Primary Article Discussed

Colón, J. E., Chauhan, P., Hajjar, D., & Castine, T. (2024). Procedural integrity in applied settings: Survey of training practices and barriers. Behavior Analysis in Practice. Read via DOI

Episode Summary

1. Opening Remarks (00:00–01:00): Intro to the podcast and today’s topic—procedural integrity in supervision.
2. Why This Episode Matters (01:00–02:00): A raw, honest look at how we overlook fidelity despite knowing its importance.
3. Procedural Integrity = Effective ABA (02:00–04:00): Emphasizes fidelity and data as the bedrock of intervention success.
4. The Research-Practice Gap (04:00–06:00): Explains why controlled research often fails to translate in home/community settings.
5. Example: Extinction in Practice (06:00–07:00): A failed extinction protocol highlights the cost of low integrity implementation.
6. Introducing the Study (07:00–08:00): Colón et al. surveyed 140 BCBAs on fidelity training and monitoring practices.
7. Key Findings (08:00–11:00):
   • Awareness vs. Training: 94% aware of fidelity, but only 41% received BST.
   • On-the-Job Training: CEUs filled gaps, but post-grad support often informal.
   • Monitoring in Practice: Most BCBAs gave feedback verbally; few tracked data.
   • Data Collection vs. Use: Half of those collecting data weren’t using it meaningfully.
8. Barriers to Integrity (11:00–13:00): Time, competing priorities, and lack of templates all cited as reasons fidelity monitoring is skipped.
9. Why Outcomes = Fidelity (13:00–14:00): You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Monitoring is essential for quality assurance.
10. My Recommendation (14:00–16:00): Start small—use Apple Notes or checklists to track 2–3 critical items per session. Graph and adjust weekly.
11. The 7-Day Challenge (16:00–17:00): Choose one supervisee, pick a behavior, track fidelity for 1 week, and meet to review progress.
12. Wrap-Up (17:00–17:30): Tease next episode on advanced coaching and feedback tools. Ask for shares, reviews, and practice updates from listeners.

Recommended Action

Try the 7-day fidelity challenge. Choose one procedural target, track it, graph it, and meet to analyze. Even informal data can improve supervision quality.

References Mentioned

• Colón, J. E., Chauhan, P., Hajjar, D., & Castine, T. (2024). Procedural integrity in applied settings: Survey of training practices and barriers. Behavior Analysis in Practice. Link
• Miltenberger, R. G., & Hinde, K. (2001). Behavioral Skills Training to teach in situ data collection. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 34(3), 379–387.
• Parsons, M. B., Rollyson, J. H., & Reid, D. H. (2012). Evidence‐based staff training. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 5(2), 2–11.
• Stokes, T. F., & Baer, D. M. (1977). An implicit technology of generalization. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 10(2), 349–367.

Closing Message

Thanks for tuning in. I hope these show notes put the spotlight on procedural integrity in your own practice—and that you take up the 7-day challenge. See you next time on The Behaviorist Book Club!