Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42327419›Full record

ArticleBehavior analysis in practice2026

Addressing Pervasive Myths About Qualitative Research to Promote Methodological Diversity in Applied Behavior Analysis.

Ryan J Martin, Elizabeth M Kelly

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Behavior analysis in practice, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Ryan J MartinCatalight Research Institute, Walnut Creek, CA USA.ORCID 0000-0002-5999-4471
Elizabeth M KellyAlliant International University, California School of Education, Seattle, WA USA.ORCID 0000-0002-8587-5767

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Single-case experimental design (SCED) has historically dominated applied behavior analytic research methodology. While valuable for establishing functional relations, this reliance limits the breadth of evidence available to inform practice. Qualitative methods, underutilized and frequently misunderstood by behavior analysts, offer a valuable and complementary approach to research that can deepen understanding of phenomena beyond observable behavior. This paper critically examines five prevalent myths about qualitative research among behavior analysts: (1) qualitative methods are not behavior-analytic, (2) qualitative methods have limited external validity, (3) qualitative methods are subjective and biased, (4) qualitative research lacks rigor, and (5) qualitative methods are only relevant for studying social validity. We assess the accuracy of each myth and provide necessary clarifications from our perspective as behavior analysts with formal training in qualitative methods and conclude by advocating for the expansion of behavior analysts' methodological repertoires to include qualitative approaches.

Indexed as

Applied behavior analysisMethodologyQualitative researchReflexivityTransferability

Identifiers

PMID42327419
PMCPMC13276081

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.