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 *
4/15 Malkin, A., Rzeszutek, M. J., Moscovitz, A., Axenova, K., Walker, E., Randhawa, A., & Gunnarsson, K. F. (2026). A functional approach to social media assessment: Initial psychometric evaluation of the Social Media Use Functional Assessment. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 59(2), e70062. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.70062
The authors developed a questionnaire for problematic social media use that incorporates maintaining functions
Behavior Analysis in Practice Volume 19, Issue 1 (26 articles, 2 open access)
Most intriguing: Kind Extinction: A Procedural Variation on Traditional Extinction
(Open access) A simple variation on extinction that still works while being more acceptable to clients and stakeholders
4/15 Barrera-Lansford, A., O’Reilly, M. & DeMayo, M. Exploring the Effects of Soft Skill Training among ABA Practitioners: A Systematic Review. Behav Analysis Practice (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-026-01162-4
(Open access) 11 studies found that BST could improve "soft skills" (e.g., active listening) but that these studies didn't include cultural responsiveness or input from clients
Edelstein, M.L., Franzmann, T.K. & Mellott, J.A. Assessment and Treatment of Multiply Maintained Complex Motor Stereotypy. Behav Analysis Practice (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-026-01182-0
The authors used a FA to confirm that stereotypy was multiply controlled, then collaborated with a parent for a 93% reduction in rate
4/16 Boyle, G., Grey, H.C. & Jones, S.H. Tangible Access Supports Cooperation During DTT: A Case Study. Behav Analysis Practice (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-026-01180-2
Using a latency-based FA, the authors found that allowing access to tangibles -- as opposed to taking them away and returning them after a trial block -- increased cooperation with trials
Behavioral Interventions * Volume 41, Issue 2 (12 articles, 4 open access)
Most intriguing: Contingent Vocal Imitation Increases Vocalizations of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
A best-practice confirmed: imitate the sounds of infants, toddlers, and young children
4/17 Carmo, Tatiany R. do, Álvaro J. M. eSilva, and Romariz da S.Barros. 2026. “Effectiveness of an Interactive Computer Training Tool to Teach Labor Social Skills to Autistic Adults,” Behavioral Interventions: e70102. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.70102
(Open access) 4 autistic adults were presented with a situation in a simulated job task in which they should ask for help, and the participants did not complete all necessary steps (e.g., saying "excuse me" before asking). After interactive computer training, 2/4 reached 100% on a follow-up test, while 2/4 reached 100% after 5 minutes of feedback after the training
Behavior and Social Issues
4/15 Calvo, M.E. Venezuela 1972: An Overlooked Moment in Behavior Analysis. Behav. Soc. Iss. (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-026-00245-9
Behavior analysis spread around the world in some cases due to dissemination (e.g., Fred Keller visiting Brazil). Skinner visited Venezuela in 1972, and this article presents a history of the visit and its effects
Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions *
4/16 Lawson, A., DeFouw, E. R., LaBrot, Z. C., Mong, M. D., & Olmi, D. J. (2026). Welcome, Learn, Thrive: The Combined Effects of Positive Greetings at the Door and Behavior-Specific Praise on Class-Wide Prosocial Behaviors. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10983007251389302
Combining two well-understood evidence-based interventions -- positive greetings as students enter the classroom, and behavior-specific praise -- immediately increased academic engagement and decreased disruptive behavior in 3 classrooms
Godfrey, E., Garbacz, S. A., Cho, J. S., Ash, T. L., McGinley, M., Bednarek, G., Cruz, S., & Gulbrandson, K. (2026). Examining Rural School Staff Perspectives on PBIS Sustainment. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10983007251389288
In a qualitative study, 32 interviews were conducted between 9 Midwestern rural schools. The authors detail how they sustain their PBIS systems
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
4/17 Lee, A., Higgins, S., O’Driscoll, D. et al. The Association Between Neonatal Jaundice and Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Findings From the Millennium Cohort Study. J Autism Dev Disord (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-026-07317-0
(Open access) In a large correlational study in the UK, infants hospitalized for treatment of jaundice were more likely to later be diagnosed with ASD or ADHD -- though not to a statistically significant extent
Journal of Behavioral Education
4/15 Ramirez, A.K.M., Brunsting, N., Burns, M.K. et al. Effect of Behavioral Skills Training on Middle School General Educator Implementation of Visual Schedules. J Behav Educ (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-026-09631-0
BST improved fidelity of implementation of BIPs for 3 teachers during training
Book publications
Textbooks, handbooks, manuals, or mass-market
Upcoming:
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.) (Pre-order Feb 25, 2026)
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
Podcasts
ABA Inside Track
Relapse
All Things Behavior
A Critical Evaluation of Practitioner Training in Applied Behavior Analysis: It is Time for a Change with Justin Leaf
Blogs
Generally these are produced by professionals
ABAI
What Behavior Analysts Should Take from “The Autism Diagnosis Problem”
A post about the NYT podcast The Daily, a recent episode of which discusses the rising rates of autism diagnoses
Cultural Troubles and Issues
Delineating the difference between personal and systemic
Licensing & professional organizations
BACB
The 2026 Michael Hemingway Behavior Analysis Award
goes to Mike Wasner, the COO of CASP
Business world
Autism services, behavioral health, etc.
Barriers Persist to In-network Behavioral Health Care at the 4 Largest US Health Plans
Mental health parity is such that in at least 43 of 50 states, it can be harder to find mental health treatment than a physician. Corporations would rather not pay for it and are suing, and the federal government is implying that they want to weasel out of enforcement.
Accidentally behavior analysis
A mainstream news article that relates to behavior analysis
In the brain, objects seen and imagined follow the same neural path, NPR
"This has not been demonstrated before at the neural level," says Kalanit Grill-Spector, a psychology professor at Stanford University's Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, who was not involved in the research.
