Effects of Remote Performance Feedback on Procedural Integrity of Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention Programs in China

Seven BCBA trainees in China coached parents of young kids with autism. The trainees lived far from their supervisors, so all feedback came through Zoom after watching recorded sessions.

A BCBA watched the videos, scored each step of the coaching, and emailed a short feedback sheet. The trainees then tried the same steps again in the next session.

Every trainee’s coaching accuracy jumped from about 50 % to over 90 % within five feedback cycles. Parents also used the skills more correctly after the coaches improved.

The gains stuck when the BCBA stopped sending feedback, showing the trainees truly learned the moves.

Ausenhus et al. (2019) got the same quick gains, but they gave real-time Zoom cues while the staff worked. Zhu used delayed feedback after the session, proving you don’t need live shadowing.

Al-Nasser et al. (2019) hit high fidelity with picture packets and zero feedback. Zhu shows that when you already have trainees with some skill, a short remote review can finish the job.

Neely et al. (2021) warn that telehealth for behavior-reduction still needs more proof. Zhu’s study fits their safe zone: it trained a skill-building routine, not a restraint or punishment plan.

If you supervise BCBA candidates across time zones, record five-minute clips, score a quick checklist, and send one-sentence praise plus one next-step tip. You’ll cut travel, keep parents happy, and still hit the 90 % fidelity mark required by most funders.