Behavioral_Sciences

Studies in the behavioral sciences at the National Academies are under the direction of the Board on Behavioral, Cognitive and Sensory Sciences and the Board on Children, Youth, and Families. These boards and their committees apply the behavioral sciences to the increasingly complex questions that face government, foundations, and corporations. Its span is broad and includes brain development, cognition, learning, vision and hearing, behavior, addiction, social and community support, parenting and child care practices, human performance, workforce issues, deception detection, aging, and human factors in technology development.

Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences studies how to assess sensory and cognitive abilities and disabilities, improve learning environments, and reduce human error in the workforce and in national security. It develops priorities for research on behavioral, cognitive, and sensory sciences, behavioral health, drug abuse, aging, and other important areas.

Committee on Human Factors studies the relationships of individuals and organizations to technology and the environment. It investigates the design, test, evaluation, and use of human-centered technologies and identifies the research required so that new technologies may more effectively meet the needs of their users.

Board on Children, Youth, and Families, a joint endeavor with the Institute of Medicine, brings the collective knowledge and analytic tools of the behavioral, health, social, and biological sciences to bear on the development of policies and programs for children, youth, and families.