As a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, I spent years searching for academic research to inform my practice. Few things were more frustrating than spending half a day tracking down studies to support my treatment recommendations, only to hit a paywall demanding $50 for full access. The only thing worse? Paying the fee, finally reading the article, and realizing the procedure wasn’t applicable to my setting. Over time, I realized I wasn’t alone—many behavior analysts faced the same struggle, spending hours searching for research only to come up empty-handed or out of money. For some, the process was so overwhelming and aversive they didn’t even start at all.
During my doctoral research in information science and behavior analysis at the University of North Texas, this knowledge gap became even more apparent. In my studies, I confirmed that many behavior analysts were unaware of the free and low-cost research resources available to them. Additionally, I found that many rarely used advanced search techniques or never received formal training in how to conduct effective literature searches. I also learned they lack the time to read research and feel overwhelmed by the volume of information available. It became even more apparent that one of the biggest obstacles to evidence-based practice in behavior analysis wasn’t a lack of research—it is a lack of access to research. Too many professionals struggle to find the information they need because they haven’t been taught how to search effectively.
This issue fueled my motivation to study and find solutions. I started giving conference talks and webinars, and eventually developed a self-paced interactive tutorial titled Efficiently Searching the Academic Literature. It is designed to help behavior analysts refine their literature search skills, save time, and access the knowledge they need without breaking the bank.
The Purpose of This Tutorial
This tutorial was created with one primary goal in mind: to bridge the research-to-practice gap by empowering behavior analysts with the skills they need to efficiently search for and access scholarly literature.
By improving research literacy, BCBAs can:
- Make more informed clinical decisions based on the latest research
- Stay up to date with emerging trends and best practices in ABA
- Reduce frustration when searching for studies and full-text articles
- Confidently use online databases and search tools to efficiently find relevant research
With the growing emphasis on evidence-based practice, it’s more important than ever for behavior analysts to stay connected with the academic literature. This tutorial provides the tools to do just that—quickly and effectively.
What the Tutorial Covers
The tutorial is designed to be practical, interactive, and easy to follow, regardless of your previous experience with literature searches. It includes a mix of lecture content, step-by-step descriptions, and hands-on experience to ensure you walk away with real, applicable skills.
Here are some of the things you will learn:
- How academic literature is structured online: Understand how research is organized and indexed in databases such as ProQuest, PubMed, Wiley and Springer.
- Where to find full-text articles: Discover multiple free and low-cost resources for accessing peer-reviewed studies without paywalls.
- Advanced search techniques: Learn powerful strategies to refine your searches, filter out irrelevant results and quickly find the most relevant research.
- Discipline-specific search techniques: Learn how to construct searches that yield results rich in behavior analytic literature relevant to your scope of practice.
By the end of the tutorial, you’ll have the confidence and skills to navigate academic databases with ease—without wasting hours sifting through irrelevant results or hitting dead ends.
Who Should Take this Tutorial?
This tutorial is designed for:
- BCBAs, BCaBAs, and RBTs who want to enhance their research skills and stay up to date with the field
- Graduate students in behavior analysis who need guidance on conducting literature reviews
- Academics and researchers looking for better ways to streamline their search process
- Anyone passionate about evidence-based practice who wants to strengthen their ability to find relevant research.
Whether you are a seasoned behavior analyst or just beginning your career, Efficiently Searching the Academic Literature will give you a valuable edge in efficiently finding the research you need.
