This comparison draws in part from “Invited Speaker Panel: Don't Follow the Leader, BE the Leader” by Janet Lund, PhD, BCBA-D, LBA (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 invited speaker panel: don't follow the leader, be the leader, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Clarity Of Expectations | For Don't Follow the Leader, BE the Leader, a structured, practice-oriented synthesis of the discussion keeps clarity of expectations tied to the staff behavior, feedback loop, and workload condition that are driving drift and makes the decision easier to review in supervision meetings, staff training, clinic systems, and performance review. | For Don't Follow the Leader, BE the Leader, a take-what-you-hear approach with no analytic filter leaves clarity of expectations to informal judgment, which makes follow-through harder to defend when conditions change. |
| Feedback Quality | For Don't Follow the Leader, BE the Leader, a structured, practice-oriented synthesis of the discussion keeps feedback quality tied to the staff behavior, feedback loop, and workload condition that are driving drift and makes the decision easier to review in supervision meetings, staff training, clinic systems, and performance review. | For Don't Follow the Leader, BE the Leader, a take-what-you-hear approach with no analytic filter leaves feedback quality to informal judgment, which makes follow-through harder to defend when conditions change. |
| Documentation | For Don't Follow the Leader, BE the Leader, a structured, practice-oriented synthesis of the discussion keeps documentation tied to the staff behavior, feedback loop, and workload condition that are driving drift and makes the decision easier to review in supervision meetings, staff training, clinic systems, and performance review. | For Don't Follow the Leader, BE the Leader, a take-what-you-hear approach with no analytic filter leaves documentation to informal judgment, which makes follow-through harder to defend when conditions change. |
| Fit With Workload | For Don't Follow the Leader, BE the Leader, a structured, practice-oriented synthesis of the discussion keeps fit with workload tied to the staff behavior, feedback loop, and workload condition that are driving drift and makes the decision easier to review in supervision meetings, staff training, clinic systems, and performance review. | For Don't Follow the Leader, BE the Leader, a take-what-you-hear approach with no analytic filter leaves fit with workload to informal judgment, which makes follow-through harder to defend when conditions change. |
| Staff Growth | For Don't Follow the Leader, BE the Leader, a structured, practice-oriented synthesis of the discussion keeps staff growth tied to the staff behavior, feedback loop, and workload condition that are driving drift and makes the decision easier to review in supervision meetings, staff training, clinic systems, and performance review. | For Don't Follow the Leader, BE the Leader, a take-what-you-hear approach with no analytic filter leaves staff growth to informal judgment, which makes follow-through harder to defend when conditions change. |
| Impact On Client Care | For Don't Follow the Leader, BE the Leader, a structured, practice-oriented synthesis of the discussion keeps impact on client care tied to the staff behavior, feedback loop, and workload condition that are driving drift and makes the decision easier to review in supervision meetings, staff training, clinic systems, and performance review. | For Don't Follow the Leader, BE the Leader, a take-what-you-hear approach with no analytic filter leaves impact on client care to informal judgment, which makes follow-through harder to defend when conditions change. |
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 invited speaker panel: don't follow the leader, be the leader 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.
Invited Speaker Panel: Don't Follow the Leader, BE the Leader — Janet Lund · 1.5 BACB General CEUs · $30
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
224 research articles with practitioner takeaways
223 research articles with practitioner takeaways
1.5 BACB General CEUs · $30 · BehaviorLive
Research-backed educational guide
Research-backed answers for behavior analysts
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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.