An Organizational Model for Increasing Access to the Scholarly Literature

Area of Science:

• Behavior analysis
• Human services
• Evidence-based practice

Background:

• Behavior analysts have an ethical duty to stay current with research.
• Barriers often prevent practitioners from accessing and utilizing scholarly literature.
• Integrating research into practice is crucial for improving client outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a system designed to enhance practitioner access to scholarly literature.
• To detail the components of the system: an electronic search request form, a literature team, and a liaison.
• To share 7 years of data on system usage and topic trends.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a multi-component system within a human service agency.
• Collection and analysis of data on system utilization over a 7-year period.
• Evaluation of system effectiveness and identification of usage patterns.

Main Results:

• The system facilitated increased access to scholarly literature for practitioners.
• Analysis revealed frequent usage patterns and common topics of interest.
• Data provided insights into the practical application of the system.

Conclusions:

• The developed system effectively addressed barriers to literature access for behavior analysts.
• The system's value, limitations, and adaptability for different organizational needs were discussed.
• Considerations for implementing and expanding similar systems in agencies were provided.