ABA this week

Scholarly publications

Includes peer reviewed journals within and adjacent to behavior analysis

(Starred journals available to BCBAs through the BACB portal)

Behavioral Interventions *
8/18 Lewis, Taylor K., and Tom Cariveau. 2025. “Further Evaluation of Methods to Remediate the Picture-Text Problem.” Behavioral Interventions: e70025. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.70025.
(Open access)The "picture-text problem" is that early readers may guess at words based on pictures in the text, which demonstrably leads to poor reading habits. In a previous study this year, the authors found that a complex picture caused the readers to more quickly and effectively read the words (e.g., on a page with a sentence about a circle, including a picture of a circle, square, triangle, and star). The current study addressed limitations of the original study, for example by including pages representative of each condition within the same book, and again found the compound stimulus prompt to be superior to the text-only and picture prompt conditions

8/20 Mouzakes, Tanya N., and Rachel H. Thompson. 2025. “A Closer Examination of the Visual Schedule Component of Interventions to Improve Transitions.” Behavioral Interventions: e70028. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.70028.
In a literature review, the authors find that visual schedules are rarely used alone or subjected to a component analysis, and therefore there is limited evidence that a visual schedule alone is effective in reducing challenging behavior or increasing adaptive behavior 

Cox, David J., Laura Weil, Jacob Sosine, Adrienne M. Jennings, and Carlos Santos. 2025. “Getting More From Your IOA Data: Alternative Measures to Total, Occurrence, and Non-Occurrence Agreement.” Behavioral Interventions: e70031. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.70031.
The authors describe 8 alternative measures of IOA 

Burney, Victoria, and Rebecca A. Sharp. 2025. “Effectiveness and Acceptability of Micro-Breaks to Increase Engagement in Postgraduate Lectures.” Behavioral Interventions: e70029. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.70029.
(Open access) At the University of Auckland, there was a "micro-break" condition (5 minute break every 20 minutes of lecture time) compared to a standard no-break lecture. Based on measures of on-task behavior and student self-report, the breaks increased engagement and decreased self-report of stress and fatigue 

Ashley, Leigh, and Lise Fox. 2025. “It's Time to Play: Peer-Mediated Intervention With a Student With Autism at Recess.” Behavioral Interventions: e70027. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.70027.
The authors taught 3 third-grade peers to use PRT with a target student. The peers used PRT to engage the student, which increased the target student's communication to the peers, but it did not increase the target student's play 

Curiel, Hugo, Joey Ryan, Hannah Gripp, et al. 2025. “Paired-Stimulus Preference Assessment and Synchronous Schedules to Determine Reinforcer Effectiveness of Videos.” Behavioral Interventions: e70026. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.70026.
(Open access) The authors designed software that tests preference for videos by presenting paired stimuli. When tested on 15 college students, the software established high, low, and control videos for 14 of 15 participants, and when tested, 13 of 15 allocated responses toward their high-preference video 

Green-Short, Margaret, Raymond G. Miltenberger, and Stephanie Howell. 2025. “Evaluating Behavioral Skills Training to Improve Bowling Form of Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.” Behavioral Interventions: e70030. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.70030.
In 3 adults with intellectual disability, BST improved their bowling form. However, this did not increase the number of pins knocked down. Therefore bowling form does not matter (in my opinion)

8/22 Maliki, Amina, Michelle P. Kelly, Shamsa Alsuwaidi, and Antje von Suchodoletz. 2025. “Evaluating the Effects of Arabic-Medium Behavioral Skills Training on Parenting Program Facilitators in the United Arab Emirates.” Behavioral Interventions: e70033. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.70033.
(Open access) The authors used BST to train 4 facilitators to teach 3 different activities to parents in Abu Dhabi. The facilitators acquired the skills, as did the parents. The parents maintained some, but not all, skills

Perspectives on Behavior Science
8/17 Ahearn, W.H. I am a Behavior Analyst and an Advocate for ABA: Are you?. Perspect Behav Sci (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614-025-00470-4
Bill Ahearn establishes that ABA is a matter of changing environmental relations, which is against the common understanding of causes of behavior, and that "internal critics" sometimes brand their own “version” of ABA. Based on the citations, it may be a criticism of Hanley's IISCA/SBT

8/18 Jackson-Perry, D., Suckle, E., Chown, N. et al. A Tactful Prompt: The Time is Right for Critical Behavioral Studies. Perspect Behav Sci (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614-025-00472-2
(Open access) A potential field of "critical behavioral studies" would unite autistic critics and ABA reformists to incorporate meaningful social significance into interventions 

Travers, J., Tincani, M. In Defense of Applied Behavior Analysis and Evidence-Based Practice. Perspect Behav Sci (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614-025-00468-y
(Open access) A wide-ranging defense of ABA, discussing external and internal criticisms

Behavior and Social Issues
8/17 Kirby, M.S., Roose, K.M. Countering the Chilling Effect of ICE Raids Using Behavior Science. Behav. Soc. Iss. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-025-00218-4
Culturo-behavioral science tools to engage in nonviolent protest against an increasingly carceral state. See Stephen Fawcett's Community Toolbox for more like this

8/20 Harvey, M.T., Harvey, A.C. & McGill, K.L. Interprofessional Collaboration Between Behavior Analysts and Mental Health Professionals. Behav. Soc. Iss. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-025-00219-3
A wide-ranging discussion of collaboration

8/21 Frazier, T.W. and Uljarevic, M. (2025), Rigorous Designs Are Needed to Develop Predictive Models of ABA Service Intensity: A Commentary on Cox and Sosine (2025). Behavioral Interventions, 40: e70032. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.70032
The authors criticize a recent article that analyzed a large dataset (almost 40,000 patients from the RethinkFirst app) in order to draw conclusions about the relationship between hours of service and outcomes. The criticisms are: the participants were all assigned hours, making this descriptive rather than predictive; there were 48 variables considered, many of which are likely irrelevant; the statistical results are unlikely to replicate; and they use the number of goals mastered as a measure, which is not a standardized measure

Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions *
8/20 Boyle, A. M., Zakszeski, B. N., McCurdy, B. L., & Erdy, L. A. (2025). The Impact of the Temporal Location of Performance Feedback on Teachers’ Use of Classroom Management Practices. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10983007251335353
Teachers in classrooms for kids with EBD received tele-feedback either after a class or before their next class. For some teachers, both were effective; for some teachers, feedback before a class was most effective (this tends to be more effective in studies on feedback). Teachers reported a preference for after-class feedback

Journal of Behavioral Education
8/19 King, S., Rodgers, D. & Enders, O. Partial-Interval Recording and Estimates of Duration in Meta-analyses: Insights from Self-Monitoring Research. J Behav Educ (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-025-09595-7
(Open access) Partial interval recording is sometimes used in single-case designs, but it has not been clear what kind of data should be included so that the article can be part of a meta-analysis. The authors recommend against "large" intervals, and suggest intervals as short as 5 seconds

Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science
8/21 Effectiveness of a process-based approach to farmer wellbeing: A randomized multiple baseline single-case experimental design
(In press) Online ACT in Ireland was effective for most of 6 farmers on several measures. Can't wait for the follow-up where an online ACT module is tested in 11 Belgian optometrists

8/22 Consumer co-design as a framework for enhancing a novel self-guided online program to reduce overconsumption
(Open access) The authors designed an online training program called Breaking Up with Belongings, designed to decrease consumption (I truly love this idea, but who in the world is funding it?). They had participants give feedback on the design, which the participants liked and which appeared to improve usability. This is a good idea and not unlike the field testing that should be done with Direct Instruction or other materials

European Journal of Behavior Analysis
8/22 Binder, C. (2025). Henry S. Pennypacker: The shaping of a market-driven behavior scientist. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/15021149.2025.2537987
Carl Binder details an interesting story: Hank Pennypacker is largely the reason that breast self-examinations exist; here is Hank's interesting version of the story

Single-Case in the Social Sciences Vol. 2 No. 3 (2025) (4 articles, 4 open access)
Most intriguing: The Effect of Break Type on Engagement and Skill Acquisition During Massed Trial Instruction
(Open access) Children got breaks to play between instruction, either with the instructor playing with them responsively or without. Some kids acquired skills faster when instructors participated in play during their play breaks

Single-Case in the Social Sciences now has a Call for proposals for special issues

Book publications

Textbooks, handbooks, manuals, or mass-market

Upcoming:
AIM Navigators, Dixon (Pre-order)
A.I.M. Explorers Curriculum Book Volume 2 Mountain Climb, Dixon (Pre-order)
Handbook of Operant Behavioral Economics, Reed, Kaplan & Gilroy (Eds.)

New this quarter:
Ethical Decision Making in Applied Behavior Analysis, Schwartz & Kelly
Leadership and Management Practices in Human Services Organizations, Gardner et al.
Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis for Behavior Technicians and Other Practitioners, 4/E, Wallace & Mayer
Behavior Analysis for Lasting Change, 6/E, Mayer, Wallace, & Sulzer-Azaroff 

Using Functional Analysis in Psychotherapy, Niklas Törneke
Handbook for Behavioral Skills Training, Edition 1, Sturmey & Maffei-Almodovar 

Research Methods in Applied Behavior Analysis (3rd Edition), Bailey & Burch
Multiculturalism and Diversity in Applied Behavior Analysis: Bridging Theory and Application (2nd Edition), Conners & Capell (Eds.)
Talk Behavior to Me: The Routledge Dictionary of the Top 150 Behavior Analytic Terms and Translations, Samuel
The Behavior of Social Justice, Parks et al.
A Practical Guide to Functional Assessment and Treatment for Severe Problem Behavior, Jessel & Sturmey (Eds.)
Handbook of Organizational Performance, Volume II, D. Johnson & C. Johnson (Eds.)

Recent:

2024

2023

Podcasts

BAPcast
Farewell and New Beginnings
BAPCast, one of our favorites, is ending. They are re-launching as an ABAI-sponsored podcast entitled All Things Behavior

All Things Behavior
Welcome to All Things Behavior

ABA Inside Track
Episode 319 - (Summer 2025 Listener Choice) Factors Influencing the Efficiency of Acquisition

Behavioral Observations
Improving Autism and Law Enforcement Interactions through ABA: Session 309 with Lyndsy Coffield

The PodCASP
ABA as Part of an Interdisciplinary Approach (w/ Kristin Hanson)

Blogs

Generally these are produced by professionals

ABAI
Receptive Language for Minimally Verbal Children: Some Cost Effective, and Efficacious Strategies
Some great information for practitioners

Licensing & professional organizations

CASP
What Does "Supervision" Mean?
A short definition (in part describing insurance definitions) from Lorri Unumb

Business world

Autism services, behavioral health, etc.

ABA Software Company CentralReach Buys SpectrumAI, AI Measures
AI inside *my* EHR? It's more likely than you think, says the dominant medical EHR, Epic. And it looks like ABA will not be left behind in the AI race, which seems to mean that AI must be shoved into every cavity. 95% of companies have not turned a profit from AI, but it will be truly great in the next two weeks or so...

Accidentally behavior analysis

A mainstream news article that relates to behavior analysis

How Should We Teach Math? General and Special Ed. Researchers Don’t Agree, EducationWeek
Just as people are starting to accept “the science of reading,” we’re entering the exact same territory with math.

One group of special education researchers has planted a flag, launching the “science of math” in 2021—a movement modeled after the “science of reading,” making the argument that a similar focus on systematic, explicit instruction and guided practice is necessary in both subjects for students to develop foundational knowledge. It rejects the inquiry-based methods promoted by professional organizations like NCTM.

Like in reading, beginners require “systematic, explicit instruction and guided practice.” The disagreement is philosophical, and in some ways that makes it even more challenging to resolve. 

Continuing education

UPCOMING:

BehaviorLive is back to posting free events: 8/27, 8/28

Flashback

Harry

Bill Ahearn published a paper this week in Perspectives on Behavior Science, and he cites Harry, as well as the 10-year follow-up. We’ve posted this before, but you can watch the film (warning: footage of self-injury) of Harry’s successful treatment by Richard Foxx, a true behavioral artist. Despite a small handful of quibbles, it is a truly brilliant and effective treatment, and there are too few films like this.