The Effects of a Self-Instruction Package and Group Training on Trial-Based Functional Analysis Administration
A short self-instruction packet plus quick group feedback turns novices into accurate TBFA testers.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Griffith et al. (2020) built a plain-language packet that teaches undergraduates how to run a trial-based functional analysis.
The students read the packet on their own, then met in small groups for quick feedback.
No lectures, no long meetings — just the packet plus a short group check-in.
What they found
Every student reached mastery-level accuracy after the self-instruction and feedback rounds.
Skills stuck without extra coaching, showing the package is enough by itself.
How this fits with other research
Sellers et al. (2019) got similar results with busy supervisors in a large home for adults. They used remote feedback instead of face-to-face groups, but both studies hit high fidelity.
Whitehouse et al. (2014) trained staff on traditional FAs years earlier. Griffith swapped long staff meetings for a short packet, proving you can cut training time and still win.
Brown et al. (2021) used the same recipe — materials, checklist, feedback — to fix session notes. The pattern is clear: brief BST plus feedback works across tasks.
Why it matters
You can mail or hand a two-page packet to new hires, run a 10-minute huddle, and feel safe letting them start TBFAs the same day. The method saves trainer hours and keeps your assessment quality high.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
This study examined the effects of a self-instruction package comprised of a task analysis data sheet, detailed written instructions, and a small group performance feedback training on the training of 12 undergraduate students to conduct trial-based functional analyses (TBFAs). In contrast to previous research, training omitted technical language and did not include didactic instruction on the principles of applied behavior analysis or the underlying rationale for functional analysis methodology. Although the self-instruction package produced significant increases in performance and reliable data collection on the targeted problem behavior, small group performance feedback training was necessary to achieve mastery across all trial types. Results offer a socially valid training package to teach paraprofessionals to assist Board Certified Behavior Analysts® in conducting TBFAs in applied settings.
Behavior Analysis in Practice, 2020 · doi:10.1007/s40617-019-00388-9