Behavioral skills training (BST) is a performance- and competency-based training package composed of instructions, modeling, rehearsal, and feedback. Previous reviews have demonstrated that BST is an effective training package to teach interventionists to implement behavior analytic interventions (Kirkpatrick et al. in "Journal of Behavioral…

Recommendations for achieving generalized instructional outcomes often overlook the capacity for generative learning for most verbally competent humans. Four children (ages 5-8) participated in this project. In Study 1, we provided decontextualized discrete trial teaching to establish arbitrary relations between colors, pictures of characters, and…

Conditioned reinforcers are widely used in applied behavior analysis. Basic research evidence reveals that Pavlovian learning plays an important role in the acquisition and efficacy of new conditioned-reinforcer functions. Thus, a better understanding of Pavlovian principles holds the promise of improving the efficacy of conditioned reinforcement…

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of psychological behavioral therapies to improve behaviors of autistic children during dental visits. Screening, data extraction, risk-of-bias assessment, and evaluation of certainty of evidence were performed by two independent reviewers. Eighteen studies were ultimately included. On…

Behavioral readiness can take the form of communication and self-control skills during challenging situations that are correlated with the development of problem behavior. A skill-based approach can teach behavioral readiness using procedures that involve synthesized reinforcement, probabilistic reinforcement, and contingency-based delays;…

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) focuses on providing socially significant treatments and practices. Recent advancements in ethically-minded research have encouraged practitioners to think beyond the technical skills required for implementing behavior-analytic practices and consider how these practices are delivered. Compassionate care in ABA has…

Autism spectrum disorder is a developmental disability affecting individuals across their entire lifespan. Autistic individuals have differences from nonautistic people (sometimes called allistic or neurotypical people) in social skills, communication, and atypical interests and/or repetitive behaviors. Approximately 1 in 59 children are born…

Supervising behavior technicians in the implementation of services derived from the science of applied behavior analysis with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common practice for behavior analysts. However, there is limited training available on supervision strategies for those applying this model of services. Lack of…

The topic of camouflaging, masking, and compensatory behaviors as it relates to autistics/individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder has seen increasing discussions both in the peer reviewed literature and at professional conferences. Some professionals claim there is a link between those autistics/ individuals diagnosed with autism…

While we argue that difference and diversity are essential elements of the education process, we keep one area an utterly separate area: Special education. This area is left as a mysterious closed box with many undiscovered differences. While it is clear that there is behavioral pressure on special education, there are also opinions that claim the…

In places where in-person applied behavior analysis (ABA) services are not available to those in need, distance approaches may be needed. However, in the Czech Republic and surrounding countries, ABA and telehealth practices are just emerging. Therefore, minimal systems are guiding ABA-based telehealth for children with autism and their…

Research has documented inequities in geographic access to Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, research on their accessibility is outdated. Between July 1, 2018 and July 1, 2021 the number of BCBAs in the U.S. increased by 65%, from 27,320 to 45,103. In this study we examined…

Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities engage in higher rates of challenging behavior (CB) than their typically developing peers. Effective and sustainable intervention and supports designed to reduce CB, as well as promote the development of positive, prosocial behavior, are urgently needed. One approach to targeting CB is…

The effectiveness of a behavior intervention package depends heavily on the ability of authentic educators to implement procedures with fidelity. However, much of the training literature focuses on teaching educators to implement procedures with relatively few components (Kirkpatrick Journal of Behavioral Education 28(3): 344-361, 2019). We used a…

This paper is a literature review, which synthesized and analyzed numerous articles about applied behavior analysis (ABA) and positive behavior support (PBS). It started with the history of each term. Then it included the definitions and the characteristics for both of them. Additionally, this paper explored the similarities and differences…