Contributions of positive behavior support amid lingering questions over its relationship with behavior analysis: A review of Positive behavior supports for adults with disabilities in employment, community, and residential settings by Storey and Post
PBS tools are fine, but only a credentialed analyst should write the plan.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Reid read the Storey and Post PBS book for adults with ID.
He wrote a short review in JABA.
He asked: Is this PBS still behavior analysis? Who may write the plans?
What they found
The book gives solid PBS tips for work, home, and day programs.
Yet it never says who must hold a BCBA.
Reid warns: without clear rules, unqualified staff may design plans.
How this fits with other research
Capaldi (1992) drew a six-step blueprint for behavior-analytic homes.
Reid shows adult PBS still drifts from that plan.
Leaf et al. (2017) worry the RBT role is too thin; Reid adds the same fear for PBS staff.
Together the papers say: titles alone do not protect clients — check the credential.
Why it matters
Before you sign off on any adult plan, look at the author’s badge. If it is not a BCBA, add supervision or get the right person. This one check keeps the program inside the scope of ABA and keeps consumers safe.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Positive Behavior Supports for Adults with Disabilities in Employment, Community, and Residential Settings by Keith Storey and Michal Post (2019) presents valuable information for support providers and clinicians working with adults in inclusive settings who display challenging behavior. Numerous examples of challenging behavior encountered in such settings are provided along with a multitude of interventions for addressing the behavior in ways that comport with the values of positive behavior support (PBS). This review highlights contributions of the Storey and Post book and considers the content in regard to the controversial relationship between PBS and applied behavior analysis (ABA). The authors specify ABA as the foundation of PBS, but questions linger about the exact PBS–ABA relationship that will likely affect the book's ultimate contribution. Concern over the relationship is illustrated in regard to qualifications of behavioral professionals whom the authors often refer to as being necessary to help support providers develop and implement PBS interventions.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 2020 · doi:10.1002/jaba.671