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 *
1/2 Sheldon, J.B. (2025), In Memoriam: Dr. James Anthony Sherman (1938–2024) My mentor, colleague, and partner in life. J Appl Behav Anal. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.2936
Sherman studied with Don Baer and worked with the likes of Lovaas, Wolf, and Risley. In this reflection on his life, his wife notes that he worked on Project Pigeon
Reed, D.D. and DiGennaro Reed, F.D. (2025), Make time for what matters: Five life lessons from James A. Sherman. J Appl Behav Anal. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.2937
One anecdote: Sherman made a device to dispense marbles to kindergarteners for a study
Leaf, J.B. (2025), In memoriam: Lessons from James Anthony Sherman. J Appl Behav Anal. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.2935
Sherman (and his wife) were co-authors on one of the greatest papers of all time, and his commitment to ethical treatment of human beings was reflected in real life
Behavior Analysis in Practice
12/31 Roca, A., Rojas, R., Catarino, A. et al. Behavioral Interventions for Children with Cerebral Palsy in a School Setting. Behav Analysis Practice (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-01027-8
Three children with cerebral palsy were treated in a classroom setting with a functional assessment and function-based treatment, FCT and RIRD, that decreased their challenging behaviors
Nastasi, J.A., McGarry, K.M., Peters, K.P. et al. A Qualitative Analysis of Variables Contributing to the Registered Behavior Technicians’ Burnout and Turnover in Florida. Behav Analysis Practice (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-01033-w
11 RBTs in Florida were interviewed, and the 4 main themes discovered were: lack of training; difficult conditions; not viewed as viable career; and dissatisfaction with pay and benefits
Ruiz, J.A., Sánchez, C.G.G. Creating Plots for Single-Subject Research Designs in R. Behav Analysis Practice (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-01032-x
The authors have designed and posted free code for representing graphs in a niche program
1/3 de la Cruz, B., Bourland, G., Johnson-Patagoc, K.M. et al. The Road to Licensure of Behavior Analysts in Texas: History and Lessons Learned. Behav Analysis Practice (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-01030-z
Detailing the successful push for licensure in Texas
Behavior Modification *
12/31 Bernstein, A. M., Juanico, J. F., Roane, H. S., Gureghian, D. L., & Neidert, P. L. (2025). Response Blocking to Identify Inappropriate Self-Feeding as a Motivation or a Skill Deficit. Behavior Modification, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/01454455241306090
The authors used response blocking to test if a child ate with their fingers due to a performance or motivation deficit (e.g., if a child is able to eat with a spoon, and you block them from using their fingers, they will use the spoon). If the children could not perform the skill of eating with a utensil, they blocked finger feeding and backwards chained the skill; if the child could eat with a utensil, they blocked and used differential reinforcement
The Psychological Record
12/30 Hayes, L.J., Fryling, M. The Behavior Analysis of Language and Cognition: A Call for System Building. Psychol Rec (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-024-00625-w
(Open access) A conclusion to a special issue on collaboration
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
(PREVIEW) The Science of Consequences Book Club
Behavioral Observations
La Evaluación Práctica Funcional y el Tratamiento Basado en Habilidades: BOP en Español 12 con Beatriz Urcuyo y Rafael Argueta
Functional Relations
#25 - Matching Law in Real-Life Interventions w/ Dr. Brent Kaplan
Blogs
Generally these are produced by professionals
ABAI blogs
Tools of Change, Part One
Susan Schneider introduces a website, Tools of Change, that includes resources to successfully promote changes in health, safety, and environment
Licensing & professional organizations
BACB
The RBT application process has been simplified
Business world
Autism services, behavioral health, etc.
Providers lean on AI startups to limit, challenge insurance denials
Cigna uses an algorithm to deny medical claims (is ABA affected?), and UHC (Optum) uses an algorithm to deny ABA claims. Some insurers "ghost" a provider -- by simply not approving, denying, or paying, they don't open themselves up to specific enforcement actions from regulators. The late capitalism solution: make the robots fight each other. Hopefully good robot wins and Mawmaw gets her hip replaced!
Accidentally behavior analysis
A mainstream news article that relates to behavior analysis
Her Mental Health Treatment Was Helping. That’s Why Insurance Cut Off Her Coverage., ProPublica
Blue Cross Blue Shield, whose parent company Anthem was effectively terrorized into dropping a plan to time-limit anesthesia, will drop your coverage of a service that provides no benefit – of course! They will also drop your coverage of a service that provides significant benefit. Where that can lead:
Her few weeks stay at the psychiatric hospital cost $38,945.06. The remaining 10 weeks of treatment at the intensive outpatient program — the treatment BCBS denied — would have cost about $10,000.
Maybe these shrimp Jesus algorithms are good for something…
Continuing education
UPCOMING:
BehaviorLive has a list of events, some of which are free: 1/16 (SUP), 1/23 (ETH), 1/28, 1/29
Flashback
For 90 minutes, Skinner (interviewed by Richard Evans) opines on Freud, reinforcement & punishment, motivation, and more.