The effects of video modeling on staff implementation of behavioral procedures in China

Lee et al. (2020) filmed one 15-minute clip that shows every step of three common ABA routines: a token board, error correction, and a multiple-stimulus-without-replacement (MSW) preference assessment.

They gave the video to three new staff in China who had never run these routines. The team watched fidelity scores across weeks to see if the video alone was enough.

All three staff hit 90-100% fidelity after watching the short clip. Skills held one month later and transferred to new children. A second BCBA who did not know the study purpose scored the same high numbers, so the gains were real.

Collins et al. (2009) used the same video-only method years earlier and got the same strong, lasting staff gains, so the effect is not new.

Gutierrez et al. (2020) got equal results with a printed manual instead of a video, showing the medium can change while the outcome stays solid.

Clark et al. (2024) looks like a clash: they found that video plus written steps was “not enough” for a tricky feeding protocol. The gap makes sense—feeding has far more steps and safety risk than token boards or error correction, so lighter training fails there but works here.

You can replace a long in-person workshop with one short video when the skill is clear and discrete. Film yourself doing the token exchange, error correction, and MSW once, send the link, and check fidelity next session. You save hours and still get solid results.