Igniting Collective Freedom: An Integrative Behavioral Model of Acceptance and Commitment Toward Black Liberation

Tactics of just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive scientific research

The principles of social justice, equity, diversity, inclusion (JEDI) have received increasing attention in behavior analysis circles, but the conversation has largely centered on implications for applied behavior analysis practice and research. It may be less clear to researchers who conduct basic and translational research how JEDI principles can inform and inspire their work. This article synthesizes publications from behavior analysis and other scientific fields about tactics of JEDI-informed research. We organized this scholarship across five stages of research from developing the research question to sharing findings and curated sources for an audience of behavioral science researchers. We discuss reflexive practice, representation, belongingness, participatory research, quantitative critical theory, and open science, among other topics. Some researchers may have already adopted some of the practices outlined, some may begin new practices, and some may choose to conduct experimental analyses of JEDI problems. Our hope is that those actions will be reinforced by the behavior analysis scientific community. We conclude by encouraging the leadership of this journal to continue to work toward the structural changes necessary to make the experimental analysis of behavior just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive.

Behavioral community psychology in the Amazon rainforest: Suggestions for when behavior analysts meet alterity

The present paper aimed to discuss and interpret methodological issues and contributions arising mainly from professional field work conducted by a behavior analyst working as a behavioral community psychologist in the Amazon rainforest, in northern Brazil. We looked at such a professional's day-to-day circumstances and challenges within a semi-isolated Indigenous community, and systematized impressions and implications for practice with diverse verbal communities and social groups. We believe that looking at experience with those specific social contexts enables us to critically examine behavior analysis community practice more generally. We provided examples of said practices and examined their explicit and more subtle consequences. In light of that, we discussed features of a collaborative methodological stance while working in the field that we wish to foster and encourage. We conclude by pointing out advantages of more in-depth and intensive relational methods for behavior analysts in community practice.

Building a Social Justice Framework for Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in ABA

ABA may be uniquely positioned to have broader impacts with culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) client populations, not only due to its growth and increased social acceptability, but also because a segment of the field practices within the education system. Decades of misinformation have potentially reduced the widespread reliance on learning pedagogies derived from behavior analytic research. Disseminating ABA technologies depends on an advocacy-based approach to close gaps from research-to-practice. Social justice is both an approach and a framework that can be integrated into our strategic planning for the field. This article describes how to apply social justice guidelines when working with CLD students and families. There are culturally relevant considerations that can be included in our research, training, and service delivery, in particular if we want the field to grow in a sustainable fashion. Behavior analysts must consider it an ongoing long-term objective to engage in culturally informed assessment, culturally and linguistically relevant intervention, culturally focused advocacy and collaboration with families, and use self-assessment of their cultural competence.

Cultural responsiveness in applied behavior analysis: Research and practice

The new Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts requires that certificants engage in training related to culturally responsive service delivery (BACB, 2020). There is limited work in the area of culturally responsive evidence-based practice within our field. Therefore, it is incumbent on researchers and practitioners to identify best practices for working with diverse populations. Hence, the purpose of this paper is three-fold: a) to review research within and outside the field of ABA related to culturally responsive assessment and treatment and provide practice recommendations, b) to examine the extent to which current practices in behavior assessment and treatment align with aspects of culturally responsive practices, and c) to inspire research in the areas of behavior assessment and treatment to identify best practices with regard to culturally responsive behavior analytic practices. The content of this paper is grounded in the framework described by Beaulieu and Jimenez-Gomez (2022).