A Bit of History: Who publishes JEAB and JABA?

The Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (SEAB) publishes both the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior and the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis.

SEAB was formed in 1957. Its Certificate of Incorporation (dated October 29, 1957) states that:

“The purpose and objects of this corporation shall be to encourage, foster, and promote the advancement of the science of experimental analysis of behavior; the promotion of research in the said science and the increase and diffusion of knowledge of the said science by the conduct of a program of education by meetings, conferences and symposia, and by the publication of journals, papers, periodicals and reports.”

The Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (JEAB; pronounced JAY-AB) was founded to meet the needs of those who had been attracted to the behavior analytic approach but were unhappy with the lack of a journal specializing in that rapidly growing area. As described on its inside front page ever since, the new journal is “primarily for the original publication of experiments relevant to the behavior of individual organisms.” JEAB started as a quarterly in 1958 but has appeared bimonthly since 1964.

The initial Board of Editors of JEAB also served as the first Board of Directors of SEAB. Rather than turning to a professional publisher, this group assumed complete responsibility for the business as well as the editorial aspects of the enterprise. Board members, who are elected for eight year terms, are chosen from those most active in editing the journals.

In 1968, heartened by the success of its first venture into publishing, SEAB founded the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis (JABA), established for “the original publication of reports of experimental research involving applications of the experimental analysis of behavior to problems of social importance.” The second journal appears quarterly.

Those interested in learning more about SEAB and its two journals may consult the following:

• Current Officers and SEAB Board of Directors
• The Founding of JEAB and SEAB
• The First JEAB Editorial Board, including Photographs
• The Founding of JABA, including the Original Editorial Board Members
• JABA's Circulation History, including a Table giving the 1992 Comparative Circulation Figures for 25 Behavioral Journals
• Current Contents Essays written by JABA Authors about their "Citation Classics"
• Citation Performance of JABA and 24 Other Journals
• The Journals Most Frequently Cited in Recent JABA Reference Lists
• References on the History of JEAB and JABA