Association for Behavior Analysis International

Scientific research publications are permanent products that communicate the values, aims, and outcomes of the scientific enterprise to stakeholders, scientists, and members of society. Applied behavior analytic research, as a field dedicated to intervening on socially significant behaviors, should be upheld to similar publication standards as other professions. The current symposium will focus on the disciplinary reporting practices as they relate to participant identity, to explore the extent to which a) ABA research participation is equitable across social groups, and b) provides a wholistic reporting of demographic variables. The first presentation will present findings from a systematic review on the quality reporting strategies of research articles published in ABAI journals (e.g., Analysis of Verbal Behavior, Behavior Analysis in Practice, Perspectives on Behavior Science, and The Psychological Record) between 2010-2019. The second presentation will present findings from a similar review on reporting of participant demographics in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. Both presentations will highlight how to improve disciplinary practices for demographic reporting policies and practices in applied behavior analytic research journals.

In the context of research that involves human participants, justice is about fairness, protecting vulnerability, and the equitable distribution of research burdens and benefits across social groups. Historically the burdens of biomedical and behavioral research participation have been disproportionately endured by persons with vulnerabilities. Central to the principle of justice are protections for the over selection of participants from homogenous cultural and ethnic groups. Ideally, applied behavior analytic research is driven by a steadfast orientation toward the amelioration of the types of human suffering often experienced by members of society who are marginalized. Recent analyses of participant demographics in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis suggests, on one hand, over selection of persons with vulnerabilities and on the other hand, a consistent lack information regarding demographics and selection criteria. A discussion of colonial research practices in applied behavior analytic research is critical in the assessment of human rights trends in applied behavior analytic research. There is an inherent danger when participation is a primarily a function of the ease and benefit of the researchers’ agenda. To address the lack of participant demographic reporting practices, we suggest systemic changes to policies, strategies, and research practices within our field be interwoven with a commitment to social justice, including racial justice, for all.