ABA on Call

In this episode of ABA on Call, Rick Kubina and Doug Kostewicz respond to two real parenting questions drawn from social media. First, they examine the common misconception that reinforcement and bribery are the same, clarifying the behavioral principles underlying reinforcement, incentives, schedules of reinforcement, and the Premack Principle. They then analyze a complex family situation in which young children consistently seek one parent while rejecting the other, demonstrating how behavior analysts use objective data, motivating operations, attention, and reinforcement contingencies to understand and address challenging family dynamics. Throughout the discussion, the hosts illustrate how behavior analysis provides compassionate, practical, and evidence-based solutions to everyday parenting concerns.
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Show Notes: 

Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson. 
Michael, J. (1982). Distinguishing between discriminative and motivational functions of stimuli. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 37(1), 149–155. https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.1982.37-149
Michael, J. (1993). Establishing operations. The Behavior Analyst, 16(2), 191–206. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03392623
Premack, D. (1959). Toward empirical behavior laws: I. Positive reinforcement. Psychological Review, 66(4), 219–233. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0040891

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recently released audit findings that have sparked widespread discussion throughout the applied behavior analysis (ABA) community. In this episode, Rick Kubina, Doug Kostewicz, and guest Christina Scenna unpack what the OIG report actually says and, just as importantly, what it does not say. They discuss why documentation and billing compliance differ from the effectiveness of ABA, explore how rapid growth in autism services created new regulatory challenges, and examine practical solutions ranging from graduate training and continuing education to AI-assisted documentation. The conversation highlights how the field can strengthen accountability while preserving access to high-quality behavior analytic services for the individuals who depend on them.
To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the knowledge check to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review.
Show Notes: 

Trilliant Health. The Economics of Autism Care (2025/2026 reports).
Institute of Medicine. (2003). Key Capabilities of an Electronic Health Record System. National Academies Press.
https://oig.hhs.gov/reports/all/2024/indiana-made-at-least-56-million-in-improper-fee-for-service-medicaid-payments-for-applied-behavior-analysis-provided-to-children-diagnosed-with-autism/

In this episode of ABA on Call, Rick Kubina and Doug Kostewicz interview a renowned Norwegian dog trainer about the science of behavior across species. Morten Egtvedt shares his journey from training search-and-rescue dogs as a teenager to helping introduce clicker training throughout Norway alongside Karen Pryor. The discussion explores how core behavioral principles such as timing, reinforcement, fluency, shaping, and criterion adjustment matter far more than any specific training technique. Morten also discusses the differences between reinforcement-based and punishment-based training, the role of motivation in learning, and why behavior analysis provides a practical framework for understanding both dogs and humans. Listeners will hear compelling parallels between animal training, education, sports performance, and everyday human interactions, while gaining insight into how fluency-based instruction creates durable, reliable behavior change.
To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the knowledge check to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review.
Show Notes: 
 
Binder, C. (1996). Behavioral fluency: Evolution of a new paradigm. The Behavior Analyst, 19(2), 163–197. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03393163
Pryor, K. (1999). Don't shoot the dog!: The new art of teaching and training (Rev. ed.). Bantam Books.
Pryor, K. (2002). Clicker training for dogs. Ringpress Books.
Pryor, K., & Chase, S. (2014). Training for variable and innovative behavior. International Journal of Comparative Psychology, 27, 218–225.

In this episode of ABA on Call, hosts Rick Kubina and Doug Kostewicz explore the transition from practitioner to business owner with guests April and Stephen Smith from 3PiSquared. The conversation traces their journey from early clinical work in ABA to launching and scaling a successful practice, highlighting the realities of entrepreneurship in the field. Listeners gain insight into common startup pathways, costly early mistakes, and the importance of mentorship, legal compliance, and financial planning. The episode also examines warning signs of organizational drift such as reactive management, staff issues, and declining outcomes, and offers practical strategies for course correction. Ethical challenges, workforce training gaps, and emerging influences like AI in clinical operations are discussed, emphasizing the need for systems that support both quality care and sustainable growth. This episode provides a candid, experience-driven look at what it takes to build an ABA business without losing clinical integrity or personal well-being.
To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review.
Show Notes: 
Website:
https://3piesquared.com/
 
Free Consultation Booking Link:
https://3piesquared.com/stephen-booking-page
 
Book Pre-Order Copies:
Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-aba-business-leaders-guide/id6755113017
Amazon: https://a.co/d/0hgLukNm

This podcast episode explores the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into applied behavior analysis practice, featuring Kelly King, BCBA, Manager of Clinical AI Governance at CentralReach. The discussion highlights the evolution of AI technologies, including large language models, and their application in clinical workflows, such as documentation and decision support. Emphasis is placed on ethical considerations, including data privacy, avoidance of overreliance on AI outputs, and the importance of maintaining human oversight in clinical judgment. The episode addresses risks such as hallucinated outputs, inappropriate data input (e.g., protected health information), and the need for behavior analysts to develop AI literacy as part of their professional competence. This content aligns with the BACB Ethics Code by focusing on responsible use of technology, protection of client confidentiality, and maintaining professional competence.
To earn CEUs for listening, click here, log in or sign up, pay the CEU fee, + take the attendance verification to generate your certificate! Don't forget to subscribe and follow and leave us a rating and review.
 
Show Notes
 
None explicitly cited in the course. For considered readings on possible cognitive impacts of leveraging AI without safeguards of responsible use:   Izquierdo-Condoy, J. S., Arias-Intriago, M., Tello-De-la-Torre, A., Busch, F., & Ortiz-Prado, E. (2025). Generative artificial intelligence in medical education: Enhancing critical thinking or undermining cognitive autonomy? Journal of Medical Internet Research, 27, e76340. https://doi.org/10.2196/76340 

Gerlich, M. (2025). AI tools in society: Impacts on cognitive offloading and the future of critical thinking. Societies, 15(1), 6. https://doi.org/10.3390/soc15010006 

(preprint) Shen, J. H., & Tamkin, A. (2026). How AI impacts skill formation. arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2601.20245 

Sourati, Z., Ziabari, A. S., & Dehghani, M. (2026). The homogenizing effect of large language models on human expression and thought. Trends in Cognitive Sciences. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2026.01.003