Aba Inside Track

Somewhere in space, this could all be happening right now. ABA Inside Track, the team that brought you Grab Bag 9, now bring you a podcast unlike anything on your planet: Grab Bag In Space! The story of social skills training, furniture reorganization, and green shopping bag purchases. It’s a big, sprawling ABA saga of research…and romance. It’s a discussion of articles light years ahead of their time. It’s an epic of behavior and analysis and aliens from a thousand worlds. Grab Bag In Space, a billion years in the making. And it’s coming to your podcast player right now. Articles discussed this episode: Kaplan, B.A., Gelino, B.W., & Reed, D.D. (2018). A behavioral economic approach to green consumerism: Demand for reusable shopping bags. Behavior and Social Issues, 27, 20-30. doi: 10.5210/bsi.v.27i0.8003 Mann, C.C. & Karsten, A.M. (2020). Efficacy and social validity of procedures for improving conversational skills of college students with autism. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 53, 402-421. d

We are very excited to have Dr. Jim Carr, president of the BACB, joining us on this week’s episode to discuss an area of research of which he is very passionate about: child welfare. Though many of us have a history of working with caregivers, few of us have done so in order to reunite children with their biological families. Dr. Carr shares some promising work of how behavior analysis can support these parents on a larger scale. Articles discussed this episode: Franks, S.B., Mata, F.C., Wofford, E., Briggs, A.M., LeBlanc, L.A., Carr, J.E., & Lazarte, A.A. (2013). The effects of behavioral parent training on placement outcomes of biological families in a state child welfare system. Research on Social Work Practice, 23, 377-382. doi: 10.1177/1049731513492006 Kessler, M.L. & Greene, B.F. (1999). Behavior analysis in child welfare: Competency training caseworkers to manage visits between parents and their children in foster care. Research on Social Work Practice, 9, 148-170. doi: 10.1177/1049731599009002

As online communication becomes our new normal—at least for the time being—BCBAs are left scrambling to figure out how to adapt their services to their clients. Fortunately, telehealth systems have been in use in the medical field for some time. This week, we review a bevy of articles describing some of the ways training over telehealth can occur, some troubleshooting tips for your telehealth setup, and a nice think piece on rethinking how we address problem solving with our clients. And, to say thank you to all of our listeners (and to do what we can to help our BCBA friends out there), this episode’s 1.0 learning credit can be purchased for FREE!! Articles discussed this episode: Wacker, D.P., Lee, J.F., Dalmau, Y.C., Kopelman, T.G., Lindgren, S.D., Kuhle, J., Pelzel, K.E., Dyson, S., Schieltz, K.M., & Waldron, D.B. (2013). Conducting functional communication training via telehealth to reduce the problem behavior of young children with autism. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 25, 35

April showers bring…lots of guests? That’s the case this extra-long month where we bring in non-stop guests to discuss topics across the board. First, we have president of the BACB, Dr. Jim Carr, join us to share research on work to improve the child welfare system. Then, we dip into our 10th grab bag before inviting our pals Colleen Callahan and Matt Cicoria from the Behavioral Observations podcast about the VB-MAPP and consulting in schools. Stay dry and enjoy! Also, for the audio-only listeners, here are some links from previous episodes including worksheets for executive functioning skills from Dr. Adel Najdowski and a visual inspection graph support document.   Articles for April 2020 Child Welfare w/ Dr. Jim Carr Franks, S.B., Mata, F.C., Wofford, E., Briggs, A.M., LeBlanc, L.A., Carr, J.E., & Lazarte, A.A. (2013). The effects of behavioral parent training on placement outcomes of biological families in a state child welfare system. Research on Social Work Practice, 23, 377-382. doi: 10.1177/1049731

While all of us are doing our best to respond to rapid changes during the current COVID-19 pandemic, many families are struggling with the loss of home ABA services. In response to these barriers, many smart clinicians are looking for novel solutions. On this special extra episode, we talk with one of these super smart folks, Dr. Francesca degli Espinosa, about how she and her staff have responded to continued need for home ABA services in Italy in the midst of the health crisis. In addition to being able to share so many of Dr. Espinosa’s amazing (and directly applicable) ideas out to our fellow BCBAs, we’re also making this episode good for one FREE learning CEU. Just listen and go to checkout as normal. Then enjoy the content and the CE for free, courtesy of Dr. Espinosa and your friends at ABA Inside Track. Articles discussed this episode: Kazdin, A.E. (1982). The token economy: A decade later. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 15, 431-445. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1982.15-431 Hackenberg, T.D. (2018). Token

Are you like me and you’ve been wondering why massed trials seem to be the most popular format for discrete trial training? Ever think that there could be a better way? Lucky for you, this week we’re using research to pit massed trials head-to-head against other DTT formats in a knock-down, drag-out cage match for the ages. Will interspersed trials cause a big upset? Can distributed trials make it to the final round? Or will massed trials dominate all comers? Articles discussed this episode: Henrickson, M.L., Rapp, J.T., & Ashbeck, H.A. (2015). Teaching with massed versus interspersed trials: Effects on acquisition, maintenance, and problem behavior. Behavioral Interventions, 30, 36-50. doi: 10.1002/bin.1396 Majdalany, L.N., Wilder, D.A., Greif, A., Mathisen, D., & Saini, V. (2014). Comparing massed-trial instruction, distributed-trial instruction, and task interspersal to teach tacts to children with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 47, 657-662. doi: 10.1002/jaba.149 H

Trapped in the house with nothing but a bag of chips and a 5 lb weight? Well, at least you could spend some time PLANNING how you’ll create a healthier lifestyle. Tony Chambers and Clint Evans from The Behavior Chef podcast join us (virtually) to explain how choosing healthy foods is nothing but good old-fashioned behavior and how breaking bad health habits is a lot harder than you might think. Articles discussed this episode: Rafacz, S.D. (2019). Healthy eating: Approaching the selection, preparation, and consumption of healthy food as choice behavior. Perspectives on Behavior Science, 42, 647-674. doi: 10/1007/s40614-018-00190-y Kurti, A.N. & Dallery, J. (2013). Internet-based contingency management increases walking in sedentary adults. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 46, 568-581. doi: 10.1002/jaba.58 Meredith, S.E., Grabinski, M.J., & Dallery, J. (2011). Internet-based group contingency management to promote abstinence from cigarette smoking: A feasibility study. Drug and Alcohol Dependence,

What a nice way to kick off our March episodes with author, Dr. Mary Barbera, stopping by to talk about verbal behavior. We take a look into the process of using transfer procedures to teach tacts as well as get the chance to chat with Dr. Barbera about her own professional and personal history and how it led to her current work on the Turn Autism Around podcast. And, if you enjoy this episode, why not check out our guest appearance on Mary’s show later this month! Articles discussed this episode: Barbera, M.L. & Kubina, Jr., R.M. (2005). Using transfer procedures to teach tacts to a child with autism. The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, 21, 155-161. doi: 10.1007/bf03393017 Bloh, C. (2008). Assessing transfer of stimulus control procedures across learners with autism. The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, 24, 87-101. doi: 10.1007/bf03393059 If you're interested in ordering CEs for listening to this episode, click here to go to the store page. You'll need to enter your name, BCBA #, and the two episode secret code

Game on! We just can’t stop having fun, so much so that Rob even invented a brand-new game to celebrate another month of research articles. Between trying to figure out arcane rules, we share the March topics which run the table from verbal behavior to healthy eating to which work-trial type is best for you (well, maybe). So, pull up a d20 and enjoy this month’s preview! Articles for March 2020 Transfer of Stimulus Control w/ Dr. Mary Barbera Barbera, M.L. & Kubina, Jr., R.M. (2005). Using transfer procedures to teach tacts to a child with autism. The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, 21, 155-161. doi: 10.1007/bf03393017 Bloh, C. (2008). Assessing transfer of stimulus control procedures across learners with autism. The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, 24, 87-101. doi: 10.1007/bf03393059   Promoting Healthful Behavior w/ The Behavior Chefs (Clint Evans and Tony Chambers) Rafacz, S.D. (2019). Healthy eating: Approaching the selection, preparation, and consumption of healthy food as choice behavior. Perspectives on B

Though the topic has come up before, we decided it was high time that self-monitoring got its very own episode. Then, rather than just share a bunch of old research about how cool self-monitoring is, we figured we’d look for some of the more interesting ways self-monitoring has been used to improve behavior. From spelling tests to training classes. From swimming pools to electricity meters (though not at the same time), Can a procedure so easy really be that effective? Articles discussed this episode: Winett, R.A., Neale, M.S., & Grier, H.C. (1979). Effects of self-monitoring and feedback on residential electricity consumption. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 12, 173-184. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1979.12-173 Critchfield, T.S. (1999). An unexpected effect of recording frequency in reactive self-monitoring. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 32, 389-391. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1999.32-389 Rafferty, L.A., Arroyo, J., Ginnane, S., & Wilczynski, K. (2011). Self-monitoring during spelling practice: Effects

One of the joys of having done the podcast long is learning about the sheer number of applications of behavior analysis in the world. This week, Dr. John O’Neill brings us ABA in a way we never expected: Behavior assessment as a means of improving police training. Aside from the novel use of FBA methodology, we discuss the current state of police academy procedure in America and some of the ways behavior analysis might be able to help. Articles discussed this episode: O’Neill, J. (2018). Functional behavior assessment of the unintentional discharge of firearms in law enforcement. Journal of Organizational Behavior Management, 38, 275-287. doi: 10.1080/01608061.2018.1514348 O’Neill, J., O’Neill, D.A., Weed, K., Hartman, M.E., Spence, W., & Lewinski, W.J. (2019). Police academy training, performance, and learning. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 12, 353-372. doi: 10.1007/s40617-018-00317-2 If you're interested in ordering CEs for listening to this episode, click here to go to the store page. You'll need to

For some reason Jackie decided that we needed to learn more about visual inspection. So, we did! Now we’re all refreshed on the steps involved in analyzing data graphically and making the best treatment decisions possible. If you listen to this week’s episode, your graph of “understanding the steps of visual inspection” will be on a very clear increasing trend. Articles discussed this episode: Vanselow, N.R., Thompson, R., & Karsina, A. (2011). Data-based decision making: The impact of data variability, training, and context. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 44, 767-780. doi: 10.1901/jaba.2011.44-767 Wolfe, K., Barton, E.E., & Meadan, H. (2019). Systematic protocols for the visual analysis of single-case research data. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 12, 491-502. doi: 10.1007/s40617-019-00336-7 Falligant, J.M., McNulty, M.K., Hausman, N.L., & Rooker, G.W. (2019). Using dual-criteria methods to supplement visual inspection: Replication and extension. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. doi: 1

If you’re going to be in Massachusetts on February 26th at 7, come to Ground Effect Brewing in Hudson, MA for our first ABA Trivia Night! We’ll have fun questions, prizes, and beer with your pals at ABA Inside Track. Come join a team of four like-minded BCBAs and make some new friends or bring your colleagues for some after-work bonding. And, best of all, this event will be entirely FREE! Check out the Ground Effect website for more information for directions and email us for more information. We can’t wait to see you there!

Heeeeey, it’s Rob’s birthday. And rather than watch the time-caper thriller “Happy Death Day 2U” like he wanted to, let’s have a February preview. This month we kick things off with a trip to the gallery of line graphs to discuss improvements in visual inspection methodology. After that, we’ll be joined by Dr. John O’Neill to learn about how behavior analysis can inform research into improving police training. Finally, we revisit a tangentially-discussed topic with articles reviewing a multitude of ways to utilize self-monitoring. Then I’m promised we can eat cake and play video games. Also, don’t forget to join us on February 26th @ 7pm at Ground Effect Brewery in Hudson, MA for our very first ABA Trivia evening! Articles for February 2020 Visual Inspection Vanselow, N.R., Thompson, R., & Karsina, A. (2011). Data-based decision making: The impact of data variability, training, and context. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 44, 767-780. doi: 10.1901/jaba.2011.44-767 Wolfe, K., Barton, E.E., & Mead

Because your ABA Inside Track hosts are such chronic truth-tellers, we decided it was time to look into this “lying” we’ve heard so much about. For instance, we’re not sure why anyone would ever lie. Or whether it’s an important skill to learn how to lie, especially when your best friend tries on a questionable outfit. Or if learning about George Washington can really improve honesty. We promise, if you listen to ABA Inside Track’s new episode, you will be popular and more attractive.* *Note: we’re probably lying. Though we bet you’re still swell. Articles discussed this episode: Reinecke, D.R., Newman, B., Kurtz, A.L., Ryan, C.S., & Hemmes, N.S. (1997). Teaching deception skills in a game-play context to three adolescents with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 27, 127-137. doi: 10.1023/a:1025835706522 Bergstrom, R., Najdowski, A.C., Alvarado, M., & Tarbox, J. (2016). Teaching children with autism to tell socially appropriate lies. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 49, 1-6. do

If you’ve listened to more than one of our episodes, you must enjoy listening to behavior analytic terminology. If so, that makes you unlike most of America who ::GASP:: really dislikes ABA jargon. Should we be offended? Drop our monocles in shock? Perhaps instead we should use research to figure out a better way to improve how we disseminate the science of behavior in plain English. Articles discussed this episode: Lindsley, O.R. (1991). From technical jargon to plain English for application. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 24, 449-458. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1991.24-449 Becirevic, A., Critchfield, T.S., Reed, D.D. (2016). On the social acceptability of behavior-analytic terms: Crowdsourced comparisons of lay and technical language. The Behavior Analyst, 39, 305-317. doi: 10.1007/s40614-016-0067-4 Critchfield, T.S., Doepke, K.J., Epting, L.K., Becirevic, A., Reed, D.D., Fienup, D.M., Kremsreiter, J.L., & Ecott, C.L. (2017). Normative emotional responses to behavior analysis jargon or how not to use wo

While we’ve certainly mentioned and even discussed the IISCA in previous episodes, for some reason we’ve yet to do a full-length episode on this relatively new tool in the behavior assessment arsenal. That all changes this week as we do a deep dive into the interview-informed synthesized contingency analysis with our special guest, Dr. Adithyan Rajaraman. What is the IISCA? Why use the IISCA? And when is the IISCA? We promise to answer at least two of those burning questions. Articles discussed this episode: Rajaraman A., Hanley G.P. (2018) Interview-Informed Synthesized Contingency Analysis (IISCA). In: Volkmar F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8 Hanley, G.P., Jin, C.S., Vanselow, N.R., & Hanratty, L.A. (2014). Produing meaningful improvements in problem behavior of children with autism via synthesized analyses and treatments. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 47, 16-36. doi: 10.1002/jaba.106 Jessel, J., Ingvarsson, E.T., Metras,

It may be a question you remember from graduate school: What’s the deal with sensory extinction? Is it a form of extinction? Of punishment? Or, is it something else? This week, we revisit that old chestnut by discussion four articles that hope to solve the mystery of sensory extinction. And we review one of the most complementary replication articles of all time! Articles discussed this episode: Iwata, B.A., Pace, G.M., Cowdery, G.E., & Miltenberger, R.G. (1994). What makes extinction work: An analysis of procedural form and function. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 131-144. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1994.27-131 Mazaleski, J.L., Iwata, B.A., Rodgers, T.A., Vollmer, T.R., & Zarcone, J.R. (1994). Protective equipment as treatment for stereotypic hand mouthing: Sensory extinction or punishment effects? Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 345-355. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1994.27-345 Lerman, D.C. & Iwata, B.A. (1996). A methodology for distinguishing between extinction and punishment effects assoc

Happy New Year! We brush off our New Year’s Resolutions by promising even more fun and exciting topics. You can trust us: We’ve read all the research on lying! Plus, Jackie promises more fun by announcing our inaugural ABA Inside Track Trivia Night. And the proper unveiling of our updated theme song by a musician you’ll recognize. Welcome to 2020, BCBAs! Articles for January 2019 Sensory Extinction Iwata, B.A., Pace, G.M., Cowdery, G.E., & Miltenberger, R.G. (1994). What makes extinction work: An analysis of procedural form and function. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 131-144. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1994.27-131 Mazaleski, J.L., Iwata, B.A., Rodgers, T.A., Vollmer, T.R., & Zarcone, J.R. (1994). Protective equipment as treatment for stereotypic hand mouthing: Sensory extinction or punishment effects? Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 345-355. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1994.27-345 Lerman, D.C. & Iwata, B.A. (1996). A methodology for distinguishing between extinction and punishment effects as

As 2019 comes to a close, we’re joined by our podcasting buddy, Matt Cicoria, of the Behavioral Observations podcast to wax philosophical about all the going’s-on in behavior analysis in the past 12 months. From memorials to trends in research and practice we’d like to see continue to our hopes for the next year of our science. Wishing all of you Happy Holidays!