What do you think?
Rate this book
Behavioral Detectives: A Staff Training Exercise Book in Applied Behavior Analysis
Behavioral A Staff Training Exercise Book in Applied Behavior Analysis allows readers in on case conferences discussing behavioral issues in developmental disabilities and applied behavior analysis. Short stories are presented, always with a clinical mistake present. The job of the reader is to discover the mistake. The reader can then turn to the back to see if (s)he was correct, learning about applied behavior analysis along the way.
262 pages, Paperback
First published November 16, 2007
32 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Bobby Newman
19 books9 followersBobby Newman is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, Licensed Behavior Analyst in New York and Tennessee, and Licensed Psychologist in New York and Florida. Affectionately known as the Dark Overlord of ABA, Bobby is the first author on over a dozen books regarding behavior therapy, the philosophy of behaviorism, the autism spectrum disorders, utopian literature, and fitness. He has published over two dozen articles in professional journals, as well as numerous popular magazine articles and has hosted two series of radio call-in shows. Bobby is the Past-President of the Association for Science in Autism Treatment and the New York State Association for Behavior Analysis. A popular speaker, Bobby also provides direct treatment, staff training and consultation around the world, and has been honored for this work by several parents and professional groups. He is the Executive Director of Clinical Services for Proud Moments. Bobby is also a certified personal trainer, obstacle course racer and marathoner and is an Ambassador for the Great Sportsmanship Programme. Bobby teaches non-violent crisis intervention philosophy and techniques for agencies and families. Bobby was a final four finalist for the 2016 For Those Who Would Humanitarian Award and is a certified cigar sommelier.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 21, 2015
This book reminded me of the choose-your-own-adventure novels I read and wrote when I was just a sprout.
Behavioral Detectives is an excellent book for fresh paraprofessionals, BCaBAs, and BCBAs looking to hone their case problem-solving skills. The book has dozens and dozens of real-life case samples featuring at least one problem: excessive manding, unpredictable aggression, inappropriate touching, etc. After reading the case, you are prompted to ponder what is causing the issue and how to address it before flipping to the back of the book for the solution.
The solutions, while concise, are in-depth, and account for all aspects of a program: assessment, data collection, training, continued evaluation, setting events, etc. Often the author walks through the elimination process, covering multiple possibilities and demonstrating how an experienced behavior analyst handles such issues. The difficulty level ranges from "This is stupid obvious" to "The author is a genius for thinking of that solution; I'm sure would have missed it."
The writing is very clear, although the authors assume a familiarity with behavior analysis, making the book inappropriate for those just learning the basics. The tone is casual, infused with humor, and easy to read.
There were a few minor negatives with the book. The format made it a bit unwieldy to read, constantly flipping back and forth between the front and the back of the book. Perhaps having solutions immediately after the problem, or at the end of the chapter, would have improved accessibility. With the large number of cases, there were a few that were similar enough to be redundant, which should never happen given the huge range of behaviors and issues available to us as behavior analysts.
(This is where I become completely hypocritical and say this book made me want a truly CYOA-style book. "For this case, do you use: Punishment page 81 or Reinforcement page 36. The behavior increases! Do you want to re-do the FA page 45, or turn to page 67 to evaluate staff implementation of the program?)
TL;DR An ABA puzzle book resembling a CYOA novel that is as helpful as it is fun to read.
Behavioral Detectives is an excellent book for fresh paraprofessionals, BCaBAs, and BCBAs looking to hone their case problem-solving skills. The book has dozens and dozens of real-life case samples featuring at least one problem: excessive manding, unpredictable aggression, inappropriate touching, etc. After reading the case, you are prompted to ponder what is causing the issue and how to address it before flipping to the back of the book for the solution.
The solutions, while concise, are in-depth, and account for all aspects of a program: assessment, data collection, training, continued evaluation, setting events, etc. Often the author walks through the elimination process, covering multiple possibilities and demonstrating how an experienced behavior analyst handles such issues. The difficulty level ranges from "This is stupid obvious" to "The author is a genius for thinking of that solution; I'm sure would have missed it."
The writing is very clear, although the authors assume a familiarity with behavior analysis, making the book inappropriate for those just learning the basics. The tone is casual, infused with humor, and easy to read.
There were a few minor negatives with the book. The format made it a bit unwieldy to read, constantly flipping back and forth between the front and the back of the book. Perhaps having solutions immediately after the problem, or at the end of the chapter, would have improved accessibility. With the large number of cases, there were a few that were similar enough to be redundant, which should never happen given the huge range of behaviors and issues available to us as behavior analysts.
(This is where I become completely hypocritical and say this book made me want a truly CYOA-style book. "For this case, do you use: Punishment page 81 or Reinforcement page 36. The behavior increases! Do you want to re-do the FA page 45, or turn to page 67 to evaluate staff implementation of the program?)
TL;DR An ABA puzzle book resembling a CYOA novel that is as helpful as it is fun to read.
July 21, 2025
Behavioral Detectives is a compelling and accessible guide that invites readers into the thoughtful process of behavior analysis through the lens of real-world problem-solving. Bobby Newman blends clarity, wit, and deep clinical insight to create a book that feels more like a mentorship session than a textbook. Each chapter is structured like a case study, guiding readers through the detective-like reasoning behind ABA interventions while reinforcing foundational principles.
Whether you're a newly credentialed BCBA seeking to sharpen your clinical judgment or an experienced analyst looking for a fresh perspective, Behavioral Detectives offers just the right mix of conceptual rigor and practical application. Newman’s engaging narrative style makes complex scenarios not only understandable but memorable.
In an era where ethical nuance and contextual sensitivity matter more than ever, this book doesn't just teach ABA—it cultivates thoughtful, compassionate problem-solvers. A must-have for any ABA professional’s bookshelf.
Whether you're a newly credentialed BCBA seeking to sharpen your clinical judgment or an experienced analyst looking for a fresh perspective, Behavioral Detectives offers just the right mix of conceptual rigor and practical application. Newman’s engaging narrative style makes complex scenarios not only understandable but memorable.
In an era where ethical nuance and contextual sensitivity matter more than ever, this book doesn't just teach ABA—it cultivates thoughtful, compassionate problem-solvers. A must-have for any ABA professional’s bookshelf.
April 6, 2017
It is an interactive book, which I like. It made me really apply what I learned in my learning and behavior analysis class, but I also think it's a nice book to familiarize the general public with behavioral analysis. The problem with that, however, is that the author doesn't clarify each concept or principle of behavior analysis that he includes in his text, but I think that is primarily because his intended audience is students and trainees in behavior analysis
October 17, 2009
This book is so well written. It makes learning about ABA so interesting and manages to help teach the reader by doing so. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I think it will greatly benefit me in the classroom.
May 19, 2022
I found this book to contain insightful and relatable stories. Easy and fun to read!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews