ABA Inside Track

Don't despair now that your summer vacation is over, because ABA Inside Track will dull the pain of the workday with the return of Supervision September! A whole month of supervision discussion and research to make you the greatest boss/mentor/leader in the world. First, we dig into the archives for a special episode released as a bonus to patrons to launch the new site in which Diana digs deep into Gamification methodology as a means to improve supervision data entry in the practicum experience. Next we turn the tables from our bosses to ourselves to see if peer feedback actually does anything. Dr. Amber Valentino joins us to share, nearly 10 years after the publication of one of the field's earliest supervision articles, her thoughts on the state of ABA supervision science. And, as is the custom, we round it all out by taking a look at the classic business book "Who Moved My Cheese?" by Dr. Spencer Johnson because nothing says "I'm the best at supervising others" than a mystery about vanished cheddar.

REMINDER: Starting this month, if you're interested in earning CEs for any of our episodes you MUST listen/watch them on our website.

Articles for September 2026

Gamification in Supervision - CE Instructor: Dr. Diana Parry-Cruwys

Morford, Z.H., Witts, B.N., Killingsworth, K.J., & Alavosius, M.P. (2014). Gamification: The intersection between behavior analysis and game design technologies. The Behavior Analyst, 37, 25-40. doi: 10.1007/s40614-014-0006-1

Parry-Cruwys, D. & MacDonald, J. (2021). Using gamification to promote accurate data entry of practicum experience hours in graduate students. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 14, 1-10. doi: 10.1007/s40617-020-00421-2

Deterding, S., Dixon, D., Khaled, R., & Nacke, L. (2011, September 28-30). From game design elements to gamefulness: Defining "gamification". [Workshop]. Proceedings of the 15th International Academic MindTrek Conference: Envisioning Future Media Environments, Tampere, Finland. doi: 10.1145/2181037.2181040

Peer Feedback in Supervision - CE Instructor: Dr. Jackie MacDonald

Fraidlin, A., Van Stratton, J.E., McElroy, A., & Aljadeff, E. (2023). Peer feedback: Recommendations for behavior analysts' training and supervision. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 16, 696-708. doi: 10.1007/s40617-022-00761-1

Tittlebach, D., Fields, L., & Alvero, A.M. (2008). Effects of performance feedback on typing speed and accuracy. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 27, 29-52. doi: 10.1300/J075v27n04_02

Law, V., Turner, L.B., & Brewer, A.T. (2024). Using peer-led behavioral skills training to teach trainees active and empathetic listening skills in a virtual environment. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 19, 250-263. doi: 10.1007/s40617-024-00954-w

How Good Have We Really Gotten at Supervision - CE Instructor: Dr. Amber Valentino

Sellers, T.P., Valentino, A.L., LeBlanc, L.A. (2016). Recommended practices for individual supervision of aspiring behavior analysts. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 9, 274-286. doi: 10.1007/s40617-016-0110-7

Valentino, A.L., Fuhrman, A.M., & Beck, J. (2024). The development of a calculator for objectively evaluating supervisory behaviors in practice. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 17, 932-944. doi: 10.1007/s40617-024-00946-w

"Who Moved My Cheese?" Book Club - CE Instructor: Dr. Jackie MacDonald

Johnson, S. (1998). Who moved my cheese? GM Putnam's Sons.

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!

Email us at [email protected] for further assistance.

We're wrapping up the summer with a re-release of one of our most popular past episodes. If you've never heard it before, we think you'll appreciate Dr. Karsten's discussion of ethical data collection and usage. And if you listened when it aired back in 2016, it's a great time for a review!

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!

Email us at [email protected] for further assistance.

If you think you're a pro at tracking behavior, this week's episode may be a cue to reflect on just how easy it is to collect bad data. We're joined by special guest Dr. Amanda Karsten to discuss the ethics of taking good data as behavior analysts. Dr. Karsten reviews some great tips on how to go from data squirrel to data hero as well as some practical suggestions to get you using data ethically today! Plus, Diana shares a quiz to find out what kind of data you are and Jackie plugs her new ABA Christmas album. Rob sits in shock at the stark realization that he only uses data for evil.

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will describe implications of data reliability and treatment integrity.

2. Participants will identify how to accurately choose a measurement system for data collection.

3. Participants will describe ethical implications with data collection.

This episode is available for 1.0 ETHICS CE.

Articles discussed this episode:

LeBlanc, L.A., Raetz, P.B., Sellers, T.P., & Carr, J.E. (2016). A proposed model for selecting measurement procedures for the assessment and treatment of problem behavior. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 9, 77-83. doi: 10.1007/s40617-015-0063-2

Vollmer, T.R., Sloman, K.N., & St. Peter Pipkin, C. (2008). Practical implications of data reliability and treatment integrity monitoring. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 1, 4-11.

Carey, M.K. & Bourret, J.C. (2014). Effects of data sampling on graphical depictions of learning. Journal of Applied Behavior Analylsis, 47, 749-764. doi: 10.1002/jaba.153

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!

Email us at [email protected] for further assistance.

Thanks to our awesome listeners, we're bringing ANOTHER Listener Choice episode out a bit early because folks can't wait to revisit a discussion of ABA and public policy. This time we're focusing on the licensure process for behavior analysts: How it happened, what we learned, and what comes next to ensure the health and growth of the field. Probably need to start with getting better press than some recent stories around billing practices. And, it wouldn't be an episode on relevant ABA policies without Dr. Bill Ahearn! Listen in and learn how to be part of the solution!

This episode is available for 1.0 LEARNING/General CEU.

Wish your CE was free? Join or upgrade to the $5+ levels to get a discount code worth 100% off all Listener Choice episodes on our Patreon page.

Articles discussed this episode:

Bourland, G., Wilczynski, S., Guercio, J., Scibak, J., & Gautreaux, G. (2025). We have a behavior analyst licensure law. Can't we relax now? Behavior Analysis in Practice, 18, 530-542. doi: 10.1007/s40617-024-01013-0

de la Cruz, B., Bourland, G., Johnson-Patagoc, K.M., Dillen, J., Thommen, R., Fritz, J.N., & Crone, R. (2025). The road to licensure of behavior analysts in Texas: History and lessons learned. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 18, 505-518. doi: 10.1007/s40617-024-01030-z

Yingling, M.E., Hamilton, J., Nastally, B.L., & Dubuque, E.M. Estimating network adequacy of autism service providers in affordable care act markets. (2025). Behavior Analysis in Practice. doi: 10.1007/s40617-025-01103-7

We were so excited to take the trip back up to Utica, NY for the 3rd Compassionate Care Conference, hosted by Dr. Erik Jacobson and his team at Upstate Caring Partners. And the conference did not disappoint. In this extra-long bonus episode, we spend some time remembering our favorite moments regarding the definition of compassion and the place of PFA-SBT in today's ABA before diving into over an hour's worth of great poster discussion with a slew of excellent presenters. Honestly, I think it's our biggest poster segment ever! Come for the Utica greens, stay for the updated treatment discussions. CCC 2026 truly did "make shift happen."

Thanks to UCP for inviting us again and for all the great folks who stopped by to say "hi". Here's hoping we see them and you in 2028!

As the summer hits the beginning of the end, we're taking a few minutes to reflect on all of our vacation fun. And what better way to share one of our favorite 2026 vacations than to do an entire bonus episode reviewing our trip to Utica, New York. More specifically, our trip to the Compassionate Care Conference hosted by Upstate Caring Partners. And, for ABA Inside Track, nothing says vacation like amazing speakers, street audio poster sessions, and scintillating conversations about the state of behavioral treatment. Next, we supplement your beach reading time with last year's Book Club episode on the trauma treatment bestseller "The Body Keeps the Score", unlocked for all. And, Dr. Bill Ahearn takes a trip back to our show to discuss a Listener's Choice pick of updated legislative policies regarding behavior analysis. Just the kind of topic to enjoy during a Red Sox rain delay!

Articles for August 2026

(UNLOCKED) The Body Keeps the Score Book Club

Van der Kolk, B. (2015). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Penguin Books.

Nietfeld, E. (2025, January/February). What the most famous book about trauma gets wrong. Mother Jones. https://www.motherjones.com/media/2024/12/trauma-body-keeps-the-score-van-der-kolk-psychology-therapy-ptsd/

Legislative Policy in Behavior Analysis w/ Dr. Bill Ahearn

De la Cruz, B., Bourland, G., Johnson-Patagoc, K. M., Dillen, J., Fritz, J. N., & Crone, R. (2025). The road to licensure of behavior analysts in Texas: History and lessons learned. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 18, 505-518. doi: 10.1007/s40617-024-01030-z

Bourland, G., Wilczynski, S., Guercio, J., Scibak, J., & Gautreaux, G. (2025). We have a behavior analyst licensure law. Can't we relax now? Behavior Analysis in Practice, 18, 530-542. doi: 10.1007/s40617-024-01013-0

A quick update on some required CE changes coming in September to make sure everyone has plenty of time to get ready.

TL; DL - If you want to earn CEs for listening to a given episode, go IMMEDIATELY and listen on ABA Inside Track's website to avoid needing to double listen.

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!

Email us at [email protected] for further assistance.

Returning to the show with a brand new book in tow, we're joined by Dr. Denise Ross and Dr. Doug Greer to talk all about the research behind teaching reading and reading comprehension skills, as put into their edited work, When Text Speaks. We go deep into the foundations of reading instruction, from learning units in the strategic science of teaching planning arenas to classroom management and books as conditioned reinforcers in the "helping kids actually enjoy the process of books" arenas. And that's before decoding, teaching metaphors, and scaling instruction to the classroom and into upper education. Plus some of your favorite Book Club bits like Rob's general review of the last line. It's a smorgasbord of fun reading research!

This episode is available for 1.5 LEARNING CEU.

Content discussed this episode:

Ross, D.E., Greer, R.D. (Eds.) (2025). When text speaks: Learning to read and reading to learn. Sloan Publishing.

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!

Email us at [email protected] for further assistance.

While behavior analysts might think themselves immune to falling into poor practices when supporting students in public schools, don't forget that we too are sensitive to the contingencies of our environment. And when those environments are using statistically higher rates of punishment in the form of harsh discipline practices for females of color... This week we're joined by special guest, Dr. Mawule Sevon to discuss the research on this terrible trend, how behavior analysts might inadvertantly support its promulgation by responding to assessment and observation requests, and what our field can do to support anti-racist practices in school discipline.

This episode is available for 1.0 CULTURAL/ETHICS CEU.

Articles discussed this episode:

Ladson-Billings, G. (1998). Just what is critical race theory and what's it doing in a nice field like education? International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 11, 7-24. doi: 10.1080/095183998236863

Epstein, R., Blake, J.J., & Gonzàlez, T. (2017). Girlhood interrupted: The erasure of Black girls' childhood [White paper]. Center on Poverty and Inequality, Georgetown Law. https://genderjusticeandopportunity.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/girlhood-interrupted.pdf

Sevon, M. (2022). Schooling while Black: Analyzing the racial school discipline crisis for behavior analyst. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 15, 1247-1253. doi: 10.1007/s40617-022-00695-8

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!

Email us at [email protected] for further assistance.

After 10 years of podcasting, we decided that if we were going to do an ethics episode for Guest Month, we'd go big. And you can't get much bigger when talking about ethics in behavior analysis than Dr. Jon Bailey himself. We dive into the formation of the ethical codes we know, love, and follow, hearing on-the-ground stories from Dr. Bailey as to what went well and what...could have gone better in preparing behavior analysts for ethical challenges we face every day and the challenges of the near future. Plus, stories from the ABA Ethics Hotline! Make sure to listen through this episode thoroughly because if Dr. Bailey has ethical advice, you don't want to miss it!

This episode is available for 1.0 ETHICS CEU.

Articles discussed this episode:

Bailey, J.S. (1991). Marketing behavior analysis requires different talk. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 24, 445-448. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1991.24-445

Sellers, T.P., Seniuk, H.A., Lichtenberger, S.N., & Carr, J.E. (2025). The history of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board's ethics codes. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 18, 650-660. doi: 10.1007/s40617-023-00803-2

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!

Email us at [email protected] for further assistance.

Since we've done about 100 episodes pointing out the general lack of preparedness of BCBAs leaving grad school and jumping right into public school work, it'd be pretty mean of us not to have some episodes where we tell you HOW to prepare. And this week we have special guests, Dr. Kristin Foley and Dr. Fina Robertson, doing just that. We cover some of the basics as to how to make friends with teachers and administrators rather than alienating them with your behavior analytic jargon before discussing specific reflection and action steps needed to ensure not just competence in your work, but also maintaining your ethical expectations while you get to work. Quick! You've still got two months of summer vacation to listen up, follow Dr. Foley and Dr. Robertson's guidance, and get your prep in gear!

This episode is available for 1.0 LEARNING CEU.

Articles discussed this episode:

Squires, M., Cutrer-Pãrraga, E.A., Morris, J.R., Miller, E.E., & Hansen, B.D. Navigating collaboration: Factors influencing special education teachers' relationships with BCBAs in diverse school contexts. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 17, 1033-1049. doi: 10.1007/s40617-024-010009-w

Copeland, S.R., Duffie, P., & Maez, R. (2025). Preparation of behavior analysts for school-based practice. Behavior Analysis in Practice. doi: 10.1007/s40617-024-01028-7

Light-Shriner, C., Pizzella, D., Schreiber, J.B., & Wahman, C.L. (2025). Collaborative practices of behavior analysts in school settings: Evidence from the field. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 18, 681-692. doi: 10.1007/s40617-023-00883-0

Robertson, F., Favre, C., Foley, K., Symons, R. & Weiss, M.J. (in review). Ethical competence for the school-based behavior analyst: Perceptions and preparedness