Welcome to the inaugural issue of Behavior Analysis in Practice (BAP). The mission of this peer-reviewed publication is to disseminate science-based information on best practice to those who provide services in behavior analysis. BAP was the inspiration of former Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) President Thomas Critchfield and was established by the ABAI Executive Council after a survey of ABAI members indicated overwhelming support for a journal of this sort. In this endeavor, I am joined by a distinguished editorial board consisting of internationally recognized scientists and practitioners in applied behavior analysis. Through BAP, we hope to promote the effective application of technologies that have been developed through systematic research.
The practice of behavior analysis has experienced unparalleled growth in the past decade, fueled in large part by the demand for behavior analysts who have expertise in autism. This growth in service provision has undoubtedly extended to other populations and problems. For example, a recent search of the graduate training directory of the ABAI revealed more than 100 Master's and doctoral programs in behavior analysis. Many of these programs list multiple areas of emphasis, including clinical and school psychology, organizational behavior management, developmental disabilities, and behavioral medicine. Furthermore, more than 120 universities now offer course sequences that have been approved by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board® (see Shook & Favell, this issue).
In light of this growth, BAP was developed with the unique needs and interests of the practicing behavior analyst in mind. Along with review and discussion papers, we are soliciting empirical reports, book and product reviews, and technical articles. A companion website also has been established so that authors can provide practitioners with supplemental materials and information (e.g., video clips, data sheets). For more information about BAP and subscriber access to the supplemental materials, visit http://www.abainternational.org/BAinPractice.asp.
We are delighted to bring you an outstanding selection of articles in this inaugural issue. These papers, authored by distinguished researchers and practitioners in our field, exemplify the types of articles that will be appearing in two important submission categories: Discussion/Review Papers and Empirical Reports.
Discussion/Review Papers
Manuscripts surveying and critically evaluating particular areas of practice or issues in applied behavior analysis may be accepted as Discussion or Review Articles. These may include articles on professional and clinical issues, as well as reviews of the empirical literature that focus on best practice guidelines. Appearing in this issue are three review papers with the latter emphasis and one discussion paper on professional issues.
Visit http://www.abainternational.org/BAinPractice.asp for periodic updates and information about BAP, along with subscriber access to supplemental materials.
In the paper, “Clinical Application of Functional Analysis Methodology,” Brian Iwata and Claudia Dozier provide an overview of the functional analysis approach to assessment, outline barriers to its clinical use, and provide science-based solutions for incorporating this critically important tool into best practice. The paper authored by Jeff Tiger and his colleagues, “Functional Communication Training (FCT): A Review of the Literature,” is the product of an exhaustive examination of research on one of the most commonly used interventions for problem behavior. The paper provides a comprehensive discussion of key issues related to the application of FCT while focusing on concrete guidelines for practice. A similarly substantive appraisal of research findings and best practice guidelines can be found in the third review paper, authored by Ray Miltenberger and entitled “Teaching Safety Skills to Children: Prevention of Firearm Injury as an Exemplar of Best Practice in Assessment, Training, and Generalization of Safety Skills.”
Finally, Gerald Shook and Judith Favell provide a brief overview of national certification in behavior analysis, discuss several challenges that are facing the profession, and propose some solutions for practicing behavior analysts.
Empirical Reports
Manuscripts describing the application and evaluation of behavior-analytic procedures and service delivery programs may be published as Empirical Reports. Three such evaluations appear in this issue. In an interesting application of the functional analysis methodology, Christina Vorndran and her colleagues identified an effective yet practical treatment for hair pulling that also produced decreases in a behavior that was not directly targeted. Results of this evaluation are described in “Functional Analysis and Treatment of Chronic Hair Pulling in a Child with Cri du Chat Syndrome: Effects on Co-Occurring Thumb Sucking.” The other two empirical reports appearing in this inaugural issue offer important guidelines for best practice in completely different but critical areas of skill development.
In “Simulation Training of Community Job Skills for Adults with Autism: A Further Analysis,” L. Perry Lattimore, Marsha B. Parsons, and Dennis H. Reid examined the benefits of stimulation training when supporting adults with disabilities in community job settings. Focusing on play skills in young children with autism, Myrna Libby and her colleagues compared the effectiveness of three commonly used prompting techniques in a paper entitled, “A Comparison of Most-to-Least and Least-to-Most Prompting on the Acquisition of Solitary Play Skills.”
Upcoming Issues of BAP
The following is a sample of the empirical reports and discussion papers that will be appearing in upcoming issues of BAP, along with book reviews and technical articles:
The Effects of a Group Contingency Intervention on Academic Engagement and Problem Behavior with At-Risk Students
Practical Implications of Data Reliability and Treatment Integrity Monitoring
Participation of Students at Risk for Emotional/Behavioral Disorders in Their Own Formative Evaluation Measures
Science, Skepticism, and Behavior
Analysis Several special sections also are planned. For periodic updates and information, visit our website http://www.abainternational.org/BAinPractice.asp