ABSTRACT
We began this book by discussing not only how ACT can benefit the practice of ABA but how the practice of ABA can broadly benefit ACT. Research on ACT has largely occurred within other fields that were quicker to adopt ACT-based strategies that emerged more gradually within ABA. As consequence, research strategies like randomized controlled trials were a staple of this earlier work investigating ACT in over 900 studies. Behavior analysts may be uniquely situated to contribute to ACT research at the level of single subjects by utilizing single-case experimental designs (SCEDs) and idiographic network analysis that can stand alone in research or can be embedded within larger-scale group design evaluations. In this chapter, we describe the process of developing a study, producing materials, recruiting participants, and actually conducting the study. Research can and should take place in clinical settings where interventions are occurring and many behavior analysts have access to cases that could serve to further evaluate the ACT processes reviewed in this book. We describe how this research can occur at multiple levels, including basic, translational, applied, and demonstrations of clinical impact, within multiple research designs. Finally, we conclude the chapter by introducing new process-based strategies that can even further improve the sophistication of behavioral research.
