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 *
12/25 Thibodeaux, J. J., Taylor, P. M., Bacotti, J. K., & Morris, S. L. (2024). Evaluating feedback frequency preference and its relation to task performance. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.2932
In an analogue task, participants want more feedback initially with a new task, and with more challenging tasks. This comports with previous research
12/27 Batchelder, S. R., Devoto, A., & Washington, W. D. (2024). Effectiveness of intermittent cash incentives to increase step counts. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.2929
(Open access) A lottery-style contingency increased step counts
Behavioral Interventions *
12/24 Kranak, M.P. and Briggs, A.M. (2025), Efficiency, Safety, and Dissemination: Considerations for Research and Practice Related to the Practical Functional Assessment. Behavioral Interventions, 40: e2072. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.2072
The authors warn against indiscriminate use of the IISCA. For more, see Wayne Fisher
Behavior and Social Issues
12/27 Slanzi, C.M., Morris, S.L., Conine, D.E. et al. Respecting Behavioral Diversity and Prioritizing Inclusion: Surveying Behavior Analysts’ Intervention Strategies. Behav. Soc. Iss. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-024-00191-4
In a survey of 170 behavior analysts, participants were "marginally" more likely to focus on harmful behavior versus behavior that is merely "different" (such as harmless stereotypy). Fortunately the analysts were equally likely to focus on the client and on others
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior *
12/26 Reed, D. D., Hursh, S. R., Berry, M. S., & Strickland, J. C. (2024). Operant demand and public health. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.4236
An introduction to the topic
Edgemon, A. K., Martinez-Perez, C. N., Newland, M. C., & Rapp, J. T. (2024). Comparing and intervening on behavioral demand for snack foods among justice-involved adolescents: A preliminary translational analysis. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.4234
In experiment 1, a preference assessment found a relationship between energy density of snacks and preference. In experiment 2, the subjects received a nutrition intervention, and then participated in hypothetical purchasing tasks. See examples of the tasks in the supplemental info
The Psychological Record
12/23 Molines, F., Pellón, R. Wheel Running Induced by Intermittent Self-Administration of Ethanol: A Proof of Concept. Psychol Rec (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-024-00623-y
In rats, wheel running was reinforced by FT delivery of ethanol; induced wheel running -- a fascinating topic itself -- was controlled by noncontingent access in one condition
Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science
12/24 Symbolic or Derived Generalization of Fear and Avoidance in Humans: A Systematic Review
(In press) In a literature review, 31 articles about derived fear or avoidance responses were identified. The authors believe that the evidence base is thin, due to methodological flaws
Behavior and Philosophy
Ribes Iñesta, Emilio (2024) About “About Behaviorism”. Behavior and Philosophy, 52, 78-89.
(Open access) Some interesting history and criticism
Overskeid, Geir (2024) How Thoughts Survive. Behavior and Philosophy, 52, 90-95.
(Open access) The author argues that Skinnerian thought is best preserved if it is integrated into the mainstream -- in this case, mainstream psychology
Brazilian Journal of Behavior Analysis (REBAC) Vol. 20, N. 2 (10 articles, 10 open access) (most are in Portuguese, though all abstracts are in English as well); a special section on Deisy das Graças de Souza, a major Brazilian analyst
Most intriguing: Effect of Reinforcement Duration on Response Rate of Stingless Bees (Melipona quadrifasciata anthidioides)
This one is in English. Bees given 30s access to a sugar solution for bar pressing were then exposed to shorter durations; they would press the bar repeatedly until they reached the maximum amount. The researchers compare this to a token system; it also sounds something like a discounting task with pigeons
Single Case in the Social Sciences (5 articles, 5 open access)
An exciting new journal! Peer-reviewed, open under a Creative Commons license, no publishing fees.
The inaugural issue:
Book publications
Textbooks, handbooks, manuals, or mass-market
Upcoming:
Using Functional Analysis in Psychotherapy, Niklas Törneke (Available Jan. 2025)
Ethical Decision Making in Applied Behavior Analysis, Schwartz & Kelly (Available Mar. 2025)
New this quarter:
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.)
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:
Podcasts
ABA Inside Track
Bonus Episode 36 - The Year in ABA (2024) w/ Matt Cicoria
Behavioral Observations
Session 284: 2024 Year in Review (same podcast as above, essentially)
Blogs
Generally these are produced by professionals
ABAI blogs
What Were 2024’s Top Breakthroughs in The Science of Behavior?
Tom Critchfield is crowd-sourcing this one, and it currently has no comments posted
What is a Pronoun?
David Palmer provides a thoughtful reply to what might be (or might not be, who knows) a deliberate idiotic culture war provocation, phrased as "just asking questions." We have a piece on gender that may be released soon...
Licensing & professional organizations
ASAT
The Council of Autism Service Providers: A Comprehensive Look at CASP’s Initiatives and Resources
Business world
Autism services, behavioral health, etc.
Could the gen AI bubble burst? 5 VCs predict 2025 trends
3/5 basically say yes, it will burst. 1/5 says companies will consolidate, meaning there’s not room for all this garbage. 1/5 says they can’t wait to see this stuff actually working well…which they may not realize is a bit of a damning indictment of the current state, wouldn’t you say?
Accidentally behavior analysis
A mainstream news article that relates to behavior analysis
A 1975 law helped kids with disabilities access education. Schools now need more help, NPR
The federal government is supposed to fund up to 40% of special education but (and this was news to us) it never has reached that level. This funding shortage, combined with enrollment shortfalls and chronic absenteeism, has contributed to budget shortages and a palpable lack of institutional support for ancillary services. In positive news, nearly $2 billion in funding for autism research and support has been signed into law.
Continuing education
UPCOMING:
BehaviorLive has a list of events, some of which are free: no more in December! Better luck in 2025.
Flashback
What’s your new year’s resolution? How about dealing with difficult people?