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Science depends not simply on discovering an effect, but on demonstrating that the effect can be observed again. In this episode of ABA on Call, Rick and Doug examine replication as a cornerstone of scientific knowledge and explore psychology's well-known replication crisis. They discuss why direct and systematic replication matter, how statistical significance and publication bias can fuel misplaced confidence in research findings, and what happened when researchers tried to reproduce influential psychological effects such as ego depletion and power posing. To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the knowledge check to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review. Show Notes:  Replication crisis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Replication_crisis Power Posing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ks-_Mh1QhMc

Peer review does not guarantee good science, and publication in a respected journal does not relieve practitioners of the responsibility to think critically. In this episode of ABA on Call, Rick and Doug revisit seven questions Hank Pennypacker used to teach students how to evaluate research, beginning with the experimental question and moving through behavioral measurement, observation, experimental design, data analysis, and the ultimate question: Did the researchers actually answer their question, and does the answer matter? They apply this framework to a published single-case study evaluating the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol for children with childhood apraxia of speech. Along the way, they examine problems involving hypotheses versus experimental questions, measurement, percentage-based data, experimental control, and interpretation. The episode offers behavior analysts and other practitioners a practical framework for moving beyond conclusions and critically evaluating the evidence behind them. To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the knowledge check to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review. Show Notes:  Article:  A single case experimental design study using an operationalised version of the Kaufman Speech to Language Protocol for children with childhood apraxia of speech Hank Pennypacker's exercise to review research articles 1. What question are you actually trying to answer? 2. What exactly is the behavior? 3. What dimension of that behavior matters? 4. How did you observe and record it? 5. Only now do we talk about experimental design. 6. How did they analyze the data? 7. Did they actually answer the question, and who cares?

In this episode of ABA on Call, Rick Kubina and Doug Kostewicz respond to two real parenting questions drawn from social media. First, they examine the common misconception that reinforcement and bribery are the same, clarifying the behavioral principles underlying reinforcement, incentives, schedules of reinforcement, and the Premack Principle. They then analyze a complex family situation in which young children consistently seek one parent while rejecting the other, demonstrating how behavior analysts use objective data, motivating operations, attention, and reinforcement contingencies to understand and address challenging family dynamics. Throughout the discussion, the hosts illustrate how behavior analysis provides compassionate, practical, and evidence-based solutions to everyday parenting concerns. To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the knowledge check to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review. Show Notes:  Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson.  Michael, J. (1982). Distinguishing between discriminative and motivational functions of stimuli. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 37(1), 149–155. https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.1982.37-149 Michael, J. (1993). Establishing operations. The Behavior Analyst, 16(2), 191–206. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392623 Premack, D. (1959). Toward empirical behavior laws: I. Positive reinforcement. Psychological Review, 66(4), 219–233. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0040891

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recently released audit findings that have sparked widespread discussion throughout the applied behavior analysis (ABA) community. In this episode, Rick Kubina, Doug Kostewicz, and guest Christina Scenna unpack what the OIG report actually says and, just as importantly, what it does not say. They discuss why documentation and billing compliance differ from the effectiveness of ABA, explore how rapid growth in autism services created new regulatory challenges, and examine practical solutions ranging from graduate training and continuing education to AI-assisted documentation. The conversation highlights how the field can strengthen accountability while preserving access to high-quality behavior analytic services for the individuals who depend on them. To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the knowledge check to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review. Show Notes:  Trilliant Health. The Economics of Autism Care (2025/2026 reports). Institute of Medicine. (2003). Key Capabilities of an Electronic Health Record System. National Academies Press. https://oig.hhs.gov/reports/all/2024/indiana-made-at-least-56-million-in-improper-fee-for-service-medicaid-payments-for-applied-behavior-analysis-provided-to-children-diagnosed-with-autism/

In this episode of ABA on Call, Rick Kubina and Doug Kostewicz interview a renowned Norwegian dog trainer about the science of behavior across species. Morten Egtvedt shares his journey from training search-and-rescue dogs as a teenager to helping introduce clicker training throughout Norway alongside Karen Pryor. The discussion explores how core behavioral principles such as timing, reinforcement, fluency, shaping, and criterion adjustment matter far more than any specific training technique. Morten also discusses the differences between reinforcement-based and punishment-based training, the role of motivation in learning, and why behavior analysis provides a practical framework for understanding both dogs and humans. Listeners will hear compelling parallels between animal training, education, sports performance, and everyday human interactions, while gaining insight into how fluency-based instruction creates durable, reliable behavior change. To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the knowledge check to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review. Show Notes:    Binder, C. (1996). Behavioral fluency: Evolution of a new paradigm. The Behavior Analyst, 19(2), 163–197. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03393163 Pryor, K. (1999). Don't shoot the dog!: The new art of teaching and training (Rev. ed.). Bantam Books. Pryor, K. (2002). Clicker training for dogs. Ringpress Books. Pryor, K., & Chase, S. (2014). Training for variable and innovative behavior. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 27, 218–225.

In this episode of ABA on Call, hosts Rick Kubina and Doug Kostewicz explore the transition from practitioner to business owner with guests April and Stephen Smith from 3PiSquared. The conversation traces their journey from early clinical work in ABA to launching and scaling a successful practice, highlighting the realities of entrepreneurship in the field. Listeners gain insight into common startup pathways, costly early mistakes, and the importance of mentorship, legal compliance, and financial planning. The episode also examines warning signs of organizational drift such as reactive management, staff issues, and declining outcomes, and offers practical strategies for course correction. Ethical challenges, workforce training gaps, and emerging influences like AI in clinical operations are discussed, emphasizing the need for systems that support both quality care and sustainable growth. This episode provides a candid, experience-driven look at what it takes to build an ABA business without losing clinical integrity or personal well-being. To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review. Show Notes:  Website: https://3piesquared.com/   Free Consultation Booking Link: https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page   Book Pre-Order Copies: Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-aba-business-leaders-guide/id6755113017 Amazon: https://a.co/d/0hgLukNm

This podcast episode explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into applied behavior analysis practice, featuring Kelly King, BCBA, Manager of Clinical AI Governance at CentralReach. The discussion highlights the evolution of AI technologies, including large language models, and their application in clinical workflows, such as documentation and decision support. Emphasis is placed on ethical considerations, including data privacy, avoidance of overreliance on AI outputs, and the importance of maintaining human oversight in clinical judgment. The episode addresses risks such as hallucinated outputs, inappropriate data input (e.g., protected health information), and the need for behavior analysts to develop AI literacy as part of their professional competence. This content aligns with the BACB Ethics Code by focusing on responsible use of technology, protection of client confidentiality, and maintaining professional competence. To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review.   Show Notes   None explicitly cited in the course. For considered readings on possible cognitive impacts of leveraging AI without safeguards of responsible use:     Izquierdo-Condoy, J. S., Arias-Intriago, M., Tello-De-la-Torre, A., Busch, F., & Ortiz-Prado, E. (2025). Generative artificial intelligence in medical education: Enhancing critical thinking or undermining cognitive autonomy? Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, e76340. https://doi.org/10.2196/76340  Gerlich, M. (2025). AI tools in society: Impacts on cognitive offloading and the future of critical thinking. Societies, 15(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15010006  (preprint) Shen, J. H., & Tamkin, A. (2026). How AI impacts skill formation. arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2601.20245  Sourati, Z., Ziabari, A. S., & Dehghani, M. (2026). The homogenizing effect of large language models on human expression and thought. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2026.01.003

This episode features a discussion focused on equipping behavior analysts with practical strategies for communicating effectively with parents about core behavioral principles. Rick and Doug examine common parent concerns, including misconceptions about reinforcement versus bribery, objections to "rewarding" children for expected behavior, and the short- and long-term effects of yelling and punishment. The conversation explores coercive cycles, habituation to punishment, escalation patterns, and counter control. Rick and Doug also address adolescent behavior through the lens of reinforcement history and motivating operations, emphasizing that teenagers are shaped by contingencies rather than being "broken." Practical communication strategies are provided, including using lay terminology, modeling empathy, setting clear contingencies, and teaching parents replacement strategies for coercive interactions. The content is applied and practice-oriented, supporting behavior analysts in improving parent training and consultation outcomes.    To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review.   Show Notes: Azrin, N. H., & Holz, W. C. (1966). Punishment. In W. K. Honig (Ed.), Operant behavior: Areas of research and application (pp. 380–447). Appleton-Century-Crofts.  Patterson, G. R. (1982). Coercive family process. Castalia Publishing Company.  Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and human behavior. Macmillan

In the Season 8 premiere of ABA On Call, Rick and Doug kick off the year by responding to three of the most pressing listener questions from the past season: how behavior analysts should think about punishment and ethics, how well-intended ABA can accidentally cause harm, and how the field can better address professional burnout. The conversation examines punishment through a technical, ethical, and real-world lens, emphasizing wellbeing, context, and the necessity of replacement skills rather than simple behavior suppression. The hosts then explore how skipping analytic steps, overreliance on familiar techniques, and systems-level pressures can lead to harmful outcomes despite good intentions. Finally, they turn to burnout as an organizational and relational problem, discussing supervision, workplace culture, and systemic contingencies that shape staff wellbeing. Together, these topics frame a practical, ethically grounded roadmap for doing ABA in a way that is both effective and humane.   To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review.   Show Notes: Procedural Fidelity Data as an Indicator of Quality Service Delivery in Aba Organizations

This episode explores the often-confused concepts of morality and ethics and examines how each guides human action both in daily life and in professional practice. Morality reflects the norms and values individuals and cultures use to judge right and wrong, while ethics serves as a formal system for evaluating and regulating behavior within professions. Building on this distinction, the episode introduces a scientific perspective on moral truths: the idea that morality can be grounded in facts about what increases or decreases the well-being of conscious creatures. Finally, the hosts apply these ideas to behavior analysis, discussing how moral considerations, empirical outcomes, and ethical codes intersect in real practice. Using examples ranging from family interactions to clinical decision-making, the hosts illustrate how a data-driven understanding of well-being can shape more humane, effective, and responsible behavior-analytic work.   To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review.   Show Notes: https://www.samharris.org/books/the-moral-landscape https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3739395-when-slow-is-fast-enough

In this episode of ABA On Call, Rick and Doug sit down with doctoral student Christina Sena from the University of Pittsburgh to explore how ethical principles guide mentorship, clinical decision-making, and professional development in Applied Behavior Analysis. The conversation spans three critical areas: the ethics of mentorship and what it truly means to guide another professional beyond mere supervision; the ethical implications of using or rejecting punishment and extinction, highlighting the analyst's duty to understand behavioral processes while safeguarding dignity, consent, and least-restrictive practice; and finally, the BACB's decision to exclude podcasts from supervised fieldwork hours, which raises broader questions about how evolving technologies challenge traditional standards of evidence, accountability, and ethical oversight in training the next generation of practitioners.   To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review.   Show Notes: Sidman, M. (1989/2001). Coercion and its fallout. Basic Books. Boston: Authors Cooperative (reprinted).https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/714514.Coercion_and_Its_Fallout   Tarbox, C., Tarbox, J., Bermudez, T.L. et al. (2023). Kind Extinction: A Procedural Variation on Traditional Extinction. Behavior Analysis Practice.https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40617-023-00833-w

This episode of ABA On Call features an engaging discussion with Jennifer Shahin and Nicole Lockerman, co-founders of Social Wise VR, a company pioneering the use of immersive virtual reality to teach social skills. Drawing from backgrounds in applied behavior analysis and education, the guests describe how outdated methods, such as worksheets and role-plays, often fail to generalize to real-life contexts. Social Wise VR addresses this challenge by providing realistic, actor-driven scenarios in controlled VR environments, allowing learners to safely practice social interactions, build confidence, and experience the natural consequences of different choices. The conversation explores the development journey, the integration of ABA principles and curriculum design, expansion into workplace and safety scenarios, and the future of VR and AR technologies in behavioral intervention. This dialogue highlights the potential of technology to bridge critical gaps in social skills training for individuals with autism and beyond. To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review.   Show Notes: SocialWise VR creates authentic social experiences in the virtual world helping people feel confident in real-life situations. https://www.socialwisevr.com/

Rick and Doug are joined by Dr. Jen Wertalik of Georgia Southern University and Dr. Pam Wolfe, retired from Penn State University, to discuss their groundbreaking new book on sexuality education for individuals with disabilities. The conversation explores why sexuality education is essential, the heightened risks of abuse faced by this population, and how comprehensive instruction extends far beyond physiology to include relationships, self-advocacy, and decision-making. The guests highlight both the challenges and opportunities of preparing teachers, parents, and caregivers to navigate an often-taboo topic with empirical, practical strategies. Listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of how sexuality education empowers individuals with disabilities to live safer, more fulfilling lives.   To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review.   Show Notes: Coming Soon!

In this episode of ABA On Call, Drs. Rick Kubina and Doug Kostewicz delve into the cognitive psychology classic "Thinking, Fast and Slow" by Nobel laureate Daniel Kahneman. With wit and depth, they explore System 1 and System 2 thinking, cognitive biases, regression to the mean, and the law of least effort, recasting each concept through a behavioral analytic lens. Rather than dismissing the cognitive approach, Rick and Doug model respectful synthesis, showing how behavior analysts can both challenge and learn from other psychological traditions. This engaging conversation helps bridge the gap between behavior science and mainstream psychology, offering practical insights for clinicians, researchers, and curious practitioners alike.   To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review.   Show Notes: https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Fast-Slow-Daniel-Kahneman/dp/0374533555 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Kahneman

In this insightful episode of ABA On Call, Rick Kubina and Doug Kostewicz tackle some of the most commonly misunderstood and misapplied concepts in Applied Behavior Analysis. From the mislabeling of reinforcement to the confusion between negative reinforcement and punishment, the hosts explore why technical accuracy matters and how misunderstanding core terms can derail effective practice. Using real-world stories, data interpretation, and even a behavioral lightning round, the episode clarifies foundational concepts like prompting, fluency, task analysis, motivation, and generalization. Whether you're a student, a supervisor, or a seasoned BCBA, you'll walk away with a deeper appreciation for precision in both language and application.   To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review.