ABA Inside Track

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Just because something is popular doesn't make it right. And this week we talk about the most unethical example of this in reviewing the costs and dangers of fad treatments. While we spend a good deal of time discussing sensory integration, the hypothesis behind it as a treatment, and its effectivness (or lack thereof) in behavioral treatment, we also review some of the other fad treatments we've seen over the years, and how you can be ethical, avoid fads, AND not look like a big jerk.

This episode is available for 1.0 ETHICS CEU.

Articles discussed this episode:

Zane, T., Davis, C., & Rosswurm, M. (2008). The cost of fad treatments in autism. Journal of Early and Intensive Behavior Intervention, 5, 44-51. doi: 10.1037/h0100418

Schreck, K.A. & Miller, V.A. (2010). How to behave ethically in a world of fads. Behavior Interventions, 25, 307-324. doi: 10.1002/bin.305

Moore, K.M., Cividini-Motta, C.C., Clark, K.M., & Ahearn, W.H. (2015). Sensory integration as a treatment for automatically maintained stereotypy. Behavioral Interventions, 30, 95-111. doi: 10.1002/bin.1405

Happy 2024, y'all! And boy are we coming in hot with the latest fads in treament and your ethical responsibility to respond skeptically to them. After that we chat with Dr. John Guercio about what's new with effective programming curricula for adults with disabilities and take a dive into the latest in error correction research. Then it all goes off a cliff with our most dramatic Grab Bag episode ever with Book Club Guy, Alan Haberman. Apparently our New Year's Resolution was to win an Oscar.

Articles for January 2024

(ETHICS) Ethics of Fad Treatments

Zane, T., Davis, C., & Rosswurm, M. (2008). The cost of fad treatments in autism. Journal of Early and Intensive Behavior Intervention, 5, 44-51. doi: 10.1037/h0100418

Schreck, K.A. & Miller, V.A. (2010). How to behave ethically in a world of fads. Behavior Interventions, 25, 307-324. doi: 10.1002/bin.305

Moore, K.M., Cividini-Motta, C.C., Clark, K.M., & Ahearn, W.H. (2015). Sensory integration as a treatment for automatically maintained stereotypy. Behavioral Interventions, 30, 95-111. doi: 10.1002/bin.1405

Grab-Bo Baggins w/ Alan Haberman

Heward, W.L. Kimball, J.W., Heckaman, K.A., & Dunne, J.D. (2021). In his own words: Siegfried "Zig" Englemann talks about what's wrong with education and how to fix it. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 14, 766-774. doi: 10.1007/s40617-021-00636-x

Greenwald, A. (2023). Prompting and modeling of coping strategies during childbirth. Behavior Analysis in Practice. doi: 10.1007/s40617-023-00837-6

Sheehan, A (2022). The development of a participatory tool to enable autistic people to influence the interior design of their homes. Good Autism Practice, 23, 13-26.

Shores, R. E., Gunter, P. L., & Jack, S. L. (1993). Classroom Management Strategies: Are They Setting Events for Coercion? Behavioral Disorders, 18, 92–102. http://www.jstor.org/stable/23887084

Curriculum for Adults w/ Dr. John Guercio

Wilson, A.N., Kasson, E.M., Gratz, O., & Guercio, J.M. (2015). Exploring the clinical utility of a stimulus avoidance assessment to enhance a relaxation training model. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 8, 57-61. doi: 10.1007/s40617-014-0035-y

Guercio, J., Davis, P., Faw, G., McMorrow, M., Ori, L., Berkowitz, B., & Nigra, M. (2002). Increasing functional rehabilitation in acquired brain injury treatment: Effective appliations of behavioural principles. Brain Injury, 16, 849-860. doi: 10.1080/02699050210131957

Guercio, J.M. & Dixon, M.R. (2010). Improving the quality of staff and participant interaction in an acquired brain injury organization. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 30, 49-56. doi: 10.1080/01608060903529780

Soldner, J.L., Rehfeldt, R.A., Guercio, J., & Dillen, J. (2005). The use of computer activity schedules to increase initiation of and engagement in domestic and leisure activities in an adult with acquired brain injury. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 6, 173-177. doi: 10.1080/15021149.2005.11434259

Error Correction

Leaf, J.B., Cihon, J.H., Ferguson, J.L., Milne, C.M., Leaf, R., & McEachin. (2020). Comparing error correction to errorless learning: A randomized clinical trial. The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, 36, 1-20. doi: 10.1007/s40616-019-00124-y

Carroll, R.A., Joachim, B.T., St. Peter, C.C., & Robinson, N. (2015). A comparison of error-correction procedures on skill acquisition during discrete-trial instruction. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 48, 257-273. doi: 10.1002/jaba.205

Carroll, R.A., Owsiany, J., & Cheatham, J.M. (2018). Using an abbreviated assessment to identify effective error-correction procedures for individual learners during discrete-trial instruction. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 51, 482-501. doi: 10.1002/jaba.460

Cariveau, T., Montilla, A.L.C., Gonzalez, E., & Ball, S. (2019). A review of error correction procedures during instruction for children with developmental disabilities. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 52, 574-579. doi: 10.1002/jaba.524

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Behavior Analysts Book Club (Patrons Only)

Dixon, M.R., Hayes, S.C., & Belisle, J. (2023). Acceptance and commitment therapy for behavior analysts: A practice guide from theory to treatment. Routledge.

It's our annual year-end wrap up show with our podcasting pal, Matt Cicoria from Behavioral Observations! And boy, is there a lot to review from 2023. First, a somber start with a remembrance of some of the amazing behavior analysts the field lost this past year. Then a discussion of some of the biggest issues facing our profession: Supervision! Ed reform! Public Policy reform! Plus, nonsense end-of-year tangents and plans for 2024.

Articles mentioned in this episode:

Iwata, B.A., Dorsey, M.F., Slifer, K.J., Bauman, K.E., & Richman, G.S. (1982/1994). Toward a functional analysis of self-injury. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 197-209. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1994.27-197

Johnston, J.M., Pennypacker, H.S., & Green, G. (2020). Strategies and tactics of behavioral research and practice. (4th ed.). Routledge.

Twyman, J., Pinkelman, S., Kenyon, S., Heward, W.L., Lattal, K.A., & Critchfield, T.S. (2023). Ronnie Detrich (1946-2023): A versatile behavior analyst who demanded more of behavior analysis and education. Behavior Analysis in Practice. doi: 10.1002/jaba.1043

Griffith, A.K. & Ré, T.C. (Ed.) (2024). Disseminating Behavioral Research. Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-47343-2

Hartley, B.K., Courtney, W.T., Rosswurm, M., & LaMarca, V.J. (2016). The apprentice: An innovative approach to meet the behavior analysis certification board's supervision standards. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 9, 329-338. doi: 10.1007/s40617-016-0136-x

Gingles, D., Watson-Thompson, J., Anderson-Carpenter, K.D., Tarbox, J., & Peterson, S.M. (2022). Leading the charge: A look inside the Behavior Analysis in Practice emergency series of publications on systemic racism and police brutality. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 15, 1015-1022. doi: 10.1007/s40617-022-00759-9

IMPORTANT NOTICE: To earn CEUs for listening, you MUST sign up and listen to this episode on our website to get credit.

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While we've talked about organizational behavior management for business and leadership and and collaboration in the behavior analytic world, what if we put it all that research together and applied it to the school setting? I bet you'd get something like this week's episode. Add in special guest Dr. Bruce Tinor leading the conversation with additional experience as a school principal and behavior analyst and you've got a recipe for fixing the education system. Or, at least, we think so.

This episode is available for 1.0 LEARNING CEU.

Articles discussed this episode:

Komaki, J.L., Minnich, M.L.R., Grotto, A.R., Weinshank, B., & Kern, M.J. (2011). Promoting critical operant-based leadership while decreasing ubiquitous directives and exhortations. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 31, 236-261. doi: 10.1080/01608061.2011.619393

Krapfl, J.E. & Kruja, B. (2015). Leadership and culture. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 35, 28-43. doi: 10.1080/01608061.2015.1031431

Starling, N.R., Vissicchi, C., & Grottke, K. (2021). Opening the educational leadership door: Promoting the collaboration of OBM and education. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 41, 32-63. doi: 10.1080/01608061.2020.1837709

IMPORTANT NOTICE: To earn CEUs for listening, you MUST sign up and listen to this episode on our website to get credit.

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Let's get down to some nuts and bolts treatment updates this week with one of the most common maintaining variables for problem behavior: escape! We'll start off with a podcast favorite in the form of a treatment-choice flowchart then add in our combined near-60 years of experience with some illustrative case examples to model how to judge which treatment is right for your client. It's like a day hanging out at the ABA Inside Track offices…if we weren't podcasting, that is.

This episode is available for 1.0 LEARNING CEU.

Articles discussed this episode:

Geiger, K.B., Carr, J.E., & LeBlanc, L.A. (2010). Function-based treatments for escape-maintained problem behavior: A treatment-selection model for practicing behavior analysts. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 3, 22-32. doi: 10.1007/BF03391755

Between sharing our Christmas Movie watching habits and preparing for the coldest months with a warm book club, we haven't a moment to lose in sharing out this month's episodes. But we're opening a gift early because we've finally been able to catch up with special guest, Dr. Bruce Tinor, to share about leadership in the schools before having a little debate about the best escape-maintained behavior treatments for every situation (well, that we could discuss in an hour-long show). And 2023 can't wrap up without our annual Year in ABA with Matt Cicoria from the Behavioral Observations podcast. Have a holly jolly time listening and we'll see you in 2024!

Don't forget to sign-up for the Winter Book Club on our Patreon page to get access to our new episode next month (and 2 CEUs for free!)

Articles for December 2023

Strategies for Addressing Escape-Maintained Behavior

Geiger, K.B., Carr, J.E., & LeBlanc, L.A. (2010). Function-based treatments for escape-maintained problem behavior: A treatment-selection model for practicing behavior analysts. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 3, 22-32. doi: 10.1007/BF03391755

Collaboration and Leadership in the School Setting w/ Dr. Bruce Tinor

Komaki, J.L., Minnich, M.L.R., Grotto, A.R., Weinshank, B., & Kern, M.J. (2011). Promoting critical operant-based leadership while decreasing ubiquitous directives and exhortations. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 31, 236-261. doi: 10.1080/01608061.2011.619393

Krapfl, J.E. & Kruja, B. (2015). Leadership and culture. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 35, 28-43. doi: 10.1080/01608061.2015.1031431

Starling, N.R., Vissicchi, C., & Grottke, K. (2021). Opening the educational leadership door: Promoting the collaboration of OBM and education. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 41, 32-63. doi: 10.1080/01608061.2020.1837709

The Year In ABA (2023) w/ Matt Cicoria

IMPORTANT NOTICE: To earn CEUs for listening, you MUST sign up and listen to this episode on our website to get credit.

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When you think of dog training, do you usually think of movie stunt dogs like Lassie and the dog from Frasier? Well, dogs do a lot more than cinematic tricks and the science of behavior has a lot to add to the science of assessing and treating dog behaviors. This week Ran Courant-Morgan and Dr. Stephanie Keesey-Phelan from the Dog Behavior Institute take a walk over to the podcast to share what behavior analysis can bring to the dog training practice and what dog trainers can share with behavior analysts. Plus, dog FA!

This episode is available for 1.0 LEARNING CEU.

Articles discussed this episode:

Bremhorst, A., Mills, D.S., Würbel, H., & Riemer, S. (2022). Evaluating the accuracy of facial expressions as emotion indicators across contexts in dogs. Animal Cognition, 25, 121-136. doi: 10.1007/s10071-021-01532-1

Pfaller-Sadovsky, N., Arnott, G., & Hurtado-Parrado, C. (2019). Using principles from applied behaviour analysis to address an undesired behaviour: Functional analysis and treatment of jumping up in companion dogs. Animals, 9, 1091-1124. doi: 10.3390/ani9121091

IMPORTANT NOTICE: To earn CEUs for listening, you MUST sign up and listen to this episode on our website to get credit.

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Working with other professionals is hard. And sometimes it may be because your organization doesn't really know how to support meaningful collaboration outside of the traditional practice of reminding you to stay in your BCBA lane. This week special guest and SLP, Rose Griffin, joins us to kick our ideas for collaboration into the next level. Like, did you know that multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary practices aren't synonymous? I do, but I helped make the episode. Get ready to turn your CO-llaboration into COOL-aborations!

This episode is available for 1.0 LEARNING CEU

Articles discussed this episode:

Bowman, K.S., Suarez, V.D., & Weiss, M.J. (2021). Standards for interprofessional collaboration in the treatment of individuals with autism. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 14, 1191-1208. doi: 10.1007/s40617-021-00560-0

Brodhead, M.T. (2015). Maintaining professional relationships in an interdisciplinary setting: Strategies for navigating nonbehavioral treatment recommendations for individuals with autism. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 8, 70-78. doi: 10.1007/s40617-015-0042-7

IMPORTANT NOTICE: To earn CEUs for listening, you MUST sign up and listen to this episode on our website to get credit.

To listen for the fun of learning? Just push play!

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Since we all spend about 6-8 hours doing it every day, most of us take the ability to fall and stay asleep for granted. But for many families, getting everyone to sleep is a constant source of stress. This week, Emily Varon of Ready, Set, Sleep stops by to share where research on sleep treatment has brought the field and what the practice of supporting sleep habits can add to working with autistic children struggling with going, getting, and staying asleep. If you thought sleep hygiene just means turning off your phone before bed, this episode is for you!

This episode is available for 1.0 LEARNING CEU.

Articles discussed this episode:

Vriend, J.L., Corkum, P.V., Moon E.C., & Smith, I.M. (2011). Behavioral interventions for sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorders: Current findings and future directions. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 36, 1017-1029. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsr044

Carnett, A., Hansen, S., McLay, L, Neely L., & Lang, R. (2020). Quantitative-analysis of behavioral interventions to treat sleep problems in children with autism. Developmental Neurorehabilitation, 23, 271-284. doi: 10.1080/17518423.2019.1646340

IMPORTANT NOTICE: To earn CEUs for listening, you MUST sign up and listen to this episode on our website to get credit.

To listen for the fun of learning? Just push play!

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Because you demanded it, and because Rob begged for it, we're FINALLY talking all about Direct Instruction. For our Fall Listener Choice episode we dig into the key features that make Direct Instruction earn those capital letters including what makes DI so effective, tips for running killer DI lessons, and some ways that any BCBA can start to dip their toes into this fabulous teaching technology.

This episode is available for 1.0 LEARNING CEU.

Wish that CE was free? Subscribe on our Patreon page to see the full recording and get a discount for 100% off your purchase.

Articles discussed this episode:

Heward, W.L. & Twyman, J.S. (2021). Teach more in less time: Introduction to the special section on Direct Instruction. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 14, 763-765. doi: 10.1007/s40617-021-00639-8

Heward, W.L. & Twyman, J.S. (2021). Whatever the kid does is the truth: Introduction to the special section on Direct Instruction. Perspectives on Behavior Science, 44, 131-138. doi: 10.1007/s40614-021-00314-x

Slocum, T.A. & Rolf, K.R. (2021). Features of Direct Instruction: Content analysis. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 14, 775-784. doi: 10.1007/s40617-021-00617-0

Rolf, K.R. & Slocum, T.A. (2021). Features of Direct Instruction: Interactive lessons. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 14, 793-801. doi: 10.1007/s40617-021-00613-4

Spencer, T.D. (2021). Ten instructional design efforts to help behavior analysts take up the torch of Direct Instruction. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 14, 816-830. doi: 10.1007/s40617-021-00640-1