Database Research Skills for Applied Behavior Analysts
As a Behavior Analyst, your ability to locate, evaluate, and apply the latest research is essential to providing effective, ethical, and evidence-based services to your clients.
Why Database Competency Matters for Behavior Analysts
Effective database searching is a core skill for behavior analysts. Strong research abilities allow you to:
- Access the most current evidence to inform intervention planning and clinical decision-making.
- Stay updated on emerging interventions, assessment methods, and ethical guidelines.
- Support your behavior-analytic reasoning with robust scientific evidence.
- Enhance caregiver training and stakeholder communication with reliable information.
- Contribute meaningfully to the advancement and scientific rigor of the field.
Understanding Database Differences
Each database offers unique strengths and content coverage critical for a comprehensive literature search in behavior analysis:
- ERIC (Education Resources Information Center): Essential for finding research related to applied behavior analysis in educational settings. It covers topics like special education, school-based interventions, classroom management, and skill acquisition for learners of all ages.
- EBSCOHOST Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection: is a comprehensive research database that provides access to thousands of full-text journals and scholarly resources focused on psychology and the behavioral sciences.
- Psychiatry Online - provides behavior analysts with essential access to the full DSM-5-TR®, allowing you to understand the official diagnostic criteria for clients with co-occurring conditions. Also provides access to some psych journals and ebooks.
- PubMed: Provides broad biomedical literature coverage. It is a key resource for finding research at the intersection of behavior analysis and health, such as studies on feeding disorders, behavioral medicine, and the treatment of challenging behavior associated with specific medical conditions.
- Web of Science - (WoS) is a powerful, multidisciplinary database that offers a unique way to search the literature. Instead of only searching by topic, its primary strength is helping you explore the connections between studies, allowing you to trace a research idea forward and backward in time to see its scholarly impact.
PsycINFO: Unfortunately, Downstate does not have a subscription. The New York State Library provides free remote access for registered NY state government employees. Students are eligible for some remote access to other resources. Register with the state library to access their resources.
Learning the unique features of each database will significantly enhance your search efficiency and the quality of evidence you retrieve.