Aba Inside Track

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Google Play Subscribe on Stitcher Back from the Summer of '69, it's the Good Behavior Game! We debunk the rumors that the benefits of this classic group contingency is all hype--it totally works--and rattle off a whole bunch of replications in addition to reviewing the original article that started the craze for this behavioral vaccine.  Then, finally, the wait is over as we crown the worst classroom ever described in research.  That teacher could only wish that her biggest problem was tardy Sailor Moon fans or a zombie apocalypse.  Plus, Rob has a good idea, maybe.   Articles discussed this episode: Barrish, H.H., Saunders, M., & Wolf, M.M.  (1969).  Good Behavior Game: Effects of individual contingencies for group consequences on disruptive behavior in a classroom.  Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 2, 119-124.  doi:  10.1901/jaba.1969.2-119 Donaldson, J.M., Vollmer, T.R., Krous, T., Downs, S., & Berard, K.P.  (2011).  An evaluation of the Good Behavior Game in k

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Google Play Subscribe on Stitcher Coming back into the public consciousness, it's the Good Behavior Game! Next week, we'll review the original 1969 article describing this amazing classroom management system as well as some more recent research into its utility.  But first: errata, Rob in a captain's hat, and the musical stylings of the Inside Track crew.  See you next week for the full-length discussion. Articles for next week: Barrish, H.H., Saunders, M., & Wolf, M.M.  (1969).  Good Behavior Game: Effects of individual contingencies for group consequences on disruptive behavior in a classroom.  Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 2, 119-124.  doi:  10.1901/jaba.1969.2-119 Donaldson, J.M., Vollmer, T.R., Krous, T., Downs, S., & Berard, K.P.  (2011).  An evaluation of the Good Behavior Game in kindergarten classrooms.  Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 44, 605-609.  doi:  10.1901/jaba.2011.44-605 Tingstrom, D.H., Sterling-Turner, H.E., & Wilczynski, S.M.  (20

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Google Play Subscribe on Stitcher Because noncontingent reinforcement goes beyond constant access to a bag of M+Ms, we bring you this, the latest episode of ABA Inside Track.  Jackie and Rob are ready to meet your response-independent schedule needs, especially if those needs include a synopsis of the Hugga Bunch movie.  Diana reviews NCR schedules, from dense to lean and everything in between, though expresses a preference for dense when candy is involved.  Finally, a heated discussion ensues regarding extinction as a ruiner of contingency marriages.  Listen closely: this episode is chock-full of putative possibilities. Articles discussed this episode: Hagopian, L.P., Fisher, W.W., & Legacy, S.M.  (1994).  Schedule effects of noncontingent reinforcement on attention-maintained destructive behavior in identical quadruplets.  Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 317-325.  doi: 10.1901/jaba.1994.27-317 Wallce, M.D., Iwata, B.A., Hanley, G.P., Thompson, R.H., & Rosco

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Google Play Subscribe on Stitcher Next week, we're talking about the somewhat misunderstood treatment: non-contingent reinforcement.  And before we even get into the topic, Jackie gets belligerent.  So you know it'll be a good episode. Then, in errata, we review updates to the professional and ethical compliance code for behavior analysts in relation to reporting public health- and safety-related fines or tickets to the BACB.  Let's hope none of our hypothetical scenarios every come to pass! Articles for next week: Hagopian, L.P., Fisher, W.W., & Legacy, S.M.  (1994).  Schedule effects of noncontingent reinforcement on attention-maintained destructive behavior in identical quadruplets.  Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 317-325.  doi: 10.1901/jaba.1994.27-317 Wallce, M.D., Iwata, B.A., Hanley, G.P., Thompson, R.H., & Roscoe, E.M.  (2012).  Noncontingent reinforcement: A further examination of schedule effects during treatment.  Journal of Applied Behavior Analy

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Google Play Subscribe on Stitcher Everyone needs help sometimes whether it's a family dealing with challenging behavior or podcast hosts avoiding nonsensical tangents.  This week's episode spends most of it's running time with the former, reviewing research on how to help behavior analysts to help parents in the home.  From tantrums in quadruplets to overcoming mealtime woes, we've got something for even the smartest parents and practitioners to learn.  In regards to the latter--with Rob getting in character with his Fran Drescher nanny impression, Jackie bringing up fishing and Beyonce, and Diana comparing research to delicious gravy--we may have been less successful. Articles discussed this episode:   Miles, N.I. & Wilder, D.A.  (2009).  The effects of behavioral skills training on caregiver implementation of guided compliance.  Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 42, 405-410.  doi:  10.1901/jaba.2009.42-405 Crone, R.M. & Mehta, S.S.  (2016).  Parent training on ge

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Google Play Subscribe on Stitcher We're back with another preview episode to prepare for a full-length discussion on helping parents learn to respond to challenging behavior.  But first, we get a bit ABA OFF-track as Rob recounts the time he almost met Neil Gaiman, Diana shares some recent Facebook links with the crowd, and Jackie recounts our BABAT rock star moment.  And speaking of which, if you haven't listened to our BABAT special, please do so, if not for our sunny voices than for all of the cool movie music Rob edited in there. Articles for next week: Miles, N.I. & Wilder, D.A.  (2009).  The effects of behavioral skills training on caregiver implementation of guided compliance.  Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 42, 405-410.  doi:  10.1901/jaba.2009.42-405 Crone, R.M. & Mehta, S.S.  (2016).  Parent training on generalized use of behavior analytic strategies for decreasing the problem behavior of children with autism spectrum disorder: A data-based case study.

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Google Play Subscribe on Stitcher Did you ever notice how hard it is to get from place to place? Is it the fact that your new location just isn't as much fun as your starting point? Is it that dawdling is its own reward? Or could it be some sort of existential crisis concerning the movement of your body through space and time as we all hurtle through space towards total entropy? This week we talk about challenging behavior around transitioning from place to place.  We review a classic analysis of the function of SIB during transitions and get a glimpse into how our new computer overlords will make us all more efficient students as we move about the classroom.  Invariably we wander from tangent to tangent: our favorite transition of all! Articles discussed this episode: McCord, B.E. & Thomson, R.J (2001).  Functional analysis and treatment of self-injury associated with transitions.  Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 34, 195-210.  doi: 10.1901/jaba.2001.34-195 Hine, J.F

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Google Play Subscribe on Stitcher Next week we'll be discussing behavior analytic research on the topic of transitions.  Moving from one place or activity to another can be a real source of challenging behavior with many individuals with autism and a real source of wasted time for any student.  But why? And what can practitioners do to help? All that and errata including a fun discussion about what transitions we can't stand. Articles for next week: McCord, B.E. & Thomson, R.J (2001).  Functional analysis and treatment of self-injury associated with transitions.  Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 34, 195-210.  doi: 10.1901/jaba.2001.34-195 Hine, J.F., Ardoin, S.P., & Foster, T.E. (2015).  Decreasing transition times in elementary school classrooms: Using computer-assisted instruction to automate intervention components.  Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 48, 495-510.  doi: 10.1002/jaba.233 Brewer, A.T., Strickland-Cohen, K., Dotson, W., & Williams, D.C. (20

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Google Play Subscribe on Stitcher It's our super special episode at the BABAT Conference! We're recording LIVE from the top of the UMASS Amherst Student Center then saving it to go out prerecorded today.  Your three hosts chat about the various goings-on during this two-day cavalcade of behavior analysis and pull in some special guests to share their own experiences at the conference.  Come on and listen to the very first recorded ABA conference post-show in history! At least as far as I know of.

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Google Play Subscribe on Stitcher 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.  And for folks applying for continuing education credits, this episode counts towards 1 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: 10.10

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Google Play Subscribe on Stitcher Behavior analysts collect so much data, yet we don't always think about why.  Are there ethical standards which we should take into account with our data collection procedures? Dr. Amanda Karsten sure thinks so and she'll be joining us on next week's episode to provide some great tips on how to take ethical data. And in Errata we continue the debate between whether BCBAs should be more warm and fuzzy or more clinical-sounding.  Plus, Mr. Rogers versus Mr. Dress Up. Articles for next week: 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. & Bourre

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Google Play Subscribe on Stitcher Since medication for ADHD isn't the only treatment in town, what behavioral interventions can help students take part in the important parts of learning?  Like staying on-task with schoolwork for instance.  This week we review how functional analyses, good peer models, and sounds of the cosmos can decrease off-task behavior in children.  And are you a behavior analyst with no experience working with individuals with ADHD? Let our introductory summary get you started on understanding this chronic disorder.  And, in the spirit of the research, we actually manage to keep our typical tangents to a minimum.  Like maybe only 10% of the running time if you don't count Jackie and Rob making white-noise sound effects. Articles discussed this episode: Flood, W.A., Wilder, D.A., Flood, A.L., & Masuda, A.  (2002).  Peer-mediated reinforcement plus prompting as treatment for off-task behavior in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.  

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Google Play Subscribe on Stitcher ADHD is an increasingly common disability seen most regularly in public schools.  How can behavior analysis help? Next week, we'll be discussing research into increasing the on-task behavior of students with ADHD as well as reviewing some facts and figures related to overall treatment. Articles for next week: Flood, W.A., Wilder, D.A., Flood, A.L., & Masuda, A.  (2002).  Peer-mediated reinforcement plus prompting as treatment for off-task behavior in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.  Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 35, 199-204.  doi: 10.1901/jaba.2002.35-199 Grauvogel-MacAleese, A.N. & Wallace, M.D.  (2010).  Use of peer-mediated intervention in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.  Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 43, 547-551.  doi: 10.1901/jaba.2010.43-547 Cook, A., Bradley-Johnson, S., & Johnson, C.M.  (2014).  Effects of white noise on off-task behavior and academic respondin

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Google Play Subscribe on Stitcher We all know that while behavioral skills training is a research-based method for training an individual to mastery, it can take a long time.  We all know that while training videos are super-fun, they have very little impact on promoting a skill to mastery.  This week we talk to Dr. Nick Vaneslow about how he mixed peanut butter and chocolate and used CBST and in situ training to teach young children safety skills.  The "C" is for computer.  Plus, Dr. Vaneslow tells us about his personalized cardboard cut-out, Diana learns gun-safety skills, Jackie discovers that there are more than four dangers in the world, and Rob begs everyone for a million dollars to create educational apps that save the best sound effects for choosing the wrong answers.   Articles discussed this episode: Vaneslow, N.R. & Hanley, G.P.  (2014).  An evaluation of computerized behavioral skills training to teach safety skills to young children.  Journal of Applied Behavi

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Google Play Subscribe on Stitcher We're all about using technology to improve teaching.  But is there really anything out there worth using? We'll be chatting with Dr. Nick Vanselow, creator of CEU Helper, about how he used computerized behavioral skills training to tackle the very important issues of teaching children abduction prevention and fire safety skills.  But first, we share technologies that we love to use to start off a new school year.  And, if you aren't watching our YouTube channel, you missed a fabulous singing intro. Articles for next week: Vanselow, N.R. & Hanley, G.P.  (2014).  An evaluation of computerized behavioral skills training to teach safety skills to young children.  Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 47, 51-69.  doi: 10.1002/jaba.105

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Google Play Subscribe on Stitcher It's the second part of our shows on transitioning to adulthood and the challenges therein.  This week we return to our typical format and discuss two articles related to needed vocational skills: asking for assistance with a vocational task and using an iPhone cueing system to perform as a fire safety mascot.  Yes, you read that right: a fire safety mascot.  If research about inflatable suits with an iPhone Velcroed inside was on your wish list, consider this show your friendly genie.  And if you think the gifts stop there, you're in for a treat when Jackie shares her favorite Starbucks drink and Diana tells us what TV show she enjoys while falling asleep on the couch.  Is anything more representative of adulthood than overpriced coffee and bad TV? P.S. from Rob: Please don't tell me how The Wire ends.  Not cool, dude. Articles discussed this episode: Burke, R.V., Andersen, M.N., Bowen, S.L., Howard, M.R., & Allen, K.D.  (2010).  Evaluati

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Google Play Subscribe on Stitcher We were so astonished at the paucity of research related to teaching adolescents and adults with autism that we decided to put together two full episodes to raise awareness about the topic.  Our first episode summarizes many of the overall challenges that society and adults with autism will face in the coming years.  Start by listening to Jackie, Rob, and Diana grapple with the big issues by making fun of educational videos and smiling politely at another Rob Rant about the government.  End by listening to a fascinating interview with Dr. Peter Gerhardt in which he discusses the life skills nobody is talking about (or training on!), which target academics have already become obsolete, the goal every behavior analyst should strive to achieve, and what social interaction will replace the high five in America.      Articles discussed this episode: Gerhardt, P.F. & Lainer, I.  (2011).  Addressing the needs of adolescents and adults with autism

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Google Play Subscribe on Stitcher In this double-album edition of our preview episodes, we're talking about research on transitioning to adulthood for individuals with autism.  In addition to our typical review of research related to the subject, we've got an interview with Dr. Peter Gerhardt, a leader in spreading awareness of the crisis that is special education services for adults.  On the lighter side of things: the results of our filler speech challenge! Only one can win, though everyone gets candy.  Also, errata featuring a fun link from a listener about standard celeration charts. Listen to the full episodes over the next two weeks (yes, back-to-back episodes) for maximum information and discussion. Articles for next week: Gerhardt, P.F. & Lainer, I.  (2011).  Addressing the needs of adolescents and adults with autism: A crisis on the horizon.  Journal of Contemporary Psychoherapy, 41, 37-45.  doi 10.1007/s10879-010-9160-2 And, while not a research article, a parent

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Google Play Subscribe on Stitcher This week we take out three articles from our research grab bag, three articles related only by our enjoyment of the subject matter.  Diana teaches us all the merits of good yoga poses, Rob chides everyone for all of their filler responses, and Jackie uses bark collars to keep the hosts behaving.  Plus, Rob breaks our brand new mixer and we all reiterate Skinner's proposition that applied behavior analysis is the cat's pajamas.  That "cat's pajamas" part might be a paraphrase.   Articles discussed this episode: Protopopova, A., Kisten, D., & Wynne, C.  (2016).  Evaluating a humane alternative to the bark collar: Automated differential reinforcement of not barking in a home-alone setting.  Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 49, 1-10.  doi:10.1002/jaba.334 Mancuso, C. & Miltenberger, R.G.  (2016).  Using habit reversal to decrease filled pauses in public speaking.  Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 49, 188-192.  doi:  10.1002/jaba

Subscribe on iTunes Subscribe on Google Play Subscribe on Stitcher It's research grab bag time! Next week, we're discussing three articles only linked by our interest in the subject matter.  But first, Rob reads some listener mail while Jackie and Diana prepare to give a speech.  How many times will they say "um" or "like"? Email us with the answer for a chance at a CE credit.   Articles for next week: Protopopova, A., Kisten, D., & Wynne, C.  (2016).  Evaluating a humane alternative to the bark collar: Automated differential reinforcement of not barking in a home-alone setting.  Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 49, 1-10.  doi:10.1002/jaba.334 Mancuso, C. & Miltenberger, R.G.  (2016).  Using habit reversal to decrease filled pauses in public speaking.  Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 49, 188-192.  doi:  10.1002/jaba.267 Gruber, D.J. & Poulson, C.L.  (2016).  Graduated guidance delivered by parents to teach yoga to children with developmental delays.  Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis