Anna Johnson Pell Wheeler, pioneering functional analyst and first woman to lecture at the American Mathematical Society, discusses her groundbreaking work in infinite-dimensional mathematics, her …

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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 

This is the third installment in what will turn out to be a four-part series on the functional anlaysis technology employed by behavior analysts to identify casues and motivations for challenging behavior, particularly among those with disabilities who lack strategies to communicate their needs. That was a very long sentence. This discussion breaks down some of the innovations that were developed in Functional Analysis (FA) implementation strategies.  Recommendations pt. 3 - Abraham: Spider-man: Brand New Day (https://www.marvel.com/movies/spider-man-brand-new-day) - Shane: Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary (https://www.bonorong.com.au/) Holidays (8/12/2026): - Baseball Fans Day - IBM PC Day - International Youth Day - Julienne Fries Day - Middle Child Day - National Sewing Machine Day - Truck Driver Day - Vinyl Record Day - World Calligraphy Day - World Elephant Day - Elvis Week - National Bargain Hunting Week - National Resurrect Romance Week - Safe + Sound 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  - 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 

In the fourth and final installment of our series on Functional Analyses, we finally discuss some of the controversies and disagreements among practitioners. We also offer our own hot takes and personal opinions to bring further nuance, critique, and skepticism to the conversation. Let us know if you agree or disagree! Recommendations pt. 4 - Abraham: Wingspan Pocket (https://stonemaiergames.com/games/wingspan/wingspan-pocket/) - Shane: The Odyssey (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt33764258/) Holidays (8/19/2026) - International Bow Day - International Orangutan Day - National Aviation Day - National Hot and Spicy Food Day - National Medical Dosimetrist Day - National Root Beer Float Day - National Sandcastle and Sculpture Day - National Soft Ice Cream Day - Potato Day - World Humanitarian Day - World Photography Day - Minority Enterprise Development 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  - 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