APBA Book Review by Dr. Paula Danquah-Brobby

APBA BOOK REVIEW

Multiculturalism and Diversity in Applied Behavior Analysis (2nd ed.)

Conners, B. M., & Capell, S. T. (Eds.). (2024). Routledge.

Reviewed by: Paula Danquah-Brobby

A timely and substantive advancement from the first edition, the second edition of Multiculturalism and Diversity in Applied Behavior Analysis reflects an important reframing of how multiculturalism is conceptualized and operationalized within the field of applied behavior analysis (ABA). Whereas the first edition primarily introduced multicultural considerations across historically minoritized and marginalized (HMM) groups and identities, the second edition expands its scope beyond individual-level considerations to include broader sociocultural contingencies, organizational systems, health equity, higher education, supervision, and professional training. Across the volume, contributors examine how culturally responsive practices can be embedded within direct service delivery, supervision, organizational behavior management, and institutional structures.

Similar to the first edition, each chapter includes learning objectives and reference lists. Additionally, most chapters include reflective discussion questions, quiz questions with answer keys, ethical and professional considerations, and case vignettes. Several chapters also explicitly situate the material within the professional roles of BCBAs, BCaBAs, RBTs, and graduate students. Collectively, these features enhance the book’s utility as both a teaching and professional development resource.

SECTION ONE (Chapters 1–3): Reframing Multiculturalism, Health Equity, and Justice

The first section establishes the conceptual foundation for the book by reframing multiculturalism within broader sociocultural and public health contexts. Chapter 1 introduces the revised structure and thematic direction of the text. Chapter 2 positions health equity as a central organizing construct, emphasizing the role of systemic barriers and social determinants in shaping access to and outcomes of behavior analytic services. Chapter 3 extends this discussion by arguing for a broader paradigm shift toward justice, equity, and inclusion, encouraging behavior analysts to engage more directly with discrimination, oppression, intersectionality, and sociocultural context (Crenshaw, 1989).

Collectively, these chapters reflect a meaningful shift from traditional notions of individual-level cultural competence toward a more contextualized and systems-oriented analysis of practice. This broader framing aligns with interdisciplinary movements across healthcare and human services that emphasize equity, access, and the impact of environmental conditions on health and quality-of-life outcomes (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS], 2023). However, the conceptualization and operationalization of cultural responsiveness vary somewhat across chapters, highlighting an ongoing need for greater conceptual coherence both within the text and across the field more broadly.

SECTION TWO (Chapters 4–7): Culturally Responsive Applications Across Contexts

The second section addresses culturally responsive practice across several applied and organizational contexts. Chapter 4 centers Deaf and hard of hearing populations, emphasizing barriers to access, clinician bias, and the importance of culturally informed service delivery. Chapter 5 extends culturally responsive practice to adult learners, an area that has historically received limited attention within ABA given the field’s longstanding emphasis on pediatric early intervention. Chapters 6 and 7 broaden the discussion by examining organizational behavior management (OBM) and culturally responsive behavioral assessment.

Compared to the first edition’s stronger emphasis on population-specific discussions, this section adopts a more contextualized and ecologically grounded approach to cultural responsiveness. Rather than focusing solely on identity categories, the chapters encourage practitioners to evaluate how environmental, organizational, and systemic variables influence client outcomes. Notably, the inclusion of adult learners, Deaf and hard of hearing populations, and organizational systems reflects growing recognition of lifespan considerations and structural influences on service delivery—areas that remain comparatively underrepresented within the field.

SECTION THREE (Chapters 8–10): Training, Supervision, and Ethical Practice

The third section shifts the discussion from client-facing practice to the institutional preparation and professional development of behavior analysts. Chapter 8 explores diversity, equity, and inclusion within higher education and graduate training programs, highlighting the importance of preparing future practitioners to engage in culturally responsive practice. Chapter 9 addresses the ethics of cultural responsiveness and links these issues to professional standards, service provision, supervision, and ongoing professional development. Importantly, the chapter also highlights the need for greater social justice advocacy and increased racial representation within the profession. Chapter 10 operationalizes cultural responsiveness within supervisory contingencies and professional development structures, offering guidance for integrating these principles into supervision models and training practices across BCBAs, BCaBAs, RBTs, and students.

Altogether, these chapters reinforce the understanding that culturally responsive practice is not solely an individual competency, but also a professional and organizational responsibility that must be cultivated through training systems, supervisory relationships, and institutional contingencies.

SECTION FOUR (Chapter 11): Current Status and Future Directions

The final chapter synthesizes the major themes presented throughout the text and provides recommendations for future directions in practice, supervision, research, and education. In doing so, the chapter positions multiculturalism not as a peripheral specialty area, but as an increasingly central dimension of contemporary behavior analytic practice.

Conclusion

The second edition of Multiculturalism and Diversity in Applied Behavior Analysis represents a meaningful advancement in the field’s engagement with multiculturalism and culturally responsive practice. By expanding its scope to include adult learners, organizational systems, supervision, training ecosystems, and health equity considerations, the book reflects increased recognition of the complex sociocultural and systemic variables that influence access to and quality of behavior analytic services.

Several strengths of this book are particularly noteworthy. First, the book moves beyond narrow conceptualizations of multicultural competence by encouraging readers to explore broader contextual and structural variables that shape service delivery. Second, the inclusion of organizational, supervisory, and higher education contexts broadens the discussion beyond direct clinical practice, underscoring the importance of institutional contingencies (i.,e., metacontingencies and macrocontingencies) in shaping professional behavior.

That said, a few areas offer opportunities for further examination in future editions. Although the inclusion of Deaf and hard of hearing populations represents an important contribution, it remains the book’s primary sustained population-specific focus. Expanding the discussion to include additional historically underserved populations, such as immigrant communities, individuals with intersectional oppressed identities, and individuals with comorbid conditions (e.g., ASD and ADHD), may strengthen the breadth and applicability of the text. Moreover, future editions could expand discussions related to culturally responsive graduate programs and curricula within behavior analysis.

The book also acknowledges the field’s relative homogeneity and raises important considerations regarding representation and inclusion within behavior analysis. Future editions could deepen this discussion by examining the broader sociocultural and institutional contingencies that affect participation, representation, and professional experiences within the field. From a culturo-behavior science (CBS) perspective, additional exploration of macrobehavior patterns, interlocked behavioral contingencies (IBCs), selecting environments, and cultural consequences could further enrich these discussions (Danquah-Brobby, 2023; Houmanfar et al., 2010; Skinner, 1981; Tourinho, 2013)

Importantly, this volume serves as a valuable resource for practitioners, educators, supervisors, students, and researchers seeking to better understand the role of sociocultural context in behavior analytic practices. As behavior analysis continues to evolve, texts such as this play a vital role in shaping how the field conceptualizes equity, inclusion, and its responsibilities to the communities it serves.

References

Crenshaw, K. (1989). Demarginalizing the intersection of race and sex: A Black feminist critique of antidiscrimination doctrine, feminist theory, and antiracist politics. University of Chicago Legal Forum, 1989(1), 139-167.

Danquah-Brobby, P. (2023). Spiritual activism. In E. B. Rasmussen, T. M. Cihon, & R. A. Rehfeldt (Eds.), Women in behavior science (1st ed., pp. 185-202). Routledge.

Houmanfar, R. A., Rodrigues, N. J., & Ward, T. A. (2010). Emergence and metacontingency: Points

of contact and departure. Behavior and Social Issues, 19, 78-103. https://doi.org/10.5210/bsi.v19i0.3065

Skinner, B. F. (1981). Selection by consequences. Science, 213(4507), 501-504.

https://doi.org/10.1126/science.7244649

Tourinho, E. Z. (2013). Cultural consequences and coordinated patterns of behavior across people

and systems: Selection at the cultural level. Behavior and Philosophy, 41, 60-69.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2023). Our epidemic of loneliness and isolation: The U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory on the healing effects of social connection and community. Author.