January 2026 Preview

Happy New Year, everyone! We kick off the (almost) 10th year of ABA Inside Track with a review of our recent holiday activities then get right back into our podcast research discussion with a bevy of amazing guests. First up we delve into the new (for behavior analysts) work of motivational interviewing with Dr. Monica Gilbert. Then we have three-guests-for one with Dr. Stephanie Peterson, Dr. Rebecca Eldridge, and Dr. Neil Deochand to learn about risk assessment and their development of the FARADT tool. Then we take pity on the least popular experimental design, the changing criterion, by giving it its own episode.

Still not enough learning for your behavior analytic resolutions? Why not head over to the Stone Soup online conference with a $20 discount. Just register with the code ABAIT26 and enjoy a whole day of learning.

Articles for January 2026

Motivational Interviewing w/ Dr. Monica Gilbert

Gilbert, M. (2025). How to stop talking and start communicating with motivational interviewing: Building effective partnerships with caregivers: A practical guide for behavior therapists. Crystal Minds Psychological Services.

Plattner, C. & Anderson, C. (2024). Creating a therapeutic alliance with caregivers: An introduction to motivational interviewing. Behavior Analysis in Practice. doi: 10.1007/s40617-024-00948-8

Christopher, P.J. & Dougher, M.J. (2009). A behavior-analytic account of motivational interviewing. The Behavior Analyst, 32, 149-161. doi: 10.1007/BF03392180

Risk Assessment w/ Dr. Stephanie Peterson, Dr. Rebecca Eldridge, + Dr. Neil Deochand

Wiskirchen, R.R., Deochand, N., & Peterson, S.M. (2017). Functional analysis: A need for clinical decision support tools to weight risks and benefits. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, 17, 325-333. doi: 10.1037/bar0000088

Deochand, N., Eldridge, R.R., & Peterson, S.M. (2020). Toward the development of a functional analysis risk assessment decision tool. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 13, 978-990. doi: 10.1007/s40617-020-00433-y

Schroeder, A.C., Peterson, S.M., Mahabub, M.B., & Dresch, M.K. (2025). A pilot evaluation of expert and novice use of the functional analysis risk assessment decision tool. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 18, 811-825. doi: 10.1007/s40617-020-00433-y

The Changing Criterion Design

Klein, L.A., Houlihan, D., Vincent, J.L., & Panahon, C.J. (2017). Best practices in utilizing the changing criterion design. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 10, 52-61. doi: 10.1007/s40617-014-0036-x

De Luca, R.V. & Holborn, S.W. (1992). Effects of a variable-ratio reinforcement schedule with changing criteria on exercise in obese and nonobese boys. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 25, 671-679. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1992.25-671

Brady, M.P., Kearney, K.B., Downey, A., Torres, A., & McDougall, D. (2022). Using mnemonics, remote coaching, and the range-bound changing criterion design to teach college students with IDD to make employment decisions. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 57, 303-319. doi: 10.1177/215416472205700