This comparison draws in part from “Non-Violent Communication: Performance Feedback in Action” by Anne Denning, MA BCBA 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 non-violent communication: performance feedback in action, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Language structure | Evaluative: Characterizes the supervisee or their performance in general terms ('your data recording is inconsistent') | Observational: Describes specific events without evaluation ('the last four sessions show a mean of 3 discrepancies between session notes and data sheet totals') |
| Supervisee response | Evaluative: Higher probability of defensive responding; supervisee's behavior shifts to self-protection rather than behavioral learning | Observational: Lower probability of defensive responding; supervisee's behavior more likely to remain oriented to the clinical content of the feedback |
| Behavioral specificity | Evaluative: Often vague about the specific behavior that needs to change; supervisee must infer what modification is being requested | Observational: Specifies the precise behavioral event that occurred, enabling direct connection to the specific behavioral change requested |
| Relationship impact | Evaluative: Cumulative aversive conditioning of the supervision relationship; supervisees with predominantly evaluative feedback histories become avoidant of supervision contacts | Observational: Maintains or builds the supervisory relationship as a context for professional growth; corrective contacts are less aversive in aggregate |
| Alignment with behavioral science | Evaluative: Inconsistent with the behavior analytic principle of defining behavior operationally and avoiding attributional explanations | Observational: Directly consistent with behavioral science's operational definition standard and the functional approach to behavior analysis |
| Generalization of feedback | Evaluative: Less likely to generalize across settings because it lacks the behavioral specificity that enables application in novel contexts | Observational: More likely to generalize because the behavioral description provides specific information about what to change and in what contexts |
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 non-violent communication: performance feedback in action 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.
Non-Violent Communication: Performance Feedback in Action — Anne Denning · 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.
280 research articles with practitioner takeaways
279 research articles with practitioner takeaways
258 research articles with practitioner takeaways
1 BACB Supervision CEUs · $20 · BehaviorLive
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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.