Determining how, when, and whether you should publish outside the box: Sober advice for early career behavior analysts

Abstract

Publishing outside of behavior analysis is necessary for the field's impact in advancing its science or improving its treatments. As consumers of behavior analysis, we typically only see the success stories in outlets such as the Journal for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, and The Behavior Analyst. Lacking from these models is a description of the hard work and occasional missteps that accompany dissemination outside the box. In this paper, I propose that prospective disseminators need to (a) critically evaluate what they have to say, (b) carefully consider the field's interests, and (c) honestly analyze professional and personal contingencies to determine whether publishing outside the box should be a priority, depending on one's stage of professional development. I conclude with some general recommendations to early career behavior analysts aspiring to disseminate outside the field.