Because preparing people for the world of work remains the primary purpose of vocational education, the behaviorist approach is the preferred learning theory on which to base vocational instruction. Other instructional activities aligned with behaviorism that are regularly used by vocational educators are active responding, required practice, and shaping. These activities, along with task analysis, behavioral objectives, modular instruction based upon linear programming, criterion-referenced evaluation, and similar activities, are directly aligned with competency-based vocational education. Thus, not only should vocational educators base their instructional programs on the principles of behaviorism, but they should also incorporate current findings in the area of behavioral research into their presentation of material. (MN)