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 *
2/28 Ryan, J., Curiel, H., & Lee, K. (2025). The editorial boards of behavior-analytic journals: An analysis of geographic distribution and presumed gender. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.2939
From 2000-2023, in JABA, JEAB, and PoBS, editorial board members were mostly in the US, and were once mostly men, though that is changing
Behavior Analysis in Practice
2/24 Hustyi, K.M., Yingling, M.E. Variation in Behavior Analysts’ Treatment Intensity Recommendations for Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Behav Analysis Practice (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-025-01040-5
In a survey, the authors find that treatment intensity recommendations increase with diagnosis and skill deficits, but that the variability in how clinicians decide is so great that there should be better training. For some ideas on how to do this, see the file here, or this article
2/28 Vanderzell, M.L., Gover, H.C., Badger, S.A. et al. Treating Food Selectivity in Adolescents and Adults with Autism: A Systematic Replication. Behav Analysis Practice (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-01037-6
In a replication of this study, the authors used client goals to increase food consumption using synthesized reinforcement for eating target foods. All 3 subjects increased consumption of diverse foods
Behavioral Interventions *
2/25 Ferrier, S., Cengher, M., & Clearfield, A. (2025). Punishment happens, but the state of behavior analysis is changing for the better. Behavioral Interventions, e2064. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.2064
In a review of 59 studies from 2014-2023, the authors find a decrease in functional assessment, a decrease in punishment procedures, an increase in RIRD, and an increase in measurements of social validity
2/27 Osos, J.A., Higbee, T.S., Mecham, M.L., Carnesecca, M.P., Cousins, D.J., Mendoza, M.R. and Lindgren, N.A. (2025), Standardized to Individualized Behavior Analytic Toilet Training Package for Autistic Preschoolers. Behavioral Interventions, 40: e70006. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.70006
The authors agree that toileting interventions, having been invented in the 70s, need some updating and standardization. They propose: "1) preference assessment, 2) request training, 3) differential reinforcement for staying dry, 4) underwear, and 5) progressive sit schedule," and 3/5 of their subjects acquired the skill with these steps. 1/5 required a contingent progressive sit schedule, and 1/5 required something completely individualized
3/1 Frazier, T.W., Helton, M., Akouri, C., Chetcuti, L. and Uljarevic, M. (2025), Identifying Reliable Change in Outcome Assessments for Behavioral Interventions. Behavioral Interventions, 40: e70007. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.70007
(Open access) A proposal to use certain types of standardized scoring for outcome measurement I suppose
Behavior Modification *
2/26 Kennedy, C. H. (2025). How Does Sleep Deprivation Functionally Impact the Challenging Behavior of People With Intellectual Disabilities? A Systematic Review. Behavior Modification, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/01454455251319729
7 studies in 50 years were identified, with findings including: 7/7 identified increased problem behavior as a result of sleep deprivation, and 5/7 identified problem behavior as maintained by negative reinforcement
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior *
2/25 Aston, E. R., Benz, M. B., Souza, R., Berey, B. L., & Metrik, J. (2025). Using prospective mixed methods to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on cannabis demand. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.70001
41 cannabis users were surveyed over time on their cannabis use. While Covid increased use for some, the authors find that there are more variables, including income, free time, and availability
The Psychological Record
2/25 Bruce, K., Collins, R., Reese, C. et al. Is Tickling a Reinforcer for Adult Rats?. Psychol Rec (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-025-00633-4
This article is great: rats make a sound when they are tickled, so do they like tickles? When they have access to a tickling machine, they will voluntarily use it, but: younger rats like it more than older rats, use decreases over time, and use decreases within a session. They also found that the rats made the sound when they were voluntarily tickled or when it was a punisher, hence the sound is not an indication of enjoyment
Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science
2/25 Perspectives on an integrated acceptance and commitment therapy and mindfulness meditation program: A qualitative study of veterans with chronic pain
Participants used mindfulness meditation to reduce symptom severity, which appeared to work; they also reported the value of being in a group
Single Case in the Social Sciences (Vol. 2 No. 1 (2025): Winter 2025)
OPEN ACCESS Articles include:
Concurrent operant analysis was used to test for reinforcers for problem behavior, which was confirmed by a later preference assessment
The authors manipulated EOs and used an error correction procedure derived from PECS to teach a child to mand using an AAC device
Sometimes therapists grow to hate their clients, which they disguise by calling it “countertransference”; using a mindfulness and education intervention, the authors decreased these feelings in their subjects
The authors provide 3 different types of graphs to aid in visual analysis, plus tips to construct them
EAHB Bulletin (VOLUME 36, 2025)
OPEN ACCESS Articles include:
The authors trained AB and BA relations in preschoolers, but after they learned AC relations, their responding to AB and BA had errors. In a second experiment, they trained AB and BA and tested after 6 months, finding similar errors and concluding that there was not sufficient responding to the previously trained relations
The authors compared stimulus equivalence training on the internet to experiments and real life, and find that the internet experiments had similar results
The authors detail a software program called VirtuOperant, which can simulate an operant chamber, as well as collect and display data (the software does not appear to be available)
In a replication, the authors used an online program to simulate a crying baby with programmed activities that stop the crying (e.g., rocking, feeding), and find that the activities were maintained by negative reinforcement
The authors attempted to use stimulus equivalence to teach WH questions, and found that accurate responding was highest in reflexive, then symmetric, and finally transitive
Electrodermal activity measures, more or less, stress. EDA increased when there were contingency reversals within session; and EDA was higher in a second session with contingency changes
Detailing and making available Python code that creates unusual graphs
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 302 - (ETHICS) The Ethics of Collaboration
Functional Relations
#28 - How YOU Can Bring ABA to Hospitals w/ Dr. Casey Clay
Behavioral Observations
There is a sponsored AI podcast this week that perhaps can be summarized with AI
Blogs
Generally these are produced by professionals
ABAI
Speaking of Age: Verbal Behavior in Later Life
A guest blog about language and gerontology
What Kind of Verbal Operant is “Right?”
David Palmer, right?
OAR
Succeeding in College as a Late-Diagnosed Autistic Person
Licensing & professional organizations
ASAN
Action Alert: Stop McMahon’s confirmation!
Business world
Autism services, behavioral health, etc.
Digital health companies see opportunity in regulatory upheaval
“Vultures see opportunity in drought.” OK, maybe that’s not fair, what are they doi–
Salesforce to roll out AI for prior authorization
Accidentally behavior analysis
A mainstream news article that relates to behavior analysis
Inside One Teacher’s Effort to Help Students Take Charge of Their Own Learning, Education Week
Incredibly, this is a somewhat modified Personalized System of Instruction, invented by Fred Keller in the 1960s. In PSI, usually there are peer tutors available, and lectures are a “bonus” to students who pass unit quizzes. In this version, the lectures are recorded, and there are no peer tutors. From the article, some teachers love it because it was invented by teachers.
Continuing education
UPCOMING:
BehaviorLive is back to posting free events? 3/6 (ETH), 3/6, 3/18, 3/26, 3/27
Flashback
Punishing bees
