Questionable research practices (QRPs) have been widely documented across disciplines and researchers have promoted practices aimed at preventing them. In contrast, responsible research practices (RRPs) are choices aimed at promoting open, honest, and accurate dissemination of scientific knowledge. In this workshop, Dr. Tincani will begin by exploring how QRPs can manifest in ABA research. He will describe QRPs in participant selection, independent variable selection, procedural fidelity documentation, graphical depictions of behavior, and effect size measures and statistics. Then, he will discuss RRPs that counter QRPs, and strategies for promoting RRPs in ABA research. The strategies for promoting RRPs are largely based in the open science movement, which Dr. Tincani will overview.

1. Participants will identify questionable research practices as they can manifest in ABA research, based on the methods of single-case experimental design.
2. Participants will describe specific responsible research practices to promote open, honest, and accurate dissemination of scientific knowledge in ABA research.
3. Participants will identify the purpose and features of the open science movement.

About the Presenter

Matt Tincani

Dr. Matt Tincani is a professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Temple University. He focuses on the application of behavioral principles to improve language, academic, social, and play skills of learners with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities, with particular interest in Skinner's analysis of verbal behavior. His additional scholarly interests include positive behavior support in school and community settings, scaling-up of behavioral interventions, quality of life of people with disabilities, and single-case designs. His most recent work has explored issues of publication bias in single-case research, where he has advocated for publishing studies that do not yield experimental effect. He has been appointed to the editorial boards of several prominent journals in the field of special education, in addition to serving as associate editor of Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst since 2000, he was previously coordinator of Temple's graduate program in applied behavior analysis, in addition to his affiliation with the special education program.