Radical Behaviorism for ABA Practitioners is primarily written for students planning careers delivering ABA services and for practicing applied behavior analysts who work in some capacity as clinicians, supervisors, or administrators. Throughout its 240 pages, Radical Behaviorism for ABA Practitioners leads readers through a carefully sequenced treatment of conceptual issues that underlie the science of behavior and the everyday efforts of practitioners to resolve behavioral challenges.
Early chapters consider some basic assumptions about the nature of behavior and clarify how we learn to talk about our own behavior and everyone else’s. This foundation leads to chapters that discuss a wide range of conceptual issues in a way that shows how they are important to practitioners in their everyday work. Each chapter begins with a vignette that highlights the ways that practitioners experience the misunderstandings about behavior encouraged by vernacular dialect. Discussion then focuses on helping readers develop a way of talking about behavior that avoids these conceptual confusions and the problems they can cause for service delivery.
The book approaches these topics in an informal and readable style. Pedagogical features include boxes that address special topics that supplement the chapter narrative, and each chapter ends with a summary of main points, a study guide, and a list of recommended readings. The book concludes with a glossary and bibliography.
Praise for Radical Behaviorism for ABA Practitioners…
“As founder and head of several graduate programs in behavior analysis, I have made it my life’s mission to train ABA practitioners. Finally, I have found a book I can use in my Radical Behaviorism and my Conceptual Analysis of Behavior courses created toward ABA practitioners! There are a few great books on the philosophy of the science of behavior analysis that I have used in my courses, but this book by Jim Johnston is the one I will use from now on!”
– Jose A. Martinez-Diaz, Ph.D., BCBA-D. Professor and
Department Head, Behavior Analysis Programs,
Florida Institute of Technology
“The Radical Behaviorist perspective is greatly underappreciated by practicing Behavior Analysts. Radical Behaviorism for ABA Practitioners not only provides an easily understood description of this perspective, but also shows how it makes a meaningful difference in the practice of behavior analysis. Reader of Jim Johnston’s book will also be better prepared to translate behavioral language for the consumers of their services.”
– William Ahearn, Ph.D., BCBA-D. Director of Research,
New England Center for Children, and President of the
Association of Professional Behavior Analysts
“Jim Johnston’s Radical Behaviorism for ABA Practitioners clearly describes how to conceptualize clinical problems in behavior analytic fashion. It is essential reading for everyone who aspires to practice applied behavior analysis.”
– Gina Green, Ph.D. BCBA-D. Executive Director,
Association of Professional Behavior Analysts
