Research Methods in Applied Behavior Analysis

Jon S. Bailey, is Emeritus Professor of Psychology at Florida State University, Ret., where he taught graduate courses for behavior analysts. Dr. Bailey is a founding director of the Behavior Analyst Certification Board®, and he is past president of the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts. Mary R. Burch, is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst®. Dr. Burch has more than twenty-five years of experience in developmental disabilities. She has been a behavior specialist, QMRP, unit director, and consulting behavior analyst in developmental disabilities, mental health, and preschool settings.

Part I: Introduction to Behavior Analysis Research

Part II: Research Methods in Applied Behavior Analysis: Ten Steps for Successful Research

Step 1. How to Develop a Good Idea

Step 2. How to Focus Your Research Question

Step 3. How to Develop Your Dependent and Independent Variables

Step 4. How to Design Your Experiment Including Ecological and Social Validity

Step 5. How to Design Your Data Collection Systems

Step 6. How to Pilot Test Your Key Variables

Step 7. How to Find the Appropriate Research Design for Your Study

Step 8. How To Conduct an Ethics Check

Step 9. How To Successfully Carry Out Your Research Project

Step 10. How To Graph and Analyze Your Data

Part III: How to Evaluate Published Research

Part IV: How to Use Applied Research Methods in Clinical and Educational Settings

Part V: How to Go Public With Your Research

Appendix A: Generating Graphs in Numbers by Casey Copeland

Index

About the Authors