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Scholarly publications
Includes peer reviewed journals within and adjacent to behavior analysis
(Starred journals available to BCBAs through the BACB portal)
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis *
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis: Volume 57, Issue 4 (Fall 2024) (20 articles, 7 open access)
Most intriguing: An evaluation of delivery of the parent Preschool Life Skills program via telehealth (PLS available here)
Fall 2023 now free to read
Behavior Analysis in Practice
10/15 Neely, J.A., Liddon, C.J., Kimball, R.T. et al. Understanding and Reacting to Relapse: Considerations for Practitioners. Behav Analysis Practice (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-00997-z
The authors provide information to understand, mitigate, and manage relapse
10/17 Fluharty, A.S.E., LeJeune, L.M. & Samudre, M.D. Using a Group Stimulus Preference Assessment to Design an Effective Group Contingency. Behav Analysis Practice (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-01003-2
(Open access) Group preference assessments in a classroom identified high- and low-value reinforcers; the high-value reinforcers resulted in more students being prepared for class but no superior performance on quizzes. Kids reported enjoying the high-value stimulus more
Friedman, Z.L., El-Roy, D. Exploring Interprofessional and Self-Compassion Competencies for Applied Behavior Analysis Professionals: A Qualitative Study. Behav Analysis Practice (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-00991-5
(Open access) In a qualitative study, the authors trained 24 behavior analysts to use compassion and self-compassion within collaboration. The authors discuss their results through interviews with participants
Squires, M., Cutrer-Párraga, E.A., Morris, J.R. et al. Navigating Collaboration: Factors Influencing Special Education Teachers’ Relationships with BCBAs in Diverse School Contexts. Behav Analysis Practice (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-01009-w
Using a design I've never heard of (MIPA), the authors find that special ed teachers value BCBAs, but barriers to collaboration include perceived condescension, feeling blamed for failed interventions, and recommendations they don't agree with. The authors recommend focusing on social significance with the teacher at the outset of the relationship
Paliliunas, D., Burke, R., Taylor, S. et al. A Preliminary Analysis of a Prosocial Intervention to Support Teachers and Staff Implementing Behavioral Interventions in a Specialized School Setting. Behav Analysis Practice (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-01005-0
"Prosocial" is apparently the name of an intervention framework (and book) that the authors combined with ACT; they found that students had improvements in psychological flexibility
Behavioral Interventions *
10/13 DeFreitas, M., Womack, T., Choy, T., & Ricciardi, J. N. (2024). Teaching delay tolerance to a child with Smith-Magenis syndrome in a classroom using a simplified approach. Behavioral Interventions, e2063. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.2063
The authors used a simplified delay tolerance training to go from 32 seconds to 5 minutes of delay toleration
Behavior and Social Issues
10/18 Linhares, Y., Laurenti, C. Social Issues in Behavior Analysis: Behavior or Cultural Practice? A Case Study on the Diffusion of Feminism in Brazilian Behavior Analysis. Behav. Soc. Iss. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-024-00186-1
The authors argue that, in their experience in Brazil, socio-political values came to them from outside of behavior analysis, and they faced barriers incorporating those values into their practice. They argue in favor of scientific guidelines to increase exposure to these values
Behavior Modification *
10/16 Expression of Concern: Behavioral Activation and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in the Treatment of Anxiety and Depression in Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Clinical Trial. (2024). Behavior Modification, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/01454455241290866
At the link, you can see a link to a Pubpeer page that has a series of comments, both from a critic and responses from an author. I believe this is a correct summary of the issue: a critic believes that the authors have used the same data in two different published studies. An author replied that the data is from two different phases of one study, and is reported separately and appropriately. I don't have any insight into who is correct with this, but the Pubpeer posts are interesting
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior *
10/14 Pinkston, J. W., Cook, J. L., Baruni, R. R., Rapp, J. T., Deshmukh, S., & Miltenberger, R. G. (2024). Application of synchronous music reinforcement to increase walking speed: A novel approach for training intensity. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.4219
In a changing criterion design, music was played when walking hit a certain speed, but paused otherwise; people generally walked at the speed which triggered the music. In extinction, there was response variability, implying the music was a reinforcer
Booysen, F., Guvuriro, S., & van Eyssen Combrink, H. M. (2024). Social discounting in a symmetric giving and taking frame: An artifactual field experiment with young South African adults. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.4218
(Open access) In a "dictator game" where the authors manipulated giving and taking, they found evidence that participants are more altruistic when taking and more selfish when giving. Prosocial behavior was partly dependent on the manipulations of the game. This experiment was limited by being conducted in one community in South Africa, where pronouncing the third author's name (Herkulaas Morkel van Eyssen Combrink) has caused several cases of drowning
10/15 Mahmoudi, S., & Madden, G. J. (2024). Using sign tracking to experimentally increase self-control in rats. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.4211
Animals can be trained to choose "larger later" rewards and thus to use "self-control," but the methods usually take a long time. The authors paired the appearance of a lever with food for rats; later, when a "smaller sooner" lever was introduced, the rats would more often choose the "larger later" lever
Education and Treatment of Children
10/14 Schoenen, E.C., Martinez, J.C., Grekov, P. et al. Fidget Devices as Academic and Behavioral Interventions: A Meta-Analysis of Single-case Design Studies. Educ. Treat. Child. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43494-024-00133-0
In a meta-analysis of 10 studies the authors find positive effects of fidget devices. The authors group fidget spinners in with exercise ball chairs, and though the last two listed authors seem to have positive findings regarding fidget spinners, others have found null effects of Fidget Cube. Color me skeptical
Aspiranti, K.B., Reynolds, J.L., Henze, E.E.C. et al. An Analysis of Word/Sound Boxes and Their Effects on Basic Literacy Skills. Educ. Treat. Child. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43494-024-00131-2
Word/sound boxes (also known as Elkonin boxes) are found, in a meta-analysis, to be effective. They involve segmenting/blending the sounds in a word, which is well-understood to be a critical component of reading. The images also look distinctly like Direct Instruction materials, a proven educational method
10/18 Barnes Ross, M., Stokes, T.F. A Comparative Analysis of Parent–Child Interaction Therapy Procedures Used to Facilitate Verbalizations by Children with Autism. Educ. Treat. Child. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43494-024-00130-3
(Open access) In play with 2 kids with ASD, clinicians used labeled praise, behavior descriptions, and reflections of child vocalizations. In this condition, child vocalizations increased, as did mean length of utterance and variability
Matthews, K., Marquardt, L., Keene, H. et al. Comparison of COA and QABF Informed Interventions. Educ. Treat. Child. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43494-024-00134-z
The QABF and a concurrent operant analysis (COA -- recording which choices are made in a free operant arrangement) were used to identify reinforcers for students who engaged in non-disruptive off-task behavior. Both conditions were effective at increasing on-task behavior
The Psychological Record
10/18 Wu, C., Hayes, L.J. Substitution of Auditory Functions and Interbehavioral History of Languages. Psychol Rec (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-024-00610-3
In experiment 1, the control group was exposed to arbitrarily paired English letters and Mandarin words, while the experimental group got English letters paired with Mandarin number homophones, with null results. In experiment 2, participants were trained to pair English words, English letters, and Mandarin words; during a match-to-sample task, the targets were under competing stimulus control from both languages
Journal of Behavioral Education
10/13 Jimenez, S.T., Gayman, C.M. & Butz, J. In-Class Prep Guide Completion in a Classroom Study of Interteaching. J Behav Educ (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-024-09570-8
In interteaching, students complete a reading and a study guide with questions before class, then discuss in small groups. The authors modified the procedure so that some of the prep was completed in the class groups. Performance was similar but students preferred the changes. There is an example study guide in the supplementary info
10/17 Vostanis, A., Ritchie, R. & Langdon, P.E. A Precision Teaching Framework for Training Autistic Students to Respond to Bids for Joint Attention. J Behav Educ (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-024-09568-2
(Open access) Using precision teaching, the authors taught 4 autistic children to respond to bids for joint attention in 4-7 days
Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science
10/15 Changes in University Students’ Behaviour and Study Burnout Risk During ACT-based Online Course Intervention: A Mixed Methods Study
(Open access) After an 8-week online ACT course, students reported less burnout. In particular, acceptance and present moment awareness contributed to the largest changes
European Journal of Behavior Analysis
10/17 Schuck, R. K., Berquist, K. L., Geng, A., Ardel, C. M., Karp, E. A., Gengoux, G. W., & Hardan, A. Y. (2024). Telehealth pivotal response treatment parent training: A pilot study. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/15021149.2024.2416270
21 children and their parents participated for 12 weeks; the children engaged in more communication
Book publications
Textbooks, handbooks, manuals, or mass-market
Elsevier
Training Human Service Staff: Evidence-Based Strategies for Promoting Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Trainee Acceptance, Reid & Green
A Practical Guide to Functional Assessment and Treatment for Severe Problem Behavior, Jessel & Sturmey (Available 11/1)
Routledge
The Behavior of Social Justice: Applying Behavior Analysis to Understand and Challenge Injustice, Parks et al.
Handbook of Organizational Performance, Volume I: Foundations and Advances, Edited by Douglas Johnson & C Merle Johnson
Psychology Essentials for Behavior Analysts, Edited by Toby & Ranade
Writing Skills for Behavior Analysts: A Practical Guide for Students and Clinicians, Edited by Reinecke, Knihtila, Papazian, Heyman & Bratton
Behavior Modification: What It Is and How To Do It, Martin & Pear
Sloan publishing
When Text Speaks: Learning to Read & Reading to Learn, Ross & Greer
Reflections on Behaviorism and Society: Extended Edition, 2024, B. F. Skinner
Ethics: Proactive and Practical Decision Making for Behavior Analysts, LeBlanc & Karsten
Perspectives on Neurodiversity and Belonging: Reflections for Behavior Analysts, Dyer, Weiss, Tereshko, & Linnehan (eds.)
2023: A list here
Podcasts
ABA Inside Track
Episode 289 - Promoting Client Rights w/ Dr. Erin Leif
Behavior Analysis in Practice BAPCast
S7E6: Resolving Barriers to Continence for Children with Disabilities: Steps Toward Evidence-Based Practice with Maeve Donnelly and Amanda Karsten
Behavioral Observations
Preventative Systems, Assent, and The Naming Experience: Session 278 with Jim Moore
Blogs
Generally these are produced by professionals
ABAI
The Human-Neanderthal Bottleneck: Did Relational Capabilities Make the Difference?
Tom Critchfield discusses some evidence that humans outlived Neanderthals because of a development of specific language processes, particularly relational frames
A Thought for the Scary Season (#2): There Are Too Many Behavior Analysis Journals. I Can Prove It.
Uma Breve História de Pesquisa sobre a Mensuração da Força de Relações Simbólicas
Licensing & professional organizations
BACB
RBT application updates
Several changes appear to make the process much easier
ASAT
You Got this!: Resources to Help Parents of Children with Autism Navigate the IEP Process
BF Skinner Foundation
Skinner session on 10/25
Includes conversations from top behaviorists
Business world
Autism services, behavioral health, etc.
What CARD Will and Won’t Do as It Looks Past Its First Year Post-Bankruptcy
Doreen Granpeesheh was bought out by private equity for 6-700 million dollars, then bought back the company for less than 50 million when private equity discovered they can't make number go up forever. Some notable facts from the article: she fired a bunch of executives (too many executives never seems to bother private equity?); centers are typically profitable within 6-12 months; they want to grow the organization, including opening diagnostic centers; and oh here's a quote:
“AI is my No. 1 objective,” Granpheesheh said
oh no...
Accidentally behavior analysis
A mainstream news article that relates to behavior analysis
Weaponised autism and the extremist threat facing children, FT
In the UK, there is a program for referring people who are at-risk for extremism. Autistic people make up an estimated 1% of the population, but 13% of the people referred to the program. Hypotheses in the article include: a lack of services; a lack of education; a reaction to constantly being told what to do; an innate tendency to view conflict as "black and white"; comorbid conditions; or some other reason. Or are autistic people even being wrongly singled out for being "different" and therefore suspicious? Could motivational interviewing play a part in helping these referrals?
Continuing education
UPCOMING:
BehaviorLive has a list of events, some of which are free: 10/29, 10/30 (SUP)
Flashback
As reported in Yale’s magazine, The New Journal, in 1974. A 21-year-old student who was simply a fan of Skinner traveled to Cambridge and talked to him at length. Read the article at HathiTrust, or click here for a clean text version.