Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
Title	Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis
Discipline	Behavior analysis
Abbreviation	J. Appl. Behav. Anal.
Publisher	Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
Country	United States
Frequency	Quarterly
History	1968–present
Issn	0021-8855

Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis is a peer-reviewed scientific journal publishing research on the experimental analysis and applications of behavior. The journal disseminates empirical studies, methodological advances, and clinical evaluations influenced by operant and respondent paradigms. Articles address issues relevant to practitioners and researchers associated with organizations and institutions focused on behavior analysis.

History

The journal was founded in 1968 during a period of institutional growth linked to the emergence of behavior analysis organizations such as the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior and the Association for Behavior Analysis International. Early editorial leadership connected to researchers active at institutions like Harvard University, Indiana University, and the University of Notre Dame helped situate the journal alongside contemporaneous outlets including Behaviour Research and Therapy, Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, and American Journal of Psychology. Over subsequent decades the journal intersected with developments involving figures and centers associated with the National Institute of Mental Health, the Veterans Affairs, and clinical programs at Johns Hopkins University, influencing practice in settings ranging from public hospitals to specialty clinics.

Scope and Content

The journal emphasizes experimental and applied studies that test behavioral principles in contexts such as autism treatment programs at Kennedy Krieger Institute and specialized education services in school districts, as well as behavioral interventions in institutional settings like Massachusetts General Hospital and community clinics. It publishes research employing single-subject designs frequently used by scholars from institutions including Columbia University, Stanford University, and University of Florida, and addresses topics intersecting with work by investigators affiliated with Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, and University of Washington. Contributions often relate to intervention strategies used in settings linked to state departments of health, nonprofit organizations, and rehabilitation centers such as Shepherd Center and Cleveland Clinic.

Editorial and Publication Details

Editorial oversight has historically involved scholars affiliated with universities such as University of Kansas, University of Florida, and Arizona State University. The journal’s publisher is the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, an organization that coordinates with academic presses and associations including Wiley, Elsevier, and the American Psychological Association for distribution and archiving. Production and peer-review processes draw reviewers from departments at Rutgers University, University of Michigan, and University of California, Los Angeles, and editorial boards have included members from Boston University, University of Iowa, and University of Oregon.

Abstracting and Indexing

The journal is indexed in major bibliographic services and databases commonly used by researchers from institutions like the Library of Congress, National Library of Medicine, and the Social Science Research Network. Coverage in indexing services aligns it with databases maintained by Clarivate Analytics and Elsevier, facilitating discoverability alongside titles such as Behavior Therapy, Contemporary Clinical Trials, and Child Development. Abstracting pathways connect the journal to citation systems used by researchers at Princeton University, University of Chicago, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Impact and Reception

The journal’s influence is reflected in citation practices across applied behavior analysis literature and in adoption of methodologies in practice settings such as specialized autism centers and hospital-based behavioral medicine units at Yale-New Haven Hospital and Johns Hopkins Hospital. Its articles have informed guidelines and training programs used by professional societies including Association for Behavior Analysis International and regional certification boards. Reception among scholars at institutions like University of North Carolina, University of Minnesota, and Texas A&M University situates the journal as a core venue for conservative methodological development within applied behavior analysis.

Notable Articles and Contributions

Seminal articles published in the journal have addressed topics later cited by researchers at institutions including Vanderbilt University, University of Texas, and Northwestern University. Contributions have influenced behavior-analytic approaches used in clinics such as Mount Sinai Behavioral Health, in special education programs at Teachers College (Columbia University), and in community mental health systems operated by city and state agencies. Work published in the journal has intersected with research by investigators at Cambridge University, University of Oxford, and King's College London in cross-cultural and translational studies.

Access and Publication Model

The journal follows a subscription and institutional access model used by academic libraries at Harvard University, Princeton University, and University of California systems, while also offering individual memberships through the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. Distribution practices align with archiving policies at repositories such as JSTOR and PubMed Central and with document delivery services used by museum libraries, law libraries, and government archival programs.

Category:Behavior analysis journals