Functional Relations

Zachary Bird, PhD, BCBA-D and Caleb Davis, PhD, BCBA-D
Functional Relations

An ABA podcast where Dr. Zachary Bird and Dr. Caleb Davis set aside time to have engaging conversation with experts in the field of behavior analysis to explore topics like ethics of functional analysis, punishment, social media, and others. BCBAs can earn CEs for each episode. To purchase, visit www.functionalrelationspodcast.com To deliver social praise or aversive stimulation, you can email us at functionalrelationspodcast@gmail.com

  1. #31 - Challenging the 4-Function Worldview w/ Dr. Adithyan "Dithu" Rajaraman

    1 JUN

    #31 - Challenging the 4-Function Worldview w/ Dr. Adithyan "Dithu" Rajaraman

    In this episode Zach and Caleb are joined by Dr. Adithyan "Dithu" Rajaraman where the discussion focuses on challenging the 4-function worldview in the context of assessing and treating problem behavior.  2 CEs (BACB, IBAO, and/or QABA) are available for this episode. You can purchase them at https://www.functionalrelationspodcast.com If you feel that our podcast is a valuable contribution to the field of ABA, please consider supporting us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/functionalrelationspodcast To connect with Dithu and the FTF team for a number of different types of support in serving individuals with severe problem behavior (among other behavioral challenges), click here: https://ftfbc.com/contact-us/     References: Pertaining to Mand compliance: 1. Seminal Paper: Bowman, L. G., Fisher, W. W., Thompson, R. H., & Piazza, C. C. (1997). On the relation of mands and the function of destructive behavior. Journal of applied behavior analysis, 30(2), 251-265. 2. Literature review: Rajaraman, A., & Hanley, G. P. (2021). Mand compliance as a contingency controlling problem behavior: A systematic review. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 54(1), 103-121. Pertaining to the evolution of functional analysis: 1. Carr, E. G. (1977). The motivation of self-injurious behavior: a review of some hypotheses. Psychological bulletin, 84(4), 800. 2. Iwata, B. A., Dorsey, M. F., Slifer, K. J., Bauman, K. E., & Richman, G. S. (1994). Toward a functional analysis of self‐injury. Journal of applied behavior analysis, 27(2), 197-209. 3. Hanley, G. P., Iwata, B. A., & McCord, B. E. (2003). Functional analysis of problem behavior: A review. Journal of applied behavior analysis, 36(2), 147-185. On Literature reviews: Narrative review examples: 1. Thompson, R. H., & Iwata, B. A. (2005). A review of reinforcement control procedures. Journal of applied behavior analysis, 38(2), 257-278. 2. Friman, P. C., Hayes, S. C., & Wilson, K. G. (1998). Why behavior analysts should study emotion: The example of anxiety. Journal of applied Behavior analysis, 31(1), 137-156. 3. Rajaraman, A., Austin, J. L., Gover, H. C., Cammilleri, A. P., Donnelly, D. R., & Hanley, G. P. (2022). Toward trauma‐informed applications of behavior analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 55(1), 40-61. Systematic or Scoping review (not meta-analyses) examples relevant to the discussion: 1. Jessel, J., Hanley, G. P., & Ghaemmaghami, M. (2020). On the standardization of the functional analysis. Behavior analysis in practice, 13, 205-216. 2. Ghaemmaghami, M., Hanley, G. P., & Jessel, J. (2021). Functional communication training: From efficacy to effectiveness. Journal of applied behavior analysis, 54(1), 122-143. 3. Howell, M., Dounavi, K., & Storey, C. (2019). To choose or not to choose?: A systematic literature review considering the effects of antecedent and consequence choice upon on-task and problem behaviour. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 6, 63-84. 4. Hustyi, K. M., Logue, J. J., & Hall, S. S. (2025). Skill-based treatment for challenging behavior in autism spectrum disorder: A scoping review of treatment characteristics and outcomes. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 119, 102523. 5. Cengher, M., Bowman, M. D., Shawler, L. A., & Ceribo‐Singh, M. S. M. (2022). A systematic review of mands for information. Behavioral Interventions, 37(3), 864-886. Meta-analyses examples relevant to the discussion: 1. Gover, H. C., Hanley, G. P., & Ruppel, K. W. (2022). On the generality of preference for contingent reinforcement. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 55(2), 318-336. 2. Slaton, J. D., & Hanley, G. P. (2018). Nature and scope of synthesis in functional analysis and treatment of problem behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 51(4), 943-973. 3. Layman, L. N., Dufrene, B. A., Ackley, M. M., Weaver, C. M., Schneider, D. E., LaBrot, Z. C., ... & Olmi, D. J. (2024). Interview-informed synthesized contingency analyses on challenging problem behavior: A single-case meta-analysis. Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 11(3), 640-658.

    1h 48m

About

An ABA podcast where Dr. Zachary Bird and Dr. Caleb Davis set aside time to have engaging conversation with experts in the field of behavior analysis to explore topics like ethics of functional analysis, punishment, social media, and others. BCBAs can earn CEs for each episode. To purchase, visit www.functionalrelationspodcast.com To deliver social praise or aversive stimulation, you can email us at functionalrelationspodcast@gmail.com

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