Since its founding in 1960, the Institutes have conducted a wide variety of research, demonstration, evaluation, training, and service projects. They have ranged from the study of behavior and performance under condition of isolation and confinement simulating those involved in space flight to promoting behavioral change in mentally retarded adults and institutionalized delinquent adolescents. Through the years IBR has continued to pursue its basic and applied behavioral science objectives while meeting the changing needs of society and satisfying the diverse interests and concerns of its principal staff and funding agencies.

Although IBR’s original functions focused upon basic and applied research in behavior analysis, its activities soon expanded to include investigation in behavioral biology, human performance, law and behavior, social problems, environmental design, and innovative services delivery. The scientific and professional staff of the Institutes have also been involved in the planning, development, demonstration, and evaluation of educational, training, and management systems in diverse human applications.

Serving in trusteeship, executive, and investigator roles at IBR during its first several decades were some of the past century’s foremost leaders in fields of behavior analysis, education, biomedical science, and law, among them B. F. Skinner, David McK. Rioch, Fred Keller, Abe Fortas, Charles Ferster, Joel Elkes, Isreal Goldiamond, Robert Galambos, and Harold Cohen. Such distinguished contributions provided continuous impetus for IBR’s commitment to scholarly excellence and dedicated community service.