In this insightful episode of ABA On Call, Rick Kubina and Doug Kostewicz tackle some of the most commonly misunderstood and misapplied concepts in Applied Behavior Analysis. From the mislabeling of reinforcement to the confusion between negative reinforcement and punishment, the hosts explore why technical accuracy matters and how misunderstanding core terms can derail effective practice. Using real-world stories, data interpretation, and even a behavioral lightning round, the episode clarifies foundational concepts like prompting, fluency, task analysis, motivation, and generalization. Whether you’re a student, a supervisor, or a seasoned BCBA, you’ll walk away with a deeper appreciation for precision in both language and application.

To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification to generate your certificate! Don’t forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review.

In this episode of ABA On Call, Rick and Doug dissect the behavioral science behind app design, revealing how tech companies use variable reinforcement schedules to hijack user behavior and drive compulsive engagement. Drawing from core principles of behavior analysis, they explore how seemingly harmless interactions, such as likes, swipes, and notifications, are systematically engineered to reinforce usage patterns. The conversation moves beyond theory into the ethical minefield of digital design, especially its impact on children, teens, and vulnerable users. With examples ranging from red-dot alerts to algorithm-driven content loops, the hosts challenge behavior analysts to confront the weaponization of reinforcement and consider their role in advocating for more ethical technology.

To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification to generate your certificate! Don’t forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review.

Show Notes:

Coming Soon!

The science of behavior has a lesser-known but powerful framework that draws inspiration from physics - behavior dynamics. In this episode, we discuss core concepts such as force, mass, and acceleration as they relate to behavior change, illustrating how behavior is not static but constantly in motion. While valuable, we highlight how traditional steady-state logic can limit our understanding in applied settings, especially where control is minimal. The discussion emphasizes the value of acceleration, bounce, and replication logic as valid indicators of experimental effects through examples from precision teaching and historical insights from Skinner. This episode challenges listeners to reconsider what constitutes strong evidence and invites a broader, more dynamic perspective on data-driven decision-making in practice.

To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification to generate your certificate! Don’t forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review.

Show Notes:

Cooper, J. O. (2005). Applied research: The separation of applied behavior analysis and precision teaching. In W. Heward, T. Heron, N. Need, S. Peterson, D. Sainato, G. Cartledge, R. Gardner, L. Peterson, S. Hersh, & J. Dardig (Eds.), Focus on behavior analysis in education: Achievements, challenges, and opportunities (pp. 295–303). Pearson.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40617-020-00482-3

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1901/jeab.1992.57-249