Scholarly publications
Includes peer reviewed journals within and adjacent to behavior analysis
(Starred journals available to BCBAs through the BACB portal)
Behavior Analysis in Practice
10/27 Xie, S., Meshes, E., Jennings, A.M. et al. How to Scream into the Wind Without Losing Your Voice: A Behavioral Analysis of LLM Use and Environmental Impact. Behav Analysis Practice (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-026-01239-0
(Open access) A somewhat facile analysis based on the premise that the harms of AI can only be mitigated, with a title that perfectly captures the impotence of the argument
10/29 Pellegrini, K., Almeida, D., Vedora, J. et al. An Evaluation of Self-Monitoring to Teach Students of Behavior Analysis to Identify Compassionate Care Skills. Behav Analysis Practice (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-026-01246-1
BST has successfully taught compassionate care skills, but can be time-consuming. The authors used a self-monitoring intervention (checklist in the supplementary info) to increase these skills, which was effective
Varnon, C.A., Kalafut, K.L. & Feuerbacher, E.N. Animals in Behavior Analysis: Considerations for Effective and Ethical Research, Teaching, and Practice. Behav Analysis Practice (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-026-01230-9
(Open access) The authors review a history of animal experimentation in behavior analysis and propose a 6-point improvement process :"(1) interdisciplinary knowledge of animal behavior, (2) species-specific knowledge, (3) skill fluency, (4) ethical conduct, (5) safe practices, and (6) appropriate mentorship strategies." They don't mention whether it is ethical to train pigeons to recognize enemy combatants
Mathieu, R. Toward the Operationalization of Self-Compassion: A Behavior Analytic Conceptual Framework for Practitioner Development. Behav Analysis Practice (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-026-01244-3
(Open access) The author conceptualizes "sel-compassion" in behavior analytic terms and suggests training, including ACT exercises
Journal of Organizational Behavior Management *
10/29 Jenca, A., Lee, A., & Hantula, D. A. (2026). Bias in AI video interview evaluations: Effects of autistic-associated behaviors and debiasing procedures. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/01608061.2026.275164
The authors used an LLM to assess mock interviewee clips with traits associated with autism: control, low eye contact, monotone speech, and low responsivity. The LLM rated the experimental videos lower than the control. After de-biasing the LLM through training, it ranked the neurodivergent speakers more highly
McGarry, K. M., Nastasi, J. A., Gravina, N., Peters, K. P., Leon, Y., & Bacotti, J. K. (2026). Variables affecting applied behavior analysis service provision in Florida: A qualitative analysis. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 1–36. https://doi.org/10.1080/01608061.2026.2748008
The authors conducted 7 focus groups in Florida with BCBAs and BCaBAs, finding through thematic analysis that certificants see barriers as low levels of training and resources. The authors recommend improved fieldwork and training, plus adjustments in performance management and policy
Behavioral Interventions *
10/29 Ford, Kimberly R., Catia Cividini-Motta, and Meagan Monks. 2026. “ A Scoping Review of the Literature on Prompt-Dependent Behavior in Learners Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder,” Behavioral Interventions: e70156. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.70156
In a literature review, 29 articles on prompt dependency were identified. The most common assessment was caregiver nomination, with effective treatments including reinforcement and shaping
Behavior Modification *
10/25 Amaya, E., Osuna, L., & García, Y. (2026). Enhancing Psychological Inflexibility, Values, and Anxiety in Adolescents Through Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Behavior Modification, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/01454455261495101
An 8 session ACT-based intervention (DNA-V) was somewhat effective on 3 youth receiving outpatient services in (presumably) Colombia
10/29 Souissi, M. A., Trabelsi, O., Adsi, Y., Nasri, R., Badicu, G., & Souissi, N. (2026). Learning Judo in Physical Education: Combined Video Modeling and Video Feedback Are More Effective When Self-Controlled. Behavior Modification, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/01454455261495069
24 male students were assigned into 2 groups: a control group wherein videos were shown at predetermined times, or an experimental group where they controlled when and what types of videos they watched (video modeling, video feedback, or split-screen). Both groups initially improved, but the experimental group improved more by the end of the experiment
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior *
10/26 Gallardo, J. P. M., & Madden, G. J. (2026). Pavlovian cues and self-control choice: The role of unpaired training. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 126(3), e70152. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.70152
Pavlovian training (pairing a conditioned stimulus with a signal for a larger later reward) results in a shift in preference from smaller sooner to larger later rewards. The effect was seen most prominently in male rats
Balcı, F. (2026). A multilayer drift-diffusion broadcast model: Converting temporal evidence into response timing. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 126(3), e70150. https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.70150
(Open access) When there are delays to "biologically critical outcomes" (we might refer to them as PIEs), organisms cluster their responding around the delay. The author details various layers of evidence that have been included in a computer model
Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions *
10/25 Kuo, Y., Ayay, E., Barr, S., & Fettig, A. (2026). Parent Voices on Parent Training and Family Quality of Life. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10983007261477435 In a qualitative study on parents receiving parent training, they found the usual conclusions (e.g., balance is hard, you oughta build rapport, etc.)
10/29 Filter, K. J., Cowger, S., & Lovas, T. (2026). Theoretically Informed Analysis of Teacher Commitment to Implement PBIS. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10983007261477427
Through interviews and thematic analysis, the researchers determined that educators with a high commitment to PBIS felt that it improves relationships with students, while a low commitment group reported a lack of positive outcomes
Garza, B. D., LaBrot, Z. C., DeFouw, E. R., Dufrene, B. A., Rodriguez, L., & Abril-Ochoa, C. (2026). Social Sprouts: Evaluating a Play-Based Classroom Intervention to Improve Peer Interactions in Early Childhood Education. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/10983007261477430
A prosocial intervention (Social Sprouts) was used in 3 classrooms, with individual and group measures. The outcomes were an increase in positive interactions, with a small decrease in disruptive behavior
Education and Treatment of Children
10/27 Siciliano, M., Cagliani, R.R. & Snyder, S.K. Teaching Children with Autism to Answer Questions about the School Day Using a Speech-Generating Device. Educ. Treat. Child. (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43494-026-00198-z
(Open access) 2 middle school students with AAC devices were taught to respond accurately to intraverbals about their day (e.g., "What did you eat for breakfast?") using reinforcement as well as a basic error correction procedure (following errors with a paired choice, then a gestural prompt). Both students increased accurate responding
10/28 DiGangi, E.A., DiGangi, S.A. Performance Management Solutions for School-Based Personnel. Educ. Treat. Child. (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43494-026-00181-8
The authors discuss conceptualizing performance problems in terms of OBM -- so, the PDC-HS, etc. -- which is pretty standard, though of course not as common in educational settings
Gage, N.A., Duran, L.A., Parsons, J. et al. The Impact of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support on Chronic Absenteeism. Educ. Treat. Child. (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43494-026-00179-2
230 schools implementing MTSS were demographically matched to 230 control schools, with the finding that schools implementing MTSS had lower rates of chronic absenteeism (10% or more days absent)
The Psychological Record
10/28 Mason, T.A., Bernal-Gamboa, R., Kranak, M.P. et al. Reinstatement of Beer Seeking in Rats is Mitigated by Exposure to Beer Prior to Extinction. Psychol Rec (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-026-00703-1
Rats were trained to navigate an alley with beer at the terminus; later they were put in the same alley, and exposed to extinction. Half of the rats were given beer beforehand, while half were not. The rats who had beer engaged in less reinstatement of beer-seeking behavior in the alley
10/30 Pérez-Almonacid, R., Alfonso, J.A.C. & Rodríguez-Giraldo, M. Beyond the Mediational–Nonmediational Divide: Five Lineages and a Framework for Anchored Explanation. Psychol Rec (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-026-00704-0
"a weakly anchored mediator may remain useful or indispensable without being independently established as the causal process attributed to it" -- if you can read that, this is the paper of your dreams
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
10/26 Clarke, E.B., Wellmann, M., Kubis-Badilla, J. et al. Potential for Life Skills Growth in Adults With Profound Autism. J Autism Dev Disord (2026). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-026-07488-w
(Open access) 36 adults with profound autism were scored on the Vineland by a caregiver, and the daily living skills that were scored "never" or "almost never" were analyzed. The authors hypothesize that many of the skills that the adults "can't" do are actually a matter of environmental barriers, such as limited opportunities for learning or prompt dependency
Book publications
Textbooks, handbooks, manuals, or mass-market
Upcoming:
An Ethics-Focused Guide for BCBA® Fieldwork: Shaping the Future, Solley & DePriest (Feb 2027)
Clinical Handbook of ABA Interventions for Autistic Learners: Research, Training, and Practice, Leaf, Ferguson, Cihon & Sanders (Eds.) (Dec 2026)
Performance Management and Supervision: A Behavior Analytic Perspective, Gravina & Jimenez-Gomez (Eds.) (Nov 2026)
Nonlinear Contingency Analysis: Going Beyond Cognition and Behavior in Clinical Practice, Layng, Andronis, Codd, Abdel-Jalil (Eds.) (Nov 2026)
Handbook of Applied Behavior Analysis in the Classroom: Integrating Research into Practice, Jessel (Eds.) (Oct 2026)
Optimizing Acceptance and Commitment Therapy: Translating Research Into Practice, Twohig & Levin (Eds.) (Oct 2026)
Case Studies and Applications in Nonlinear Contingency Analysis, Abdel-Jalil & Linnehan (Eds.) (Oct 2026)
WAVE Prosocial Assessment and Curriculum, Rehfeldt & Dixon
AIM Navigators, Dixon (Pre-order)
Personal Narratives on the Behavior Analysis of Human Language and Cognition: Stories from Around the World, Harte et al. (Eds.)
Digital Technologies in Behavior Science: Theoretical and Practical Applications, Crone-Todd, Hantula, Layng (Eds.)
Promoting Language for Learners with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Verbal Behavior Guide for Practitioners, Vladescu & Kissamore (Eds.)
Navigating Ethics in Behavior Analysis: Dealing with Gray Areas, Carr
Podcasts
ABA Inside Track
Circle Time
Blogs
Generally these are produced by professionals
ABAI
Conceptual and Philosophical Scholarship in Behavior Analysis: A Review of 2025 Publications
A review of 2025's most impactful philosophical articles; a great resource!
A Little Something Extra for Your Intraverbal Analysis
A very in-depth article about verbal behavior, particularly the post-Skinnerian contributions by Vargas and Michael
Licensing & professional organizations
ASAT
What Do I Need to Know About Fraud and ABA Billing?
Some interesting info
Business world
Autism services, behavioral health, etc.
5 months into California’s psychiatric nurse ratio law: what has been the effect? Reportedly, hiring more nurses while cutting other positions. The more stringent staffing requirements did not come with a commensurate rate increase. While the recent CMS standards for ABA don’t have the binding effect of law, what will be the net effect of raising standards while cutting rates?
Accidentally behavior analysis
A mainstream news article that relates to behavior analysis
Why Liberals Keep Getting Education Wrong, NY Magazine
American Public Media put out a podcast in 2022 that popularized “the science of reading.” For whatever flaws might exist with phonics, it is a demonstrably superior system to “balanced literacy.” The second season of the podcast, just released, is on Direct Instruction – a subject that could use some popularizing.
Continuing education
UPCOMING:
BehaviorLive has free events: 11/3, 11/5, 11/10, 11/18, 11/19 (ETH), 11/23
Flashback
The behavioral effects of Halloween (1978)
