Using a Checklist to Increase Objective Session Note Writing: Preliminary Results

Luna et al. (2019) gave staff a one-page checklist for writing session notes. The list reminded writers to include reinforcers, prompts, and problem behavior.

Workers first took a short training. Then they wrote notes with the checklist beside them. The team later scored the notes for objective details.

Notes got better at naming reinforcers and prompts. Descriptions of problem behavior, however, became slightly less accurate.

The mixed result shows a checklist can sharpen some facts while dulling others.

Brown et al. (2021) extended this idea. They added a sample note, self-monitoring, and feedback. Their package pushed six technicians to complete every field and kept the gains for two weeks.

Petscher et al. (2006) foreshadowed the checklist approach. They paired brief training with self-monitoring to keep classroom aides running token economies correctly.

Shabani et al. (2006) used supervisor feedback instead of a checklist. Both studies raised staff data quality, but feedback held up after the supervisor left while the checklist did not fix every error.

If you just need more reinforcer and prompt details, print the Luna checklist and tape it to each clipboard. If you also want accuracy on problem behavior, layer in a quick supervisor check or peer review like Brown and B et al. did. Pick the lightest tool that gives you clean data without extra meeting time.