An Evaluation of Real-Time Feedback Delivered Via Telehealth: Training Staff to Conduct Preference Assessments

Ausenhus and team trained four adults to run preference assessments for kids with autism.

Training happened through Zoom. A coach watched live and gave instant feedback while the adult worked.

They used a multiple-baseline design across people to see if the coaching really helped.

Every adult hit mastery in four to seven short sessions.

They kept the skills when new toys and new kids were introduced.

Remote real-time feedback worked as well as in-person coaching.

Neely et al. (2021) reviewed 30 telehealth studies and said assessment training is solid. The new data add a live-coaching example to their list.

Zhu et al. (2020) also used Zoom feedback, but their feedback came after the session. Both studies raised fidelity, showing timing can be flexible.

Al-Nasser et al. (2019) got great fidelity with a picture packet and no coach at all. The two papers together tell us: you can pick live help OR a great self-pack when training staff.

You can train staff from any office. Log into Zoom, watch a trainee run a preference assessment, and correct mistakes on the spot. No travel, no delay, and mastery still arrives within a week. Try it next time you onboard a new RBT.