Exploring the Epistemological Significance of Qualitative Research in Behavior Analysis
Adding a few open-ended questions or short interviews to your study can show, in the client’s own words, why your behavior plan matters.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Arnold-Saritepe et al. (2026) wrote a how-to paper. They did not run an experiment.
They explain why and how behavior analysts can add interviews, open-ended surveys, and field notes to their tool kit.
The goal is to boost social validity—making sure clients and families see the treatment as useful and respectful.
What they found
The paper argues that numbers alone can miss the client’s voice.
Words, stories, and observations can fill the gap and show why a behavior plan matters to real people.
How this fits with other research
D’Agostino et al. (2025) extend the idea. They add an intersectional lens—asking about race, gender, and power—so qualitative steps also serve marginalized families.
Lichtlé et al. (2022) give a live example. They interviewed autistic adults to learn what “quality of life” should mean for preschoolers, showing how qualitative data can shape goals.
Szempruch et al. (1993) sounded the alarm first. That review warned that social-validity checks were often weak or missing. Arnold-Saritepe et al. answer with a clear recipe: collect and analyze qualitative evidence.
Why it matters
You can add one open question to your parent survey: “What does success look like for your family?” The answers give you words to pair with your graphs. When report time comes, you can show both the data line and the parent quote that matches it. This small step makes your next meeting feel less like a test score and more like teamwork.
Want CEUs on This Topic?
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ free CEUs — live every Wednesday. Ethics, supervision & clinical topics.
Join Free →End your next parent survey with one blank line: “In your own words, what changed most for your child this month?”
02At a glance
03Original abstract
Abstract In the evolving field of applied behavior analysis, there is a growing recognition of the value that qualitative research brings to understanding and improving interventions (Burney et al., Perspectives on Behavior Science , 46, 185–200, 2023; Leif et al., Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 57 (3), 542–559, 2024). Our group of academics and practicing behavior analysts aim to share our journey towards incorporating qualitative approaches in our research and practice, underscoring their importance and application in enhancing our scientific endeavors. This article will guide readers through the process of qualitative inquiry, from thinking of words as data through to an introduction to qualitative inquiry methods and how to collect and analyze data. We then discuss some of the ethical considerations around qualitative research (researcher reflexivity, centering participant voice and cultural responsivity) and conclude with highlighting the value of mixed methods research, as we work towards enhancing the social validity of behavior-analytic interventions. Through sharing this journey, we are hoping our behavior-analytic peers will recognize that the path to including qualitative approaches in their research is not daunting and will lead to valuable insights into how we meet the needs of those we serve.
Behavior Analysis in Practice, 2026 · doi:10.1007/s40617-025-01127-z