In this episode of ABA Ultimate Showdown, we debate the motion: “The goal of a functional assessment is to identify a function that will inform treatment.” Debaters Dr. Mahshid Ghaemmaghami and Dr. Jeffrey Tiger share insight from their influential research and clinical experience, examining how different approaches to functional assessment shape intervention, ethics, and outcomes in practice.

We present well-supported arguments on both sides to offer a comprehensive, balanced look at what functional assessments should aim to accomplish for individuals and their support teams. This round is worth 1.5 general CE credits for BCBAs—listen to the full episode to catch the two code words, then enter them on our website.

To access CEs from other rounds, asynchronous CEs, and to view references for this episode, please visit https://grahambehavior.com/podcast.

If you have ideas or topics for future debates, respectful suggestions on ways we can improve, or are interested in being a guest debater, please email [email protected].

If you enjoyed what you heard, please subscribe, visit our website at https://grahambehavior.com/podcast to sign up for our mailing list, and follow Graham Behavior Services on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram to be alerted when new episodes are released. We also appreciate your thoughtful review on the platform where you listen.

Thanks for tuning in, and we hope this episode helped you experience some Aha moments! #GrAhamMoments

In this episode of ABA Ultimate Showdown, we debate the motion: “ABA is inherently trauma informed.” Debaters Rosalie Prendergast and Saundra Bishop bring their extensive experience disseminating trauma-informed practices worldwide to examine how ABA procedures can align with, support, or fall short of trauma-informed care.

We construct defenses of both sides to provide a comprehensive, balanced view of what it means for ABA to be trauma informed in concept and in day-to-day practice. This round is worth 1 ethics CE for BCBAs—listen to the full episode to catch the two code words, then enter them on our website.

To access CEs from other rounds, asynchronous CEs, and to view the full list of references for this episode, please visit https://grahambehavior.com/podcast.

If you have ideas or topics for future debates, respectful suggestions on ways we can improve, or are interested in being a guest debater, please email [email protected].

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, visit our website at https://grahambehavior.com/podcast, and follow Graham Behavior Services on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest to be alerted when new episodes are released. We also appreciate your thoughtful review on the platform where you listen.

Thanks for tuning in, and we hope this episode helped you experience some Aha moments! #GrAhamMoments

In this episode of ABA Ultimate Showdown, we debate the motion: “Higher education is ideally delivered in a traditional format.” Debaters Dr. Katie Croce and Dr. Joe Novak draw on their experience teaching in both traditional and online programs to compare access, engagement, instructional quality, and student outcomes across formats.

We construct defenses of both sides to offer a comprehensive, balanced look at what the future of higher education might hold for behavior analysts and beyond.

To access CEs from other rounds, asynchronous CEs, and to view the full list of references for this episode, please visit https://grahambehavior.com/podcast.

If you have ideas or topics for future debates, respectful suggestions on ways we can improve, or are interested in being a guest debater, please email [email protected].

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, visit our website at https://grahambehavior.com/podcast, and follow Graham Behavior Services on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram to be alerted when new episodes are released. We also appreciate your thoughtful review on the platform where you listen.

Thanks for tuning in, and we hope this episode helped you experience some Aha moments! #GrAhamMoments

In this episode of ABA Ultimate Showdown, we debate the motion: “Using behavior-specific praise to reinforce learners’ behavior is best practice.” Debaters Ashley Kemmerer and Jacqueline Koppa examine the strengths, limitations, and potential unintended effects of this widely used strategy so you can more thoughtfully shape your own practice.

We construct defenses of both sides to provide a comprehensive, balanced view of behavior-specific praise within behavior analysis. This round is worth 1.25 CE credits for BACB certificants, and your support helps us continue producing the podcast.

To access CEs and to view the full list of references for this episode, please visit https://grahambehavior.com/podcast.

If you have ideas or topics for future debates, respectful suggestions on ways we can improve, or are interested in being a guest debater, please email [email protected].

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, visit our website at https://grahambehavior.com/podcast, and follow Graham Behavior Services on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram to be alerted when new episodes are released. We also appreciate your thoughtful review on the platform where you listen.

Thanks for tuning in, and we hope this episode helped you experience some Aha moments! #GrAhamMoments

In this candid follow-up to Round 10, we sit down with debaters Amy Gravino, Angela DiPoce, Ashley Callahan, and Executive Director Cara Graham to reflect on the motion “Stereotypy as a symptom of autism does not need to be treated.” Together, they unpack the preparation process, discuss what shifted in their thinking, and respond to questions and feedback about the episode.

We also highlight the extensive resource list that supports this conversation, carefully compiled in APA 7 format so listeners can keep learning.

For a full list of references used in this series, please visit https://grahambehavior.com/podcast.

If you have ideas or topics for future debates, respectful suggestions on ways we can improve, or are interested in being a guest debater, please email [email protected].

If you enjoyed this follow-up and found your “aha” moment, please subscribe, visit our website at https://grahambehavior.com/podcast, and follow Graham Behavior Services on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest to be alerted when new episodes are released. We also appreciate your thoughtful review on the platform where you listen.

Thanks for tuning in, and we hope this conversation helped you experience some Aha moments! #GrAhamMoments

In this episode of ABA Ultimate Showdown, we debate the motion: “Stereotypy as a symptom of autism does not need to be treated.” We welcome our first guest debater, Amy Gravino, who joins Angela DiPoce in debating Ashley Callahan on the ethical, clinical, and lived-experience dimensions of treating stereotypy.

Across the round, we construct defenses of both sides to offer a comprehensive, balanced view of when, whether, and how stereotypy should be addressed in practice. We draw on research, ethics, and autistic self-advocate perspectives to help behavior analysts reflect critically on their own decision-making.

This round is worth 2 ethics CE credits for BACB certificants.

For a list of references used in this episode, please visit https://grahambehavior.com/podcast.

If you have ideas or topics for future debates, respectful suggestions on ways we can improve, or are interested in being a guest debater, please email [email protected].

If you enjoyed this episode and found your “aha” moment, please subscribe, visit our website at https://grahambehavior.com/podcast, and follow Graham Behavior Services on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram to be alerted when new episodes are released. We also appreciate your thoughtful review on the platform where you listen.

Thanks for tuning in, and we hope this episode helped you experience some Aha moments! #GrAhamMoments

Here are both pieces for Round 9.

Round 9 of ABA Ultimate Showdown debates whether ABA businesses can be ethically and effectively marketed within professional guidelines, with a focus on BCBA-owned companies and practical marketing tips.

Round 9: Are BCBA Owned Businesses at an Ethical Disadvantage?

In this episode of ABA Ultimate Showdown, we debate the motion: “It is possible to ethically and effectively market ABA businesses within the guidelines.” We discuss challenges faced by both BCBA-owned and privately owned ABA companies and explore what ethical, effective marketing can look like in practice.

Informed by feedback from social media and the ABA community, we share concrete tips for marketing your services while honoring professional and ethical standards. We also recorded this round with everyone together, so you can enjoy more interactive banter, and you’ll be able to watch the discussion on our YouTube channel as well.

For a list of references used in this episode, please visit https://grahambehavior.com/podcast.

If you have ideas or topics for future debates, respectful suggestions on ways we can improve, or are interested in being a guest debater, please email [email protected].

If you enjoyed this episode and found your “aha” moment, please subscribe, visit our website at https://grahambehavior.com/podcast, and follow Graham Behavior Services on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram to be alerted when new episodes are released. We also appreciate your thoughtful review on the platform where you listen.

Thanks for tuning in, and we hope this episode helped you experience some Aha moments! #GrAhamMoments

In this episode of ABA Ultimate Showdown, we debate the motion: “BCBAs have enough resources to ethically and effectively manage their caseload.” We examine how workload, support systems, and organizational structures impact both client outcomes and clinician well-being.

The discussion covers Acceptance and Commitment Training (ACT), burnout, organizational behavior management (OBM), and ethics, and highlights a wide range of resources in multiple formats to support behavior analysts’ mental health and job performance. As always, we present research-informed arguments on both sides to offer a comprehensive and balanced view of this critical topic.

For a list of references used in this episode, please visit https://grahambehavior.com/podcast.

If you have ideas or topics for future debates, respectful suggestions on ways we can improve, or are interested in being a guest debater, please email [email protected].

If you enjoyed this episode and found your “aha” moment, please subscribe, visit our website at https://grahambehavior.com/podcast, and follow Graham Behavior Services on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram to be alerted when new episodes are released. We also appreciate your thoughtful review on the platform where you listen.

Thanks for tuning in, and we hope this episode helped you experience some Aha moments! #GrAhamMoments

In this episode of ABA Ultimate Showdown, we debate the motion: “Physical prompts should be avoided.” We focus on whether it is appropriate for professionals to use physical prompts, and under what conditions, while also considering their potential risks and benefits.

The discussion expands to alternative prompting strategies, including other prompt types, video modeling, and how trauma-informed care should shape prompt selection and implementation. Our goal is to provide a balanced, research-informed look at when physical prompts may or may not align with best practice.

For a list of references used in this episode, please visit https://grahambehavior.com/podcast.

If you have ideas or topics for future debates, respectful suggestions on ways we can improve, or are interested in being a guest debater, please email [email protected].

If you enjoyed this episode and found your “aha” moment, please subscribe, visit our website at https://grahambehavior.com/podcast, and follow Graham Behavior Services on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram to be alerted when new episodes are released. We also appreciate your thoughtful review on the platform where you listen.

Thanks for tuning in, and we hope this episode helped you experience some Aha moments! #GrAhamMoments

Welcome to ABA Ultimate Showdown - a podcast promoting constructive, respectful, and professional discourse to advance the field of behavior analysis. 

In March of 2020, amidst the US’s stay at home recommendations, we were asked to participate in a forum for stressed professionals to take a break and connect with others. We jumped at the chance to work some levity into our format. It ended up being a great day of collaboration and definitely took our minds off of everything that is going on in the world. We hope this finds you and your loved ones in good health and send our thoughts and best wishes to all of you. Thank you to the Ryan and Salena for inviting us as well as everyone who participated in the meet up! 

For the full video of this podcast, please visit www.GrahamBehaviorServices.com/showdown 

For videos of the entire day, please access The Daily BA's website and social media platforms. 

If you have ideas or topics for future debate, have respectful suggestions on ways we can improve this podcast, or if you are interested in being a guest debater, please email [email protected] If you have enjoyed what you heard and found your Aha moment, please subscribe to our podcast, visit our website at grahambehaviorservices.com/showdown, like Graham Behavior Services on Facebook and Twitter, and visit our YouTube channel to be alerted when new episodes are out! Please go review us on the platform you listen to us! We love all the behavior specific feedback! Thanks for listening and we hope to have helped you experience some Aha moments! #GrAhamMoments