Abstract
Previous surveys revealed the majority of certified behavior analysts reported using applied behavior analysis (ABA) as a treatment for individuals on the autism spectrum. However, some certificants have also reported using treatments without evidence (Schreck et al. Behavioral Interventions, 31(4), 355–376, 2016; Schreck & Mazur Behavioral Interventions: Theory & Practice in Residential & Community‐ Based Clinical Programs, 23(3), 201–212, 2008). The field of ABA has undergone many changes in the last five years. This survey evaluated trends in the use and variables influencing the use of autism treatments over that time. Results indicated that study participants (N = 921 BCBA-Ds, BCBAs, BCaBAs, and RBTs) were significantly less likely to report current use of ABA and some unestablished treatments (e.g., DIR Floortime, sensory integration therapy) than participants in 2016 (Schreck et al. Behavioral Interventions, 31(4), 355–376, 2016). Participants frequently cited persuasion by others as an influence for their treatment selections. Because behavior analysts’ use of unestablished treatments may be detrimental to client outcomes and the reputation and success of the field of ABA, future research is needed to identify methods for increasing behavior analysts’ use of empirically supported treatments.
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Data Availability
The datasets generated during and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Acknowledgments
The authors thank Dr. Mary Jane Weiss for her support in the planning and execution of this study.
Funding
Partial financial support was received from the Autism Partnership Foundation.
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design of the survey. Material preparation, analysis, and writing were performed by Kimberly Marshall, Kristin Bowman, Lisa Tereshko, and Victoria Suarez. The first version of the manuscript was compiled and edited by Kimberly Marshall, later versions were edited by Kimberly Marshall and Kristin Bowman. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Approval for the current study and use of the data from Schreck et al. (2016) were approved by Institutional Review Boards at Endicott College and Penn State University Harrisburg, respectively.
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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
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The first six authors have no competing financial or nonfinancial interests to declare. Justin B. Leaf earns small royalties from behavior analytic commercial products and trainings.
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Marshall, K.B., Bowman, K.S., Tereshko, L. et al. Behavior Analysts' Use of Treatments for Individuals with Autism: Trends within the Field. Behav Analysis Practice 16, 1061–1084 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-023-00776-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-023-00776-2