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 *
7/22 Preston, A., Szikszai, P., Saini, V., & Brightman, R. (2024). Evaluating an Excel-based tool for interpreting functional analyses: A functional analysis decision support system. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.2901
An Excel sheet which guides the data collection and interpretation of FAs; it is available here and showed convergent validity with visual analysis
7/24 Imler, M. H., & Weyman, J. R. (2024). Evaluation of a latency-based competing stimulus assessment. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.2900
A competing stimulus assessment tests which stimuli compete with automatically-maintained behavior; the authors used varied stimuli, and terminated the trial when problem behavior occurred, and the duration was an efficient way to measure which stimuli were most competitive
Chotto, J., Linton, E., & Donaldson, J. M. (2024). Direct and indirect effects of and preferences for feedback during the Good Behavior Game in elementary classes. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.2902
The Good Behavior Game (GBG) was played in multiple 5th grade classes with varying types of feedback, and all were effective. The kids chose to play the GBG with vocal and visual feedback
Journal of Organizational Behavior Management * Volume 44 Issue 3 (Note: the announcement and all the articles are available, but the actual issue is not posted as of 7/27) (5 articles, 1 open access)
Most intriguing: Effects of Feedback Statements on Staff Procedural Integrity
7/23 Kade, L., & Bördlein, C. (2024). Behavioral Safety in a Dental Surgery Facility. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/01608061.2024.2382980
7 employees in a dental facility were monitored for safe behaviors (exposure to contaminants, physical risk, dangerous postures) and found to average 79% safe; with task clarification, goal setting, verbal/graphical feedback, and reinforcement, they increased safe behavior up to 95%, which declined at follow up
Behavioral Interventions *
7/21 Andzik, N. R., Walker, S. F., O’Hara, C. A., Camacho, S. A., Landmeier, L., & Brander, M. (2024). Preliminary assessment of augmentative and alternative communication-related stereotypy. Behavioral Interventions, e2042. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.2042
AAC use can involve stereotypy (e.g., pressing the same button repeatedly), and the authors found that it can be automatically maintained, though sensitive to environmental variables
7/23 McDonald, E. R., & Hanson, R. J. (2024). A review of applied behavior analysis within the criminal justice system. Behavioral Interventions, e2043. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.2043
A literature review to answer the question: what is the actual involvement of behavior analysis in the criminal justice system?
Behavior and Social Issues
7/22 Blejewski, R.C., Hurtado, R., Batchelder, S.R. et al. Student Perceptions of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Practices Related to Racism in Behavior-Analytic Graduate Training Programs. Behav. Soc. Iss. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42822-024-00177-2
A survey found that most verified course sequences are not meeting all recommendations for DEI practices
Behavior Modification *
7/26 Ayvaci, A. S., Cox, A. D., & Dimopoulos, A. (2024). A Quantitative Systematic Literature Review of Combination Punishment Literature: Progress Over the Last Decade. Behavior Modification, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/01454455241262414
(Open access) Examining literature from 2013-2022 (30 total articles), the authors find that punishment combined with reinforcement (as antecedent intervention or consequence) lead to greater results
Chezan, L. C., Bauer, A. M., McCammon, M. N., & Drasgow, E. (2024). Functional Communication Training in Schools: A Systematic Analysis of the Evidence for Ecological Validity. Behavior Modification, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/01454455241264816
In 15 total FCT studies, the authors find ecological validity to be low -- e.g., unlikely to be used by school personnel
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
7/27 Schmidt, D., Urias, C., Dufek, S. et al. Caregiver Perspectives on Telehealth Assessment and Other Supports for Infants with Early Developmental Concerns. J Autism Dev Disord (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-024-06483-3
(Open access) Parents report satisfaction with telehealth assessments, because in the early stages of diagnosis they feel alone and disempowered
Journal of Behavioral Education
7/25 Johnson, C.N., Dufrene, B.A., LaBrot, Z.C. et al. Emailed Prompts to Increase Alternative School Educators’ Use of Behavior-Specific Praise. J Behav Educ (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-024-09557-5
Emails to teachers did, in fact, increase their use of behavior specific praise in their classroom
Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science
7/23 The Role of Engaged Living in the Association Between Self-Concealment and Psychological Distress among Racially Diverse College Students in Hawaiʻi
(In press) People who conceal their values face distress, and engaged living (e.g., according to values) has a small moderation effect on concealment
7/25 Taking ACTion for Anxiety and Depression: A Pilot Study of a Brief Virtual Acceptance and Commitment Therapy Group in Primary Care
(In press) Brief,virtual ACT groups decreased depression and anxiety symptoms
Weight Stigma and Healthcare Avoidance among Women with Obesity: The Moderating Roles of Body Image-Related Psychological Inflexibility and Cognitive Fusion
(In press) Inflexibility and fusion correlate with health care avoidance and stigma
European Journal of Behavior Analysis
7/21 Burney, V., McCann, C. M., & Arnold-Saritepe, A. (2024). Where engagement happens: Parent perspectives on engagement in behavioural interventions. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/15021149.2024.2381935
(Open access) Structured interviews with parents in New Zealand found that focusing on parent engagement (as opposed to mere treatment adherence) can improve intervention efforts
Book publications
Textbooks, handbooks, manuals, or mass-market
Routledge
Writing Skills for Behavior Analysts: A Practical Guide for Students and Clinicians, Edited by Reinecke, Knihtila, Papazian, Heyman & Bratton
Sloan publishing
Ethics: Proactive and Practical Decision Making for Behavior Analysts, LeBlanc & Karsten
Perspectives on Neurodiversity and Belonging: Reflections for Behavior Analysts, Dyer, Weiss, Tereshko, & Linnehan (eds.)
2023: A list here
Podcasts
ABA Inside Track
Episode 283 - Publication Diversity in ABA w/ Dr. Anita Li
Functional Relations podcast has great episodes, but had not posted an episode in approximately 2 years. They just announced that a new episode is coming August 1st.
Blogs
Generally these are produced by professionals
ABAI
The Quest to Communicate About Behavior Analysis (#5 of 5): Beyond Books and Journals
Some interesting alternatives to books -- many of which we spotlight here in THE FIXED INTERVAL (interval interval interval)
Followup on the Power of SHOULD (Olympic Edition)
Athletes are all nuts in their own way (this is true)
Licensing & professional organizations
Business world
Autism services, behavioral health, etc.
Autism M&A Activity Continues to Rebound, as ABA Therapy Company Behavioral Framework Buys BCPS
“We’re going to professionalize a lot of our tools and processes and invest in systems and tools and people,” Kyle West told BHB at the time.
Two things to keep in mind, prior to a big investment: 1.) were they not able to "professionalize" their tools beforehand, or invest in their people, and 2.) why is it not enough to simply operate a profitable business in the first place?
Accidentally behavior analysis
A mainstream news article that relates to behavior analysis
FBI investigates Minnesota autism centers, which have exploded in growth since 2018, Minnesota Reformer
Larsson serves on a national certification board that responded to widespread allegations of fraud in Florida in 2018 by setting up a special unit to process the complaints. The state found therapy providers billing for more than 24 hours in a day, billing for 31 consecutive days, and falsifying qualifications.
Problems in Minnesota may or may not include: centers operating more as daycares; providers with unethically large caseloads; centers that may not actually exist; billing fraud; ESL families who don’t understand the process to which they have agreed; etc.
Continuing education
UPCOMING:
BehaviorLive has a list of events, some of which are free: 7/31
Flashback
Ennio Cipani is a prolific writer, and clearly intelligent, though for some reason I always get the impression that he’s…weird? Anyway, 20 years ago he wrote a book that makes a subtle argument in favor of sometimes using programmed punishment. It’s not a popular position, but you might find yourself convinced.