This comparison draws in part from “Can't we all just get along?” by Nicki Postma, BCBA (BehaviorLive), and extends it with peer-reviewed research from our library of 27,900+ ABA research articles. The decision framework, BACB ethics code references, and cross-links below are synthesized by Behaviorist Book Club.
View the original presentation →One of the most consequential decisions a behavior analyst makes is not just what intervention to use, but how to approach the clinical question in the first place. For can't we all just get along?, the difference between an evidence-based, individualized approach and a traditional, protocol-driven one can significantly impact outcomes.
This guide lays out the key factors side by side to support your clinical decision-making.
| Factor | Evidence-Based Approach | Traditional Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Generalization Outcomes | Coordinated: Target behaviors taught with consistent stimulus and response conditions across settings generalize more reliably | Siloed: Skills may be acquired in one setting and fail to transfer; stimulus control is setting-specific rather than general |
| Maintenance Over Time | Coordinated: Natural contingencies in both settings support maintenance when providers have aligned reinforcement schedules and response definitions | Siloed: Skills may be maintained in the setting with consistent contingencies and extinguished in settings where contingencies are not aligned |
| Parent Experience | Coordinated: Parents navigate a coherent service system with shared goals; reduced burden of managing competing professional perspectives | Siloed: Parents must manage two separate service systems with potentially conflicting recommendations; increased navigational burden and stress |
| Assessment Quality | Coordinated: Both settings contribute to the behavioral picture; assessment reflects the full ecology of the student's behavioral environment | Siloed: Each assessment reflects only the setting in which it was conducted; important cross-setting variables may be missed |
| Provider Relationship Quality | Coordinated: Mutual respect and information sharing build collaborative professional relationships that benefit subsequent cases | Siloed: Lack of coordination creates opportunities for misattribution, professional skepticism, and adversarial positioning |
| Implementation Fidelity | Coordinated: Shared procedures, shared data, and cross-setting feedback support higher fidelity across both contexts | Siloed: Each setting implements its own procedures independently; no mechanism for detecting or addressing cross-setting drift |
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ on-demand CEUs including ethics, supervision, and clinical topics like this one. Plus a new live CEU every Wednesday.
Use this framework when approaching can't we all just get along? in your practice:
Does the data support a need for intervention? Is there a meaningful impact on the individual's quality of life, safety, or access to reinforcement?
YES → Proceed to assessment NO → Document reasoning, monitor
A functional assessment should guide intervention selection. Avoid defaulting to standard protocols without individual analysis. Consider environmental variables, setting events, and private events.
YES → Select evidence-based approach matched to function NO → Complete assessment first
Goals should be co-developed. Assent and informed consent are ethical requirements. The individual's preferences and values matter in selecting both goals and methods.
YES → Proceed with collaborative plan NO → Engage in shared decision-making
This course covers the clinical and ethical dimensions in detail with structured learning objectives and CEU credit.
Can't we all just get along? — Nicki Postma · 1 BACB Supervision CEUs · $20
Take This Course →We extended this decision guide with research from our library — dig into the peer-reviewed studies behind each approach, in plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
239 research articles with practitioner takeaways
233 research articles with practitioner takeaways
231 research articles with practitioner takeaways
1 BACB Supervision CEUs · $20 · BehaviorLive
Research-backed educational guide
Research-backed answers for behavior analysts
You earn CEUs from a dozen different places. Upload any certificate — from here, your employer, conferences, wherever — and always know exactly where you stand. Learning, Ethics, Supervision, all handled.
No credit card required. Cancel anytime.
All behavior-analytic intervention is individualized. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. Treatment decisions should be informed by the best available published research, individualized assessment, and obtained with the informed consent of the client or their legal guardian. Behavior analysts are responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their competence and adhering to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.