Applied Behavior Analysis Research Made Easy: A Handbook for Practitioners Conducting Research Post-Certification

Description

Learn how you can make a name for yourself in the field of applied behavior analysis research. If you're like many practitioners in the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA), you may encounter barriers when conducting research-including limited resources, competing contingencies, an absence of a formal institutional review board, and rigorous methodology requirements. This book addresses these limitations directly, and offers strategies for contributing to research literature, advancing your career, and making professional scholarly submissions over the course of your career. In this book, you'll find a thorough discussion about the research-to-practice gap, arguments for why ABA practitioners should publish, tips for ensuring ethical research practices, time management skills to help you stay productive, and strategies for overcoming common obstacles in research. Also included are practical ways to conduct research in applied settings, information about receiving mentorship, tips for writing, a quick reference guide to the editorial process, examples of applied studies, and resources to help you get started right away.

Amber Valentino, PsyD, BCBA-D, currently serves as chief clinical officer for Trumpet Behavioral Health. In this role, she oversees all research and training initiatives builds clinical standards for the organization and structures systems for high quality clinical service delivery. Valentino's clinical and research interests include the assessment and treatment of verbal behavior, primarily in children with autism. She is also interested in evaluation of programming to address unique adaptive skill deficits, professional practice issues such as ethics, and developing standards for effective supervision in the field. Valentino has spent her research career conducting applied studies and publishing in several behavior analytic peer-reviewed journals. She currently serves as an associate editor for Behavior Analysis in Practice, and previously served as an associate editor for The Analysis of Verbal Behavior. She is on the editorial board of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA) and serves as a frequent guest reviewer for several behavior analytic journals. Valentino is an active board member of the California Association for Behavior Analysis (CalABA).

"A long-overdue resource that is going to be useful for just about any practitioner who cares about science." --Jonathan Tarbox, PhD, BCBA, director of the master of science in applied behavior analysis (ABA) program at the University of Southern California, as well as director of research at FirstSteps for Kids--Jonathan Tarbox, PhD, BCBA "Amber Valentino has taken the very best of her expertise and experiences and combined it with practical, accessible information to empower ANY post-certification practitioner to conduct applied research. I could almost hear Valentino's voice in my head while I read her book telling me, 'Sarah! You can do applied research! Let's go!' I look forward to what will hopefully be an outrageous increase in applied research studies and publications as a result of practitioners using Valentino's book!" --Sarah Trautman, MA, BCBA, cofounder of defy Community, and Amber Valentino's biggest fan--Sarah Trautman, MA, BCBA "As a field, we would greatly benefit from more practicing behavior analysts producing research, but there are very real barriers to doing so. Valentino understands these barriers firsthand, and knows how to overcome them. This handbook is a great how-to guide with activities and worksheets that meet the reader wherever their needs are in starting to produce research. You'll be learning from one of the best with this book!" --Daniel Conine, PhD, BCBA-D, assistant professor at Georgia State University--Daniel Conine, PhD, BCBA-D "I had the honor to be mentored by Amber Valentino during my postdoctoral fellowship a few years ago. This book is the 'book of wisdom' all postgraduates have been waiting for. Valentino provides a detailed overview of how to design, implement, and publish research with extensive examples that is a breath of fresh air for all practitioners." --Angelica A. Aguirre, PhD, BCBA-D, assistant professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato--Angelica A. Aguirre, PhD, BCBA-D "In this book, Valentino presents a straightforward, tried-and-true formula for conducing applied research and closing the research-to-practice gap. It is a must-read for any applied researcher, especially those looking to breakout into the research space." --Matthew T. Brodhead, PhD, BCBA-D, associate professor at Michigan State University--Matthew T. Brodhead, PhD, BCBA-D "Research can seem daunting in clinical settings where opportunities and resources may be limited; however, practitioners are in a unique position to conduct socially significant research. Valentino provides practical recommendations, exercises, and examples to help develop research repertoires of practitioners. This book may give you confidence to integrate research into practice--enhancing clinical work, improving outcomes for clients, and pushing the field toward a better understanding of behavior." --Jessica Juanico, PhD, BCBA-D, assistant professor of practice, and assistant director of online programs of applied behavioral science at the University of Kansas--Jessica Juanico, PhD, BCBA-D "Valentino makes transparent the spot-on, effective strategies she has used to publish clinical work. I love the conversational style and engaging 'workbook' format of the book, as well as the provided examples. This will be required reading for students in my lab to guide their research projects, because it fills a huge void of behavior analytic texts that support clinicians who want to become a published scientist practitioner." --Stephanie M. Peterson, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA, professor of psychology and associate dean of the college of arts and sciences at Western Michigan University, and editor of Behavior Analysis in Practice--Stephanie M. Peterson, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA