A Preliminary Analysis of the Effects of Clicker Training and Verbal Instructions on the Acquisition of Relationship-Building Skills in Two Applied Behavior Analysis Practitioners
A clicker plus two minutes of coaching lifts staff relationship skills fast.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Canon et al. (2022) worked with two ABA practitioners.
They wanted to see if clicker training could teach relationship skills.
The staff got short verbal tips, then role-played while a clicker marked each good move.
The team watched for three skills: eye contact, smiles, and praise.
What they found
Both staff used the skills more right away.
One hit a large share after just two practice rounds.
The other needed four rounds but still got there fast.
Skills stayed high during the study, but dropped a little when they worked with real kids.
How this fits with other research
Denegati et al. (2025) also used role-play and feedback, but swapped the clicker for ACT plus BST.
Both studies show brief packages work, yet Canon’s clicker gave faster gains.
Davenport et al. (2019) used classic BST to train teachers on a reading game.
They hit a large share fidelity too, proving the core BST steps work across jobs.
Beaulieu et al. (2024) used a checklist instead of live feedback.
Their staff also improved, showing low-tech tools can still boost adult skills.
Why it matters
You can teach soft skills in minutes, not hours.
Try adding a $3 clicker to your next staff rehearsal.
Mark each smile or praise the moment it happens.
One short drill can raise rapport scores before the first client walks in.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Recent research has emphasized the need for training and competency beyond the standard technical skills acquired by applied behavior analysis (ABA) practitioners, including essential relationship-building and compassionate care skills (Taylor et al., 2019). Clicker training is a well-established behavior-analytic method for improving performance via immediate feedback in the form of an audible “click.” The effectiveness of clicker training has not yet been evaluated as a technique for shaping complex clinical repertoires. This study evaluated the effects of verbal instructions, clicker training, and role-play on the acquisition of therapeutic relationship skills in ABA practitioners. Data were obtained as part of a training program conducted within an ABA agency, and the acquisition of target skills was evaluated using a multiple-baseline design across behaviors for two participants. During baseline, participants rarely demonstrated target skills. During training, the procedure resulted in increased engagement in all three target skills for both participants. Skill generalization with respect to untrained and novel scenarios was observed but at levels below mastery. Findings have potential implications for trainers and supervisors seeking efficient, nonintrusive, socially acceptable methods of improving practitioner performance.
Behavior Analysis in Practice, 2022 · doi:10.1007/s40617-021-00555-x