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 *
11/18 Raiff, B. R., Upton, C. R., & Koffarnus, M. N. (2024). Evaluating the social acceptability of the Re-Connect concept: A smartphone-based, nonfinancial, contingency management intervention. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.2923
(Open access) Contingency management is very effective but people don't like it. The authors tested an app that locks all your preferred apps, contingent on meeting health goals. About two-thirds of people said they would continue using it and about the same number said they would recommend it to friends
11/20 Goldman, K. J., Martinez, C., Hack, G. O., Hernandez, R., Laureano, B., Argueta, T., Sams, R., & DeLeon, I. G. (2024). Correspondence between preference for and efficacy of behavioral interventions: A systematic review. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.2924
The authors compared preference to effectiveness in intervention in a literature review; they find that there is overlap in about 75% of cases. Preferred & effective intervention includes computer-based instruction, accumulated reinforcement, and contingent reinforcement
Behavior Analysis in Practice
11/19 Visitacion, K.A., Van Stratton, J.E. & Wertalik, J.L. Vocational Skill Fluency Through Frequency Building. Behav Analysis Practice (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-01016-x
The authors used precision teaching to train component vocational skills to people with special needs. They found that it was effective, though they note that composite skills may still need to be taught
Hayes, L.J., Fryling, M. Maria E. Malott: A Visionary Behavior Analyst. Behav Analysis Practice (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-024-01015-y
A profile of Maria Malott, an inspiring leader
Perspectives on Behavior Science
Volume 47, Issue 4 December 2024 (6 articles, 2 open access)
Most intriguing: A Call to Investigate and Improve the Research Literacy of Professional Behavior Analysts
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior *
11/19 Ayres-Pereira, V., de Souza, D., & Arntzen, E. (2024). Discrimination of highly similar stimuli as members of different equivalence classes. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.4230
(Open access) In various conditions, the authors tested whether visually similar items could be used to form stimulus equivalence classes. The effective condition was presenting quasi-identical stimuli simultaneously as comparisons
de Méo Luiz, A. C., Tsutsumi, M. M. A., de Lemos, L. H. A., da Silva Neto, J. M., da Silva, V. K., Suemi Gomes Shirakwa, J., dos Santos, J. R., & Ramos, G. A. (2024). The effects of simultaneous point gains and losses on human persistence. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.4228
Gains in points strengthen persistence, but losses (on VI or VT schedule) do not weaken persistence at the same rate
Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions *
11/18 Simonsen, B., Meyer, K., Plumb, A., Duble Moore, T., & Sears, S. (2024). Intensifying Tier 1 Classroom Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Practices to Support Students With Disabilities: A Pilot Study. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10983007241276526
Three teachers supporting three students were trained with professional development to increase their tier 1 support -- such as with prompting, behavior-specific praise, etc. Two out of three self-managed their behavior and their students showed improvements in engagement; one teacher did not
Education and Treatment of Children
11/18 Heiman, C.M., Jacobson, M. & Fienup, D.M. Virtual Behavioral Skills Training for Parents: Generalization of Parent Behavior and Child Learning. Educ. Treat. Child. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43494-024-00137-w
Parents were taught to use DTT with their kids to teach a skill. The parents did it correctly, the children learned the skill, though there were no non-instructional effects on the parent/child relationship. The supplemental info has the flow chart that was given to the parents to facilitate DTT
Criss, C.J. The Effects of Temporal Timing of Performance Feedback on Novice Teachers’ Use of Behavior-Specific Praise. Educ. Treat. Child. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43494-024-00135-y
Behavior-specific praise is a well-established classroom management technique. New teachers who were given feedback before teaching or after teaching used more behavior-specific praise when given feedback before teaching. In a second experiment, behavior-specific praise increased on-task behavior in the students
Stango, A.A., Blakely, E.Q., Gast, R. et al. The Behavioral Effects of Noncontingent Breaks from Task with Access to Sensory Activities during Pediatric Occupational Therapy Sessions. Educ. Treat. Child. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43494-024-00138-9
Two autistic boys who were kicked out of an OT clinic for problem behavior were given "sensory breaks" in two conditions: contingent upon problem behavior, or on a fixed-time yoked schedule. When breaks were given contingent upon problem behavior, problem behavior increased
Huscroft-D’Angelo, J., Hamilton, A. & Kunkle, E. Fostering Educational Success: Program Description and Descriptive Pilot Study. Educ. Treat. Child. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43494-024-00132-1
A pilot program focused on improving educational outcomes for kids transitioning out of foster care. The service was about 3 hours per week, and while kids and parents said they liked it, there are open questions about aspects of the program
The Psychological Record
11/20 Clavijo-Alvarez, A.A., Krejci-Muñoz, K., Molano-Gallardo, J.P. et al. Social Distance and Affection: A Negative, Negative Correlation. Psychol Rec (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-024-00614-z
(Open access) University students in Colombia ranked people on a 1-7 scale of social closeness, then gave a score of -100 to 100 of affection. The scores were hyperbolic (rather than linear) and mirrored delay discounting
11/22 Brodsky, J., Fienup, D.M., Lanson, R.N. et al. The Effect of Motivating Operations on Equivalence-Based Instruction Outcomes. Psychol Rec (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-024-00616-x
In experiment 1, chemistry and developmental psychology lessons were given to psychology students using equivalence-based instruction; the chemistry group performed better, implying chemistry was easier to learn with EBI. In experiment 2, instructions were given before the lesson which specified that the lessons were meaningful or not meaningful; the meaningful instruction group performed better, implying that meaningful information is more salient to learners
Journal of Behavioral Education
11/23 Monn, E., Beavis, H.S. & McComas, J.J. Social Communication During Play Across Language Environments in Nonvocal Preschool-Age Children with ASD from English and Non-English Speaking Families. J Behav Educ (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-024-09574-4
Nonvocal autistic preschool kids interacted with an interventionist who spoke to them in English or a non-English alternative; the kids did not appear to discriminate the difference between languages based on social communication actions from the children, implying that exposing autistic kids to a bilingual education does not have a dilatory effect on their language acquisition
Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science
11/17 The effect and mechanism of acceptance and commitment therapy for young adults’ appearance-based rejection sensitivity and social comparison based on appearances : A randomized controlled trial
(In press) An ACT group was more effective than a control discussion group for teens with appearance-based rejection sensitivity, which is exactly what it sounds like
11/20 Is the AAQ-II that bad?
(Open access) (In press) Apparently the AAQ-II (an ACT questionnaire) is subject to some criticism. The authors find that it is best thought of as a measure of psychological inflexibility
Book publications
Textbooks, handbooks, manuals, or mass-market
New Harbinger
ACT and Applied Behavior Analysis: A Practical Guide to Ensuring Better Behavior Outcomes Using Acceptance and Commitment Training, Thomas Szabo
Elsevier
Training Human Service Staff: Evidence-Based Strategies for Promoting Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Trainee Acceptance, Reid & Green
A Practical Guide to Functional Assessment and Treatment for Severe Problem Behavior, Jessel & Sturmey
Routledge
Talk Behavior to Me: The Routledge Dictionary of the Top 150 Behavior Analytic Terms and Translations, Kendall Samuel
The Behavior of Social Justice: Applying Behavior Analysis to Understand and Challenge Injustice, Parks et al.
Handbook of Organizational Performance, Volume I: Foundations and Advances, Edited by Douglas Johnson & C Merle Johnson
Psychology Essentials for Behavior Analysts, Edited by Toby & Ranade
Writing Skills for Behavior Analysts: A Practical Guide for Students and Clinicians, Edited by Reinecke, Knihtila, Papazian, Heyman & Bratton
Behavior Modification: What It Is and How To Do It, Martin & Pear
Sloan publishing
When Text Speaks: Learning to Read & Reading to Learn, Ross & Greer
Reflections on Behaviorism and Society: Extended Edition, 2024, B. F. Skinner
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 293 - How to Stop Lying w/ Dr. Corey Stocco
Behavior Analysis in Practice BAPCast
S7E11: Prediction of Response Patterns during Conditional Discrimination Training across Data Recording Methods with Delanie Platt & Tom Cariveau
Behavioral Observations
A Behavioral Analysis of Problem Solving: Session 282 with Judah Axe
Blogs
Generally these are produced by professionals
ABAI blogs
The Cutting Edge of Symbolic Language and Thought: An Upcoming Special Issue of The Psychological Record
Colin Harte describes an upcoming issue, and links the articles (some of which are open access)
2024 Dissemination Impact Report: Behavior Analysis Articles That Got Noticed During the Past Year
Tom Critchfield rounds up the data on the most impactful articles
OAR
Unlocking Employment Opportunities: Navigating Transportation and Housing Barriers for Autistic Adults
A past webinar
October issue of Behavior/Brain Magazine
Licensing & professional organizations
CASP
From Concept to Practice: CASP's ABA Session Note Templates
Watch a 1 hour presentation, get 1 CE, and then get the official CASP SOAP note template
ASAN
ASAN Opposes Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Nomination to Head HHS
Business world
Autism services, behavioral health, etc.
Pediatric Therapy Provider Cortica Raises $80M from JPMorgan Entity, Specialty Venture Firms
In terms of investor cash, it seems like the writing is on the wall: ABA alone isn’t capturing investment at this scale anymore. It seems like there is now an angle to the more “successful” companies – their own tech department, extra services, or some new (but ultimately doomed) service delivery model. That’s why I’m pleased to announce my genAI chat on-demand ABA/OT combo-bot, available now on TikTok.
Accidentally behavior analysis
A mainstream news article that relates to behavior analysis
'You're doing such a good job': A stranger tells a mom just what she needs to hear, NPR
The power of positive reinforcement: a woman is scared to go to a restaurant with her three children, but an older woman approaches them and compliments the family. Ten years later, the mom recalls the event, and it still has meaning to her. Send an email to an author; make a phone call to an administrator; give a single compliment – and see how impactful it can be.
Continuing education
UPCOMING:
BehaviorLive has a list of events, some of which are free: 12/3, 12/5 (ETH), 12/12, 12/12 (ETH), 12/18 (SUP)
Flashback
For a time in the Soviet Union, Pavlov was the most influential scientist – spawning copycat labs across the nation. And many of them, bearing his inescapable influence, were working with children to measure…salivation? Response to shock? When one man built on Pavlov’s work to formulate a theory of human behavior, the Soviet regime officially suppressed his work, making it almost impossible to find.