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 *
5/15 Baruni, R. R., Miltenberger, R. G., Cook, J. L., Concepcion, A., & Maxfield, T. C. (2025). Evaluating interactive computerized training to teach practitioners to implement firearm safety skills training. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.70013
(Open access) Miltenberger has frequently researched gun safety skills; in this study, interactive computer training was supplied to BCBAs, who then effectively implemented the skills with their clients
McNellis, T., Weyman, J. R., & Healzer, O. (2025). Some effects of immediacy on healthy food selection. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.70014
When choosing between a less-healthy snack and fruit, 3/3 clients chose the snack. When the snack was delayed 30s, 1/3 chose the fruit, and when it was delayed 60s, 3/3 chose the fruit
Journal of Organizational Behavior Management *
5/14 Sullivan, E. K., Zarcone, J. R., & Zangrillo, A. N. (2025). A preliminary evaluation of prescribing therapist-worn protective equipment. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/01608061.2025.2504947
In an outpatient clinic, protective equipment (PE) was either therapist choice, prescribed to therapists based on client profiles, or not available. In the prescribed condition, there was less injury to staff. Staff tend to report that they don't use PE because it's annoying, but prescribing it could avoid this issue
Perspectives on Behavior Science
5/13 Vollmer, T.R., Pendergrass, J.A. Social Validity and Contemporary Applied Behavior Analysis. Perspect Behav Sci (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40614-025-00452-6
Reflections on how social validity should evolve, and what should be meant by "applied behavior analysis"
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior *
5/15 Zentall, T. R. (2025). Peter Urcuioli's lasting contribution: Animal memory research and an important model of stimulus class formation. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.70019
Most notably, he demonstrated Sidman equivalence in pigeons, which provided evidence that language is not necessary to form equivalence relations
Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions *
5/17 Brennan, C., Bohan, C., & Smyth, S. (2025). Using the Caught Being Good Game in the Community: Increasing Prosocial Behaviors Among Children at Risk of Adverse Childhood Experiences. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10983007251325956
(Open access) The authors used the Caught Being Good game in an afterschool program for disadvantaged children in Dublin; encouragement, peer cooperation, and leader cooperation all increased. The children rated it highly, while the teacher rated it less highly -- the dissonance here being evidence as to why these interventions are not adopted
Education and Treatment of Children
5/15 Bourque, K., Buzhardt, J., Kamps, D. et al. Interventions Benefitting Young Autistic Children. Educ. Treat. Child. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43494-025-00158-z
In another Juniper Gardens article, the authors detail two effective interventions: one teaches peers to be responsive to communication from kids with communication challenges, while another is a series of online modules for parents
5/16 King, H.C., Chesbrough, E.A., Macuare, V. et al. A Systematic Review and Quality Appraisal of Fully Individualized Levels Systems. Educ. Treat. Child. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43494-025-00155-2
A levels system uses various interventions to target a whole population (e.g., PBIS). This study reviewed 7 studies that use a levels system with individualization, finding that this can be an effective intervention
The Psychological Record Volume 75, Issue 2 June 2025 (10 articles, 2 open access) Most intriguing: Is Tickling a Reinforcer for Adult Rats?
Rats make sounds when they are tickled, so do they "like" it? When given free access to a device that tickles, younger rats use it more often but use declines over time. The rats made the same sound whether the tickling was a reinforcer or a punisher.
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
5/11 Hotez, E., Tsevat, R.K., Tao, S. et al. Autism, Obesity, and PTSD Among Adolescents and Young Adults: An Analysis of National Medicaid Claims Data. J Autism Dev Disord (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-025-06881-1
(Open access) The authors analyzed nearly 2 million Medicaid claims. Autistic people are more likely to have a secondary diagnosis, obesity, and PTSD. PTSD symptoms typically emerge in adolescence
Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science
5/14 Is the Multidimensional Psychological Flexibility Inventory Short Form valid for ecological momentary assessment? A preliminary psychometric investigation
(In press) A specific assessment appears statistically valid but needs more research
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.) (Available Jul. 1, 2025)
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 1013 - (UNLOCKED) Activity Schedules for Children with Autism Book Club
Behavioral Observations
Chronic Absenteeism and School Refusal: Session 300 with Kristen McNeely
Blogs
Generally these are produced by professionals
Steve Hayes
Preparing Ourselves to Work With a New Conscious Species: If We’re Co-Creating a New Form of Consciousness, Let’s Choose to Be Its Wisest Ancestors
While we're skeptical of AI, particularly the overblown claims made by people who make AI and who have a financial interest in making you believe it's ~~important~~, there is a basic thought-provoking question: what is "consciousness" or "understanding"?
OAR
Embracing, not Erasing: The Journey to See and Accept Differences
Licensing & professional organizations
ASAN
Disability Rights and Privacy Advocates Raise Concerns with Proposed Autism “Registry”
When has a "registry" of atypical people ever been used for evil, anyway
Crisis of confidence: Robert F Kennedy Jr. continues to use his position at HHS to promote lies about autism & public health.
A great summary of the things that Kennedy says, plus all the reasons why you don't have to listen to what he says
Business world
Autism services, behavioral health, etc.
Five things to know about the growing value-based care movement
This is a medical perspective on VBC, and given that medicine often precedes ABA in these matters, it provides interesting insight. Findings of a survey conclude:
many providers participate in some form of VBC;
most providers believe that VBC participation will increase;
barriers include 66% of respondents who say that there are not clear quality metrics;
more would adopt VBC in exchange for more money;
and participation could be increased by…AI (???)
Accidentally behavior analysis
A mainstream news article that relates to behavior analysis
Exclusive: Trump administration defunds autism research in DEI and 'gender ideology' purge, Reuters
We have previously complained that “finding the cause of autism by September” will be a baldfaced excuse to cut the funds that care for autistic people. And in fact it is. As our friend RFK actually said, in front of a microphone, yes this is a real quote:
“What I’m doing at my agency is I’m realigning all of these first incentives… I’m realigning so that people can make money in this country and markets can make money,” Kennedy said.
Continuing education
UPCOMING:
BehaviorLive is back to posting free events: 5/28
