Most AI content is made by marketers. Ours is made by behavior scientists. Starting today, "Project Chiron" is a weekly newsletter created by 🔬 Dr. David J. Cox, PhD, MSB, BCBA-D 🎥 Ryan O’Donnell, MS, BCBA Together, we’re combining behavioral science, ethics, and technical clarity to create a resource specifically designed for the ABA field. Each week a new issue explores topics across a variety of domains, including: – Tools & workflows: where AI is already in use – Technical fluency: how models learn, fail, and adapt – Ethics & risk: when tech helps—and when it harms – Systems & governance: how laws and policies are evolving Oh—and before I forget—the first issue’s already live! And yep, there’s an audio version too (because not everyone wants to read on a Friday).

Welcome, to The History of Applied Behavior Analysis...

⭐⭐⭐The Practice of "ABA Therapy" and The Roots of "Applied Behavior Analysis"⭐⭐⭐ While exploring the project releasing at midnight tonight: The History of Applied Behavior Analysis: Part 1* there were some interesting things to consider. One was the title of the piece. The history of the field of behavior analysis is vast. When discussing this early vision of a course and film on the topic, it became clear there were a lot of potential paths to take. One constraint I welcomed was keeping this project focused on a particular area: Lawrence, Kansas. Constraints are often useful in helping narrow the focus of a video project. When you look at the history of Applied Behavior Analysis in Lawrence, Kansas, there is one clear storyline to explore: Baer, Wolf, & Risley. But there's also the story of Ogden Lindsley et al., who developed Precision Teaching around the same time period as the development of the applied branch of the field. Precision Teaching was happening across the US, but with Og at the School of Medicine, it felt appropriate to explore the history of Precision Teaching and Ogden.** There was one other storyline that I admittedly did not know the significance of, even after spending 15 years in the field and working hard to explore the depths of the science: Juniper Gardens Children's Project***. I have since learned that Juniper Gardens' story could be a multi-part series... The first article in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA) was from the work of those at Juniper Gardens... and if you dig into not just JABA but all over the literature base, you'll find that there are thousands of publications from those at Juniper Gardens. As such, Juniper Gardens plays a significant role in the course and film, which is they're really the first community-based application of behavior analysis. Four different analysts represent Juniper Gardens in the film and course, and I really hope that those who dive into what was created notice a few themes that they point out and demonstrate through their decades of implementation of behavior analytic technologies. I'll share more on all of these later, as I feel it may spoil some of the excitement for viewers, but one is worth pointing out: The story, which is really the story of the development of the applied branch of the science is not about any particular behavior analytic technology. While so many in our field work in the area of supporting neurodivergent populations (e.g., Autism Spectrum Disorders), that's not actually the story of Applied Behavior Analysis. That's why I used "ABA Therapy" at the beginning of this post and "Applied Behavior Analysis" separately. For whatever reason (likely many cumulative things) there are two worlds: one that is the perception of the field due to insurance mandates and the need of helping a population (aka "ABA Therapy") and the applied branch of the science of behavior analysis (aka "Applied Behavior Analysis.") In The History of Applied Behavior Analysis: Part 1 - a free 3.5-hour film launching Friday, August 30th, 2024, the story of the development of "Applied Behavior Analysis" is explored. As such, the amount of time spent on other areas, such as "ABA Therapy," is limited. Why? It's not the story of "Applied Behavior Analysis." Are there mentions and themes? Of course! The same can be said for the role of B. F. Skinner. The story of "Applied Behavior Analysis" is not that of B. F. Skinner. Does his work set the stage and even directly impact on the applied branch of the field? Of course! So you'll see him mentioned, and his science of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior is explored.**** So, there is the common perception of "ABA Therapy," and there is the natural science of behavior analysis and the extension of that science to socially significant behavior, which is "Applied Behavior Analysis." The latter is explored in The History of Applied Behavior Analysis: Part 1. I hope you'll find time to pencil it in. The trailer releases simultaneously with the film at 12 AM Eastern tonight! *It's worth noting also that this could be considered "A" History of Applied Behavior Analysis. I decided to stick with "The." ** The history of Precision Teaching is not the focus of this, but it plays a substantial role in the film. I would like to open that door later, if possible, in another part. *** I had to expand to include Kansas City, as Juniper Gardens Children's Project is based there. **** The history of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB) is not the focus of this, but it plays a substantial role in the film. If possible, I would like to open that door later in another part.

🎥🎥🎥The History of Applied Behavior Analysis: Part 1 🎥🎥🎥 As a fun thank you, a sneak peek of the full trailer is going to hit inboxes of everyone who signed up for updates at 2pm eastern today. If you ask around, a friend might have it in their inbox if you didn't register! The trailer releases simultaneously with the full film Friday, August 30th at 12 AM Eastern. I've updated the landing page with some new written content if you want to see a version of a thank you letter written to the broader behavior analytic community and those who have participated in the project. See the comments! Proper, certified captions have been completed and uploaded. At this time, they are only in English. It's quite costly to get a translation, and based on demand and resources, it's on my road map. A proper ad campaign is also officially scheduled, and the road to 1m impressions across the first month is set. Given the hyper-focused story of the history of a nerdy science, I think this is a worthy aim. Audience sizes ultimately dictate reach. Tomorrow I'll share a little about the storyline and why there is (likely) much less of an emphasis on B F Skinner and Neurodivergent services than some may expect. That will be my last tidbit I share here online before the release. Sometime next week I'll likely write some more posts like this based on reception of the film, my time available, etc. There's a lot more to share regarding production details that influenced the storyline, unexpected twists and turns from interviews that affected the storyline, etc.!

Ogden Lindsley was at the forefront of the development of the field of Applied Behavior Analysis. Much of what he and the larger precision teaching community offered hasn't been adopted as a standard of what is now "ABA Therapy." During the development of The History of Applied Behavior Analysis: Part 1 - the 3.5 hour documentary releasing this Friday August, 30th at 12 am Eastern I had a very unique opportunity. While on the flight down, I re-read Og's final email to the Precision Teaching community. A lot was shared, but one line that always resonated with me was: "Stand on my shoulders as I stood on Fred Skinner’s shoulders. You see more big things from up here, and you see further." On the flight, I started to brainstorm ways to interweave the essence of that final letter, and then it dawned on me... Artificial Intelligence. Use AI to replicate his voice and integrate it into the video... So, with proper permission through Nancy Hughes (Og's Widow), I was able to use a sample of his voice and recreate it as the opener of my upcoming History of Applied Behavior Analysis: Part 1 documentary. Hearing him read (some, not all) of that final email is just amazing. While editing the intro with his words over and over, I couldn't help but think about how many people in this relatively small community are living out those final words of his. They should be more well-known broadly within our science, perhaps, but in their community, they're changing lives in ways that more wish they could... I don't think many realize the role that Og plays in the broader science, and while the documentary isn't about him or precision teaching per se, he played a role in the applied branch of the field (and possibly even what could have been). It may intrigue some of those in the field who are in a position to teach or supervise more to explore what the precision teaching community has to offer. (There are many doors like this opened up; just using this one as a fun example given the role it played in the creative process) This Friday, August 30th at 12am Eastern, the film launches free to the world. I hope anyone who's crazy enough to dig into a 3.5-hour documentary finds the precision teaching / Og segment valuable. While it's not the story, it's still a significant chapter of the documentary. Two other prominent precision teaching advocates are included in the segment about Og and Precision Teaching, as well as Nancy. I'm so grateful to each of them for sharing, and I want all of you precision teachers out there to know that I appreciate your continued efforts. It's a worthy line of work, and I hope more find it valuable in due time through your efforts, and perhaps even this film.