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 *
1/16 Fallon, M. J., Luczynski, K. C., Rodriguez, N. M., Felty, C., & Rahaman, J. A. (2025). A preliminary analysis of teaching children with autism spectrum disorder self-protection skills for bullying situations. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.2938
(Open access) Using BST and a textual prompt, the authors taught kids to report threats, and to make a dismissive comment after an unkind remark, then walk away and engage in another activity after a 2nd unkind remark. All kids increased their skills, but two needed booster training to discriminate bullying behavior. (Most social skills lessons, such as PEERS, do not recommend "ignoring" unkind remarks)
Behavior Modification *
1/15 Trolley-Hanson, A. R., McGuire, R. A., Konopa, H., Lane, M., Krolick, J., Margulis, J., Mueser, K. T., & McGurk, S. R. (2025). Cognitive Remediation to Facilitate Independent Living in Persons With Serious Mental Illness. Behavior Modification, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/01454455241310143
A "cognitive remediation" program appeared to help people institutionalized with serious mental illness, making them more likely to live independently
Education and Treatment of Children
1/14 Mathur, S.R., Oakes, W.P., Griller Clark, H. et al. Introduction to the Special Issue Teacher Educators for Children with Behavioral Disorders (TECBD) Conference. Educ. Treat. Child. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43494-024-00145-w Intro to a special issue Krezmien, M.P., Mulcahy, C.A. A Call for the End of School Seclusion. Educ. Treat. Child. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43494-024-00144-x
Seclusion carries enormous risks, and the authors recommend various strategies that they believe should entirely substitute for seclusion
1/16 Ward, R.S., Jones, S.H., Pullar, T. et al. A Scoping Literature Review of Demand Fading. Educ. Treat. Child. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43494-024-00143-y
15 studies reveal that demand fading is typically part of a treatment package; the authors describe qualities of demand fading
Patterson, A., Moyher, R., Pasnak, R. et al. Early Intervention in Component and Composite Skills for Arithmetic Decomposition. Educ. Treat. Child. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43494-024-00136-x
(Open access) Six first graders who used inappropriate math strategies (e.g., counting on fingers) were taught via video and live instruction to use best practices. When tested, they did not use the strategies on novel problems, but after booster training they used the strategies
The Psychological Record
1/14 Reid, D., Keenan, M. Emergent Untrained Combined Functions in Equivalence Classes. Psychol Rec (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-024-00618-9
(Open access) In 3 experiments, participants were trained in relations of nonsense syllables and colored discs. In each case, there was an emergent combination of 2 behaviors to an untrained stimulus. This is essentially a replication of this study
1/15 Kono, M., Takada, T. & Yokomitsu, K. The Effect of Cooperation with Conspecifics on a Pigeon’s Behavior under the Random Ratio Schedule. Psychol Rec (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-024-00624-x
(Open access) The mere presence of another person can improve performance on tasks, so what are the effects with pigeons? From this study, it appears that another pigeon in a Skinner box (they could see each other through plexiglass but could not touch or otherwise interact) can increase pecking. It can also potentially be an abolishing operation for pecking if the pigeons have to share the pellets that are produced as a result of their pecks. There were no other clear effects
Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science
1/13 Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) for pediatric chronic non-cancer pain: A systematic review
(In press) ACT worked pretty well in this specific application, though the studies have a "moderate" risk of bias
1/17 Introduction to the Special Issue on Process-Based Therapy
An interesting topic
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
Episode 298 - Auld Bag Syne (Winter 2025 Grab Bag)
Blogs
Generally these are produced by professionals
ABAI
Tools of Change, Part Two
More on the website Tools of Change, which has information on social interventions
Interesting Somethings (2023-2024), Indexed
Tom Critchfield has helpfully categorized all his 2024 posts, of which there are many
How Fuzzy are We?
Kupfer & Allen seem to mildly disagree with Tom Critchfield about using Baer, Wolf & Risley's 7 dimensions as a litmus test for research. Shots fired!
Licensing & professional organizations
ASAN
ASAN Comments on 14(c) NPRM
More on abolishing the sub-minimum wage
OBM Network
Spring 2025 Newsletter
Not a lot here, but a list of references to behavior-based instruction on page 15
Business world
Autism services, behavioral health, etc.
Republicans outline trillions in healthcare cuts
Though there are increased costs included (e.g., higher reimbursements to doctors), they want to cut Medicare spending, and introduce immense barriers to accessing Medicaid (e.g., work requirements). Jumping the gun, Indiana Medicaid wants to limit ABA to 30 hours per week for 3 years, a sad state of affairs for the first state to pass a law mandating insurance coverage for ABA. Meanwhile UHC is going to mildly adjust their business to be friendlier, meaning the government is the villain this week.
Accidentally behavior analysis
A mainstream news article that relates to behavior analysis
Researchers Created a Phonics Program With ‘Dramatic’ Results. How It Works, Education Week
The program (their site, with free resources and a link to the $70 manual, is here) is…phonics instruction a lot like Zig Englemann’s work. The UFLI program found that, in 30 minutes per day for 1 year, they got an “extra” 8-18 months of progress from the students, similar to the 12 “extra” months of progress and tuition-back guarantee from the Morningside Academy. It seems pretty derivative, and…we love it, and we want more like it, and hopefully it catches on.
Continuing education
UPCOMING:
BehaviorLive has a list of events, some of which are free: 1/23 (ETH), 1/28, 1/29
Flashback
