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 *
2/10 Lewis, T. K., & Cariveau, T. (2025). Remediation of the picture-text problem for learners exhibiting reading deficits. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.70001
(Open access) Kids like pictures in books, but pictures can prompt guessing at the words rather than reading, or lead to tact rather than textual control. The authors used 3 conditions with 6 kids with reading challenges: no pictures, standard pictures, and compound pictures (that represented more than just the words in the story). Kids preferred the pictures, and 5/6 learned the story more quickly with the compound pictures
Behavioral Interventions *
2/14 (2025), Correct to “Examination of Athletes' Preferences for Practice Drills in a Group Response Restriction Analysis”. Behavioral Interventions, 40: e70003. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.70003
Clicked this one nervously, as we previously singled it out as an interesting article. Turns out they categorized themselves as "review" when the article is actually "research."
Perspectives on Behavior Science
2/11 O’Neill, J., Tacosik, J. Countercontrol and Associated Challenges in Residential Treatment. Perspect Behav Sci (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614-025-00437-5
The authors describe countercontrol, a concept proposed by Skinner in which an organism emits aversive behavior to avoid or terminate aversive control, as it applies to residential facilities. In their estimation, countercontrol can interfere with FBAs, reinforcers, setting events, etc. Ironically both authors are associated with the Judge Rotenberg Center, which some would describe as the epicenter of aversive control
2/14 Brown, K.R. The Need to Distinguish between “Lapse” and “Relapse”. Perspect Behav Sci (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614-025-00436-6
(Open access) The author proposes a distinction between transient (lapse) and prolonged (relapse) reemergence of problem behavior
Behavior and Social Issues
2/10 Sheridan, D.J., Anderson, A.N. & Rapp, J.T. Justice-Involved Youth Perspectives on Educational Interventions to Enhance Future Prospects. Behav. Soc. Iss. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-025-00197-6
100 justice-involved youth completed a survey and a focus group about their educational interests, which trended towards practical self-help (vocational skills, budgeting, emotional coping). The authors conclude that these youth understand their interests, have appropriate interests, and have motivation to learn
European Journal of Behavior Analysis
2/10 Bravo, A., & Schwartz, I. (2025). Behavior technician implementation of Reciprocal Imitation Teaching. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 1–29. https://doi.org/10.1080/15021149.2025.2464322
NDBI is a style of early intervention, and reciprocal imitation is a component and is designed to increase child imitation. Therapists watched a presentation and then got bug-in-ear coaching, and they increased fidelity of implementation, and 2/4 kids increased their imitation skills. The therapists did not generalize the skill to new routines
2/14 Pan, Q., Reilly, A. M., Liu, X., & Bak, M. Y. S. (2025). A preliminary review of social validity assessments in applied behavior analysis research and practice. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1080/15021149.2025.2465112
The authors examine 4 categories of social validity within peer-reviewed articles in JABA and BAP: type, dimension, respondent, and time. They find no significant differences between the reporting in each journal
Book publications
Textbooks, handbooks, manuals, or mass-market
Upcoming:
Using Functional Analysis in Psychotherapy, Niklas Törneke (Available now)
Handbook for Behavioral Skills Training, Edition 1, Sturmey & Maffei-Almodovar (Available now)
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.)
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:
Podcasts
ABA Inside Track
Episode 1012 - (UNLOCKED) Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Behavior Analysts Book Club
Behavioral Observations
The 2024 Verbal Behavior Conference Panel Discussion
Blogs
Generally these are produced by professionals
ABAI
Free Behavior Analysis Conference on February 21, 2025
Looks very interesting, though apparently no CEUs. It appears to be approximately 6:30AM-12:15PM PST
Behavior analysis, science, and culture: What can we learn from selection by consequence?
Kupfer & Allen discuss articles by Sigrid Glenn on cultural selection to frame our current anti-science zeitgeist
Behavior/Brain Magazine
February issue
Licensing & professional organizations
BACB
Employment Demand report for BCBAs
ASAN
ASAN Disappointed by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Confirmation to Lead HHS
ASAT
Can There be Compassion Without Assent? A Nonlinear Constructional Approach.
An interesting article review that describes consent/assent-based alternatives to force
Business world
Autism services, behavioral health, etc.
Autism Providers Forecast ‘More Stability in the Workforce’ in 2025 and Autism Care Startups See Rising Investment, Navigate Insurance Hurdles
While ABA company CEOs have a vested interest in painting a rosy picture (e.g., “rising investment”), there seems to be a positive overall trend. Taken in tandem, these articles describe: lower turnover post-Covid; a (claimed) focus on employee retention; more investment, perhaps less from private equity; and potential for rate increases from payers. Potential downsides are rate caps or decreases (Indiana Medicaid wants to cap ABA at 30 hours per week for 3 years), as well as…private equity in general.
Accidentally behavior analysis
A mainstream news article that relates to behavior analysis
The Scientific Literature Can’t Save You Now, The Atlantic
RFK Jr. asked for “science” on vaccines, dismissed any reference to the “science” from Senators, but cited his own evidence – which turned out to be essentially a “paper mill” article. To the authors at The Atlantic, this means that now:
“[...] the advocates or foes of virtually any claim can point to published work and say, “See? Science!”
This is simply untrue, insofar as this has always been the case. The scientific processes – peer review, the “file drawer” problem, “publish or perish” – all need improvement. But improving all those processes will only further convince people willing or able to understand those processes.
Continuing education
UPCOMING:
BehaviorLive now charges $25/month for “free” CEUs?
Verbal Beginnings has 2 CEUs on 2/26
Flashback
