2001 I worked for the Department of General and Developmental Psychology at the University of Bamberg. Dissertation on modelling with a magna cum laude degree. Graduated as Dr. phil.

From Dec. 2001 to May 2009 I worked as psychologist for an educational establishment for adult blind and visually impaired people. From June 2009 to August 2015 I headed the department of occupational health management and psychosocial care at the federal board of auditors (Bundesrechnungshof) in Bonn.

Since September 2015 I’m a full time, tenure track professor of general and clinical psychology, behavioral social work at the Faculty of Applied Social Science of the University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt. Director of the course sequence "Behavior Based Safety". International representative of the faculty of applied social sciences.

I’m a member of the German Society for the scientific investigation of parasciences (GWUP, the German equivalent of CSI and the Skeptics Society), since 2021 I'm a member of the scientific advisory board of GWUP, a full member of the Association for Behavior Analysis International, ABA-I, OBM-Network, board member (secretary) of the European Association for Behaviour Analysis (EABA, Sept. 2015 - Aug. 2019), and a founding member of the German Society for Behavior Analysis (the German chapter of ABA-I). Fluent in German and English. Action editor with EJOBA (European Journal for Behavior Analysis), guest editor for RSWP (Research on Social Work Practice), BSI (Behavior and Social Issues), and IJERPH (International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health).

• Blog about behavior analysis and psychology (in German)