Dr. Joseph Cihon

Areas of Expertise

• Applied behavior analysis, autism intervention, progressive ABA, evidence-based practice and clinical decision-making, training and supervision of behavior analysts and interventionists, instructional design and staff training, quality of life, social validity

Education

• B.S. in special education, Fontbonne University (2010)
• M.S. in behavior analysis, University of North Texas (2015)
• Ph.D. in applied behavior analysis, Endicott College (2019)

View My CV

What's My Why?

I teach because behavior analysts are often asked to make clinical and leadership decisions before they have had enough opportunities to practice the judgment those decisions require. Knowing procedures is important, but it is not sufficient. Effective practitioners must learn to evaluate evidence, question assumptions, respond flexibly to individual circumstances, supervise others well and keep the dignity and quality of life of the people they serve at the center of their work.

At Salve, my goal is to help students become thoughtful clinical leaders who can connect behavior-analytic principles to the complex realities of practice. I want students to leave my courses better able to identify meaningful problems, use research responsibly, communicate clearly and build systems that support clients and professionals. Teaching is most rewarding to me when students move beyond asking, “What procedure should I use?” and begin asking, “What is happening here, what matters and how can I respond effectively and ethically?”

Professional Experience

I am the director of research at Autism Partnership Foundation. I have more than 20 years of experience working with children, adolescents and adults with autism and other developmental disabilities across home, school, clinic and community settings.

My work integrates research, consultation, training and higher education. At Autism Partnership Foundation, I lead and support applied research on autism intervention, staff training, instructional procedures and clinical decision-making; coordinate research teams and dissemination efforts; and help translate research findings into practice. I also consult with clinical teams to refine individualized programs and improve learner outcomes and generalization.

My scholarship includes peer-reviewed journal articles, books and book chapters on progressive ABA, training and supervision, instructional procedures, social validity, quality of life, professional discourse and mealtime intervention. I serve on editorial boards and as a reviewer for behavior-analytic and autism journals, and I regularly present research and professional training at national and international conferences.

Media Coverage

Co-host, It Has To Be Said Autism Partnership Foundation podcast (2020-present)

Guest, Skinner’s Locker Room. “Unpacking the Science: Behavior Analysis in Sports and Beyond” (2025)

Selected Publications

Cihon, J. H. (Ed.). (2025). Clinical handbook of autism intervention training. Springer Nature. 

Cihon, J. H., Ferguson, J. L., Milne, C. M., Leaf, J. B., McEachin, J., & Leaf, R. (2019). A preliminary evaluation of a token system with a flexible earning requirement. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 12(3), 548-556. 

Ferguson, J. L., Cihon, J. H., Leaf, J. B., Van Meter, S. M., McEachin, J., & Leaf, R. (2019). Assessment of social validity trends in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 20(1), 146–157. 

Calkins, C. A., Abuin, S., Morris, C., Cihon, J. H., & Haliwa, I. (2025). A survey of RBT supervision experience. Behavior Analysis in Practice. Advance online publication.

Ferguson, J. L., Cihon, J. H., Majeski, M. J., Milne, C. M., Leaf, J. B., McEachin, J., & Leaf, R. (2022). Toward efficiency and effectiveness: Comparing equivalence-based instruction to progressive discrete trial teaching. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 15(4), 1296-1313.