A Practitioner’s Guide to Measuring Procedural Fidelity
Use the six-step watch sheet to prove your staff or parents run programs the right way.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Morris et al. (2024) wrote a how-to guide. It shows BCBAs six clear steps to watch and score whether staff run programs the right way.
The steps are: task analyze, pick a measure, plan the watch, collect data, graph it, and fix what is low.
What they found
The paper gives a ready-to-use form, not new numbers. No kids or data were tested.
How this fits with other research
Gerow et al. (2018) looked at 26 parent-FCT studies. They saw most papers skipped fidelity checks. The new guide fills that gap.
Ouyang et al. (2024) pooled 32 trials of parent coaching. High parent fidelity linked to child gains. Their work shows why the guide matters.
Goldman et al. (2024) found PDC-HS steps are reported in messy ways. Both 2024 papers push the same fix: write and watch each step the same way every time.
Why it matters
You can lift the six-step form into any program today. Pick one routine you train others to do. Task analyze it, plug in the sheet, and watch for ten minutes. Graph the result and re-train the missed steps next session. You will know, not guess, if your program is being run as planned.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Ensuring high levels of procedural fidelity during behavior-analytic interventions is a crucial component of providing effective behavior-analytic services. However, few resources are available to help guide practitioners through measuring procedural fidelity. In fact, most published behavior-analytic research on procedural fidelity analyzes a single treatment procedure, which might not completely reflect the process of monitoring and addressing the procedural fidelity of a robust treatment package that might be necessary in clinical settings. The purpose of this article is to guide behavior analysts through the process of creating and using procedural fidelity measurement systems, with a focus on direct observation of implementation as a means of fidelity data collection. This process consists of six steps: (1) task analyze treatment procedures into measurable units; (2) assign measures to each treatment component; (3) plan the direct observation; (4) collect procedural fidelity data; (5) analyze and interpret procedural fidelity data; and (6) take action to improve procedural fidelity. Each step is described and discussed in the article.
Behavior Analysis in Practice, 2024 · doi:10.1007/s40617-024-00910-8