Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
Title	Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
Abbreviation	JABA
Discipline	Behavior analysis
Editor	Linda A. LeBlanc
Publisher	Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
Country	United States
History	1968–present
Frequency	Quarterly
Openaccess	Hybrid
Impact	2.286
Impact-year	2022
ISSN	0021-8855
EISSN	1938-3703
Website	onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19383703
OCLC	1782383

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis is a peer-reviewed academic journal published quarterly that serves as a premier outlet for research in the experimental analysis of behavior applied to problems of social importance. Established in 1968, it is published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior and is a core publication for the field of applied behavior analysis. The journal publishes empirical research, discussion articles, and technical reports that demonstrate the application of behavioral principles to improve socially significant behaviors across diverse settings including education, healthcare, organizational behavior management, and developmental disabilities.

History and founding

The journal was founded in 1968 by prominent figures in the field of behavior analysis, notably Donald M. Baer, Montrose M. Wolf, and Todd R. Risley, who were instrumental in defining the dimensions of applied behavior analysis. Its creation was a direct response to the growing need for a dedicated publication outlet for research that applied the experimental methods of B.F. Skinner's operant conditioning to address practical human problems. The inaugural editors were Baer, Wolf, and Risley, who also authored the seminal 1968 article "Some Current Dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis," which established the field's defining characteristics. Early publication was supported by the University of Kansas, and the journal was initially distributed by the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, which later formalized its ownership.

Scope and editorial focus

The scope is dedicated to publishing original research that applies the experimental analysis of behavior to improve specific behaviors, with demonstrated social importance. The editorial focus emphasizes studies that demonstrate a clear functional relationship between interventions and behavior change through the use of single-subject research designs, such as multiple baseline, reversal design, and changing criterion design. Key areas of application include autism spectrum disorder interventions, behavioral medicine, school-wide positive behavior support, safety training, gerontology, and environmental sustainability. The journal also publishes reviews, discussion papers on methodological issues, and technical reports on measurement and intervention techniques.

Impact and recognition

It is widely recognized as a leading journal in its field, with a significant impact on both research and practice. According to the Journal Citation Reports, it has an impact factor of 2.286 as of 2022. The journal is indexed in major databases including PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and the Social Sciences Citation Index. Its articles are frequently cited in foundational texts, policy documents, and training programs for Board Certified Behavior Analyst certification. The journal's influence extends into shaping interventions in public school systems, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, and practices within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Notable articles and contributions

Several articles have become landmark contributions to behavioral science. The 1968 article "Some Current Dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis" by Baer, Wolf, and Risley is considered the defining manifesto of the field. Other highly influential works include "Toward a Functional Analysis of Self-Injury" by Brian A. Iwata et al., which established a standard assessment methodology, and "The Picture Exchange Communication System" by Andrew S. Bondy and Lori Frost, which outlined a pivotal communication intervention. Research on early intensive behavioral intervention for autism, such as work by O. Ivar Lovaas and later replications, has been extensively published and debated within its pages, significantly impacting global treatment practices.

Editorial process and policies

The editorial process employs a rigorous double-blind peer review system managed by an editor-in-chief, currently Linda A. LeBlanc, and a board of associate editors comprising leading scholars like Dorothea C. Lerman and Timothy R. Vollmer. The journal adheres to the ethical guidelines of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board and the American Psychological Association. It mandates authors to meet high methodological standards, including clear operational definitions, interobserver agreement data, and social validity measures. The journal offers a hybrid open-access publication model and encourages data sharing in line with policies from the Center for Open Science.

Related publications and societies

It is part of a family of behavior-analytic journals published by the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, which also includes the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior and Perspectives on Behavior Science. Other closely related publications in the field are Behavior Analysis in Practice, The Analysis of Verbal Behavior, and the European Journal of Behavior Analysis. The journal's content and community are deeply intertwined with the activities of major professional organizations such as the Association for Behavior Analysis International and the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts, which often feature research first presented in its pages at their annual conventions.

Category:Behavioral and cognitive psychology journals Category:Publications established in 1968 Category:Quarterly journals Category:English-language journals Category:Wiley-Blackwell academic journals