In our ongoing discussion about the tool used to determine why we do what we do, the functional analysis, we explore more about the various research initiatives that pioneered ways to improve on the functionality of this tool. This discussion focuses on the methodological developments and refinements that evolved over a couple of decades of research.  Recommendations - Abraham: Tzolk’in (board game; https://www.czechgames.com/games/tzolkin-the-mayan-calendar) - Shane: Dungeon Crawler Carl (Books 1-4; Ongoing Recommendation) Holidays (8/5/2026): - Green Peppers Day - International Albarino Day - International Traffic Light Day - National Oyster Day - National Psychiatric Technician Appreciation Day - National Underwear Day - Work Like a Dog Day Links and References:  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1901/jaba.1994.27-197?sid=nlm%3Apubmed - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1901/jaba.1985.18-111?sid=nlm%3Apubmed - https://scubed.io/blog/aba-data-collection-methods-explained-frequency-duration-and-interval-recording - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1901/jaba.1999.32-175  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jaba.7  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1901/jaba.2011.44-51  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1901/jaba.2008.41-97  - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07263869500035621  - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4841258/  - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3546636/#s2  - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1284147/  - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11317985/  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jaba.106   

Experimental Functional Analyses (FAs) are one of the most foundational practices in contemporary behavior analysis. It emerged as a more conceptual exercise, but has since come to specifically describe a practice for experimentally evaluating the conditions that give rise to and maintain the occurence of certaing (usually challenging) behavior patterns. Over the next few weeks, we'll unpack the history and science of FAs as well as some of the arguments, criticisms, and controversies therein. Tell us your thoughts and experiences with FAs! Recommendations - Abraham: The Bear (Season 5; https://www.disneyplus.com/explore/articles/the-bear-season-5) - Shane: Fiddlehead - Baby, I’ll Change (https://open.spotify.com/album/1mWHUOXoulUP3q8ReXTAkM?si=WpihrG5CTWKPByLCi6WkyQ) Holidays (7/29/2026): - Anniversary of the Army Chaplain Corps - Cheese Sacrifice Purchase Day - International Tiger Day - National Lasagna Day - National Lipstick Day - Rain Day - Hepatitis Awareness Week Links and References:  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1901/jaba.1994.27-197?sid=nlm%3Apubmed - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1901/jaba.1985.18-111?sid=nlm%3Apubmed - https://scubed.io/blog/aba-data-collection-methods-explained-frequency-duration-and-interval-recording - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1901/jaba.1999.32-175  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/jaba.7  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1901/jaba.2011.44-51  - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1901/jaba.2008.41-97  - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07263869500035621