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 *
5/11 Sivaraman, M., & Pelaez, M. (2026). Contingency drives children's vocal behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 59(3), e70067. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.70067
The authors discuss "parent-ese," the cross-cultural phenomenon of parents speaking to babies with a high pitch, as well as contingent imitation (imitating the baby's sounds), and its positive effects 

5/13 Fergus, R. A., Ahearn, W. H., Matthews, A., & Pandola, O. (2026). Functional analysis and treatment of higher level restricted repetitive behavior displayed by individuals with autism. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 59(3), e70066. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.70066
The authors conducted a variety of assessments for 4 participants that engaged in "arranging and ordering," and discovered competing activities through an augmented competing stimulus assessment 

Behavior Analysis in Practice
5/11 Kranak, M.P., Mitteer, D.R. Peeling Back the Curtain: A Primer on the General Peer-Review and Publication Process in Behavior Analysis. Behav Analysis Practice (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-026-01189-7
A wide-ranging overview of peer-review, specifically in behavior analysis 

Behavioral Interventions *
5/12 Newman, Zoë A. D., Eileen M.Roscoe, Emily C.Stevens, and Shannon P.Campbell. 2026. “Treatment for Improving Sleep in Residential Setting,” Behavioral Interventions: e70108. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.70108
3 autistic adolescents in a residential program were treated with a multi-component package, including bedtime fading, a routine, and a white noise machine. After successful treatment, a component analysis was conducted where units of the intervention were removed. The complete package was most effective for all 3 participants 

Lindgren, Nicholas A., Devanio J.Cousins, Thomas S.Higbee, MinaMendoza, and MattieMecham. 2026. “Training Preschool Staff to Collect Descriptive Assessment Data Using a Decision-Making Model,” Behavioral Interventions: e70110. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.70110
(Open access) 6 preschool teachers used a decision-making model designed to help take descriptive data. 4/6 took accurate data with just the model, while 2/6 needed 1 session of feedback. The model is a flowchart image embedded in the article 

Graham, Scott, and MickeyKeenan. 2026. “The Inclusive Superhero Game: Increasing Inclusive Interactions in Inclusive Education,” Behavioral Interventions: e70109. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.70109
(Open access) A modification of a dependent group contingency, the Inclusive Superhero Game was intended to increase positive interactions between conventionally developing kids and those with special needs. In this application, the kids with special needs had dyslexia or anxiety, and the game was effective. In this version, the "hero" kid is unknown to the rest of the class (to prevent negative interactions if the kid fails) 

Calkins, Chloe A., and CodyMorris. 2026. “The Effects of Observation Conspicuousness on Data Collection Timeliness,” Behavioral Interventions: e70107. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.70107
Observation conspicuousness increases timeliness of data collection. This can be the presence of a supervisor, or notifying the supervisee that data collection can be viewed in real-time in an app 

Perspectives on Behavior Science
5/15 Rasmussen, E.B., Alvarado, A.Y. A Behavioral Economic Characterization of the Impact of the COVID-19 Quarantine on Reinforcer Diversity, Behavior, and Health. Perspect Behav Sci (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614-026-00502-7
(Open access) During covid quarantines, people necessarily stayed home and consumed more reinforcement in the home (e.g., sleep, TV) than outside (e.g., socializing at a bar). The authors suggest that it is possible to plan for future reinforcer restriction, e.g., buying board games or investing in outdoor equipment 

Behavior and Social Issues
5/12 Roose, K., Rakos, R., Malkin, A. et al. Editorial: Playing the Long Game: What Behavior Science Brings to the Resistance. Behav. Soc. Iss. (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-026-00258-4
Resistance movements as behavioral systems 

Behavior Modification *
5/11 Capel, L. K., Knudsen, F. M., Thomas, G., Levin, M. E., & Twohig, M. P. (2026). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Generalized Anxiety Disorder: A Narrative Review. Behavior Modification, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/01454455261449755
15 studies of ACT for generalized anxiety disorder were identified; there was an average symptom reduction of 60-77%, but more research is needed 

Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior *
5/11 Reed, D. D., Strickland, J. C., Acuff, S. F., Gelino, B. W., Graham, M. E., Kaplan, B. A., Johansen, A., Pierce-Messick, Z., Banks, M. L., Negus, S. S., Kearns, D. N., Chiapperino, D., Reissig, C. J., Varshneya, N. B., & Hursh, S. R. (2026). Twenty-five years of simulated demand: A bibliometric and systematic review of hypothetical drug purchase tasks. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 125(3), e70105. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.70105
The authors review every study that cited the original 1999 hypothetical purchase task 

Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions *
5/11 McChristie, A., & Wilder, D. A. (2026). Teaching Young Children With Autism: When Not to Cooperate With Instructions. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10983007261437727
3 autistic kids were trained with BST and video modeling to refuse to remove their shirt under certain conditions. All 3 kids acquired the skill 

LeJeune, L. M., Samudre, M. D., Zhao, H., Jeffords, M., & Chow, J. C. (2026). Behavioral Interventions for Increasing Group Engagement in K-12 Classrooms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10983007261435207 

(Open access) Large effects were found for most interventions within 50 examined studies, including the Good Behavior Game; Tootling; teacher praise; and tangible rewards 

Heuermann, L., Floress, M. T., Rila, A., Wilkinson, S., & Wilzbach, A. (2026). Teacher Acceptability and Preferences for Praise and Reprimand Across Grades (K-12): A Preliminary Investigation. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10983007261435204 

In a survey of 140 teachers, praise decreases as children age, and elementary and middle school teachers are more likely than high school teachers to provide rewards 

5/14 Mirielli, L. G., Rose, C. A., & Lewis, T. J. (2026). The Effectiveness of 9th Grade Social Skill Lessons in Positive Behavior Supports and Interventions. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 0(0).https://doi.org/10.1177/10983007261435188
Social skills lessons for 9th graders increased teacher rating of social skills for students, while the student self-ratings were unchanged 

The Psychological Record
5/15 McDaniel, M.R., Wallace, J.P., Partridge, J. et al. Examining the Hypothetical Purchase Task of Physical Inactivity: Differences in Behavioral Economic Indices among Veteran and Nonveteran Pregnant Women. Psychol Rec (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-026-00685-0
(Open access) The authors used hypothetical purchase tasks for physical activity in pregnant veterans and non-veterans, and found that veterans valued inactivity more than non-veterans. Inactivity is associated with pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, as well as negative health outcomes for people who are not pregnant. That veterans place a higher value on inactivity suggests that this might be a group on which to intervene 

European Journal of Behavior Analysis
5/11 Halbur, M., Preas, E., Nichols, B., & Carroll, R. (2026). Recent advances in chaining procedures: A literature review from 2004–2023. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/15021149.2026.2669693
From 2004-2023, 38 articles using chaining were identified, with the findings that few used a terminal probe or assessed long-term maintenance

Book publications

Textbooks, handbooks, manuals, or mass-market

Upcoming:
Case Studies and Applications in Nonlinear Contingency Analysis, Abdel-Jalil & Linnehan (Eds.) (Oct 2026)
Personal Narratives on the Behavior Analysis of Human Language and Cognition: Stories from Around the World, Harte et al. (Eds.) (Jul 2026)
WAVE Prosocial Assessment and Curriculum, Rehfeldt & Dixon (Pre-order)
Digital Technologies in Behavior Science: Theoretical and Practical Applications, Crone-Todd, Hantula, Layng (Eds.)
AIM Navigators, Dixon (Pre-order)
Promoting Language for Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Verbal Behavior Guide for Practitioners, Vladescu & Kissamore (Eds.)
Navigating Ethics in Behavior Analysis: Dealing with Gray Areas, Carr

Recent:
2025
2024
2023

Podcasts

ABA Inside Track
(UNLOCKED) Divergent Minds Book Club

Behavioral Observations
Supporting Individuals With Severe Problem Behavior Through Collaboration: Session 331 with Ben Seifert

All Things Behavior
A Scoping Review of Cultural Variables in Contingency Management for Substance Use Disorder with Hailey Donohue and Jesse Dallery

Blogs

Generally these are produced by professionals

ABAI

Behavior Analysis for Sustainable Societies SIG 

Licensing & professional organizations

ACQ
The Autism Commission on Quality Seeks Nominations for Committees 

BACB
RBT Professional Development: In-Service and ACE Events
Starting in 2026, all new or recertifying RBTs have to take 12 professional development units (PDUs) every 2 years 

RBT® Examination Pass Rates for 40-Hour Training Providers
BDS had over 900 trainees with a 93.5% pass rate; UWF and NMU had small cohorts with 100% pass rates; about 13,000 took the free APF training but with only around 60% passing; about 13,000 used CentralReach, 19,000 used Relias, and 10,000 used Rethink, with around 80% passing for each; Jose Maria Vargas University has an 8% pass rate 

Business world

Autism services, behavioral health, etc.

US drug overdose deaths drop for 3rd consecutive year
This may be due to interruptions in fentanyl precursor chemicals from China, who the US has pressured; a large decrease in opioid prescriptions, due to publicity around the opioid crisis; or in some cases effective treatment. One of the most effective treatments is contingency management – a token economy.

Accidentally behavior analysis

A mainstream news article that relates to behavior analysis

3rd-Grade Retention Isn’t Really About Kids — It’s About Adults Who Teach Them, The74
In Mississippi, the state has turned around their reading scores in what is increasingly looked at as a model for other struggling states. Part of the success? Kids who can’t read are held back in 3rd grade. While there is poor evidence for holding kids back generally, the author here points to how it influences adults. In a sense, when a child is held back, it reflects poorly on the teacher – a punishing consequence. 

Continuing education

UPCOMING:

BehaviorLive has free events: 5/19 (SUP), 5/20, 5/21 (ETH), 5/26, 5/27 (ETH/SUP

Flashback

Training pigeons to locate a “target”

We once wrote a piece about how RJ Herrnstein – he of Skinner’s pigeon lab, but also The Bell Curve – may have trained pigeons to locate enemy soldiers during the Vietnam War (though apparently never used on the battlefield). The first place we came across the story was an old, unsigned article that provided the following evidence: Herrnstein himself wrote about it. Herrnstein published a study funded by the “Limited War Laboratory,” entitled “Complex Visual Concept in the Pigeon,” about how they trained pigeons to peck on slides that contain people. Later, Herrnstein appeared to lie about his activities. While the evidence was circumstantial, we tracked down the primary sources and we came to the same conclusion.

Anyway, here’s Colonel Frank Penas presenting “Complex Visual Concept in the Pigeon” at a pigeon conference in 1970, a few years after the Herrnstein study. Some weird racist language stood out:

It reminded us of the Herrnstein study…

Was Colonel Frank a plagiarist? Well no, he was just part of the military side of Herrnstein’s study.

Colonel Frank doesn’t say these are targets for us to shoot, but what would you imagine a target to be?

Epilogue for Colonel Frank: