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 *
6/17 Cortez, M. D., Gonçalves, M. C., LaFrance, D. L., Ferreira, M. S., & Miguel, C. F. (2025). The use of preferred target stimuli on the acquisition of a small foreign vocabulary. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.70019
Using a set of low-preference and a set of high-preference stimuli, learners acquired foreign language tacts more quickly with high-preference stimuli, and more quickly generalized to intraverbals
6/18 Breeman, S. L., Vladescu, J. C., Sidener, T. M., DeBar, R. M., & Gureghian, D. (2025). Generalized target behavior reductions and maintenance of effects following an augmented competing stimulus assessment sequence. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.70021
(Open access) Augmented stimulus assessment involves using stimuli across various sensory modalities (e.g., some kids like "tangible" items that light up but not ones that make sounds). The authors found that preferred stimuli were more effective. Dr. Haddock is featured in this article
Behavior Analysis in Practice
6/18 Shea, P., Cote, E. & Carter, M. A Rapid Review of Training Future Behavior Analysts Through Computer-Generated Simulations: Challenges and Opportunities in Using Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality. Behav Analysis Practice (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-025-01070-z
AI and VR can do something...probably. Eventually.
Behavioral Interventions *
6/20 Phillips, C.L., Deshais, M.A., Vollmer, T.R. and Zarcone, J.R. (2025), Preliminary Outcomes From a Brief Response Blocking Assessment. Behavioral Interventions, 40: e70020. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.70020
(Open access) The authors hypothesized that response blocking could be a reinforcer, punisher, or have no effect on individuals. What they found was that all 3 effects could be true even within session
Behavior and Social Issues Volume 34, Issue 1 (13 articles, 1 open access)
Most intriguing: Respecting Behavioral Diversity and Prioritizing Inclusion: Surveying Behavior Analysts’ Intervention Strategies
Surveyed BCBAs are likely to try to change a person's behavior for being different -- not just harmful
Behavior Modification * Volume 49 Issue 4 (2 articles, 1 retraction)
Most intriguing: Retraction notice - Behavioral Activation and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in the Treatment of Anxiety and Depression in Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Clinical Trial
We covered it earlier, but there was a PubPeer post accusing the authors of re-using some data. The authors disagreed. The publisher found that there was "significant overlap"
Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions *
6/19 Caldarella, P., Richards, E. J., Williams, L., & Johnston, P. A. (2025). Improving Behavior in Ninth-Grade Classrooms: A Study of CW-FIT. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10983007251335920
"The CW-FIT involves teachers clearly defining classroom behavior expectations, praising students for appropriate behavior, and rewarding groups with points and incentives for meeting these expectations through a group contingency." In 6 9th grade classrooms, CW-FIT was used and resulted in more teacher praise and more on-task student behavior, with both teachers and students rating it favorably
The Psychological Record
6/16 Garcia-Zambrano, S., Jacobs, E., Baires, N. et al. Development of a Behavioral Assessment of Emotional Perspective Taking Skills in Adults. Psychol Rec (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-025-00643-2
101 college students engaged in a task where they identified emotions of a hypothetical person based on a scenario; the more complex the scenario, the longer it took and the more errors they made
Journal of Behavioral Education
6/17 Stormont, M., Frey, A.J., Reinke, W.M. et al. Characteristics of Children with Poor Readiness for Kindergarten: An Exploratory Study. J Behav Educ (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-025-09590-y
Kids with poor behavior and low academic readiness are at the highest risk
Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science
6/20 Examining associations of mindfulness with early-life trauma and risky health behaviors using a network analysis approach in a sample of U.S. college students
(In press) Acting with awareness (mindfulness) may be the most important factor in risky behavior
6/21 Struggles and Solutions in Psychological Research with Unaccompanied Minors: Reflections from the field.
(In press) Barriers to studying unaccompanied minors include consent/assent, foreign language translation, cultural differences, etc.
Book publications
Textbooks, handbooks, manuals, or mass-market
Upcoming:
AIM Navigators, Dixon (Pre-order)
A.I.M. Explorers Curriculum Book Volume 2 Mountain Climb, Dixon (Pre-order)
Handbook of Operant Behavioral Economics, Reed, Kaplan & Gilroy (Eds.)
New this quarter:
Ethical Decision Making in Applied Behavior Analysis, Schwartz & Kelly
Leadership and Management Practices in Human Services Organizations, Gardner et al.
Principles of Applied Behavior Analysis for Behavior Technicians and Other Practitioners, 4/E, Wallace & Mayer
Behavior Analysis for Lasting Change, 6/E, Mayer, Wallace, & Sulzer-Azaroff
Using Functional Analysis in Psychotherapy, Niklas Törneke
Handbook for Behavioral Skills Training, Edition 1, Sturmey & Maffei-Almodovar
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 313 - Ethicstime! (Summer 2025 Grab Bag)
Blogs
Generally these are produced by professionals
Licensing & professional organizations
ASAN
ASAN Condemns Dangerous Supreme Court Ruling on Health Care for Transgender Youth
Business world
Autism services, behavioral health, etc.
NIH’s $50M for New Autism Research Draws Concerns from Advocacy Group
Wow, $50 million dollars in grants! But you have to apply from May 27-June 27 (probably because you need to find the cause of autism by September). Also they $50 million is aimed specifically at finding environmental “causes” of autism. Also the administration, according to Reuters, has cut perhaps over $100 million in research funding, while places like Vanderbilt (who do a lot of ASD research) are cutting their budget by $300 million due to upcoming cuts.
Maybe the $50 million will be on a big novelty check though.
Accidentally behavior analysis
A mainstream news article that relates to behavior analysis
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Will Not Let My Daughter Be, Defector
Defector is a sports website that refuses to “stick to sports.” Here is a personal story.
Of course, telling the parents of special needs children to “do their own research” re: “their child’s healthcare” in the year 2025 AD is not only absurd, but deeply cruel. This might be the most important decision we will ever make for our children. Can we really rely on the decaying corpse of Google search, or weirdly racist AI chat programs to deliver us the right answers? Should we entrust our child’s development to the ministrations of a health-and-wellness podcaster who just so happens to be hawking his own brand of brain supplements between segments?
Continuing education
UPCOMING:
BehaviorLive is back to posting free events: 6/25, 6/26
