This comparison draws in part from “Perspective Taking: Practicing What We Preach and Uncovering Collaboration Blind Spots!” by Teresa Cardon, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCBA-D (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 perspective taking: practicing what we preach and uncovering collaboration blind spots!, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Goal Development | Integrated Planning: Goals are developed collaboratively across disciplines, ensuring alignment and avoiding duplication or contradiction | Discipline-Specific: Each profession develops goals independently based on their assessment, potentially creating overlapping or conflicting targets |
| Intervention Coherence | Integrated Planning: Interventions are coordinated so that strategies from different disciplines complement and reinforce each other | Discipline-Specific: Interventions may work at cross-purposes when developed without knowledge of what other disciplines are doing |
| Family Experience | Integrated Planning: Families receive consistent guidance and a unified treatment vision from all providers | Discipline-Specific: Families may receive conflicting recommendations and must navigate contradictory professional advice independently |
| Time and Resources | Integrated Planning: Requires dedicated time for collaborative meetings and shared documentation, which increases coordination costs | Discipline-Specific: Each professional plans independently, which is faster per individual but may create costly inefficiencies through duplication and conflict |
| Clinical Comprehensiveness | Integrated Planning: Multiple perspectives identify needs and solutions that any single discipline might miss, resulting in more thorough treatment | Discipline-Specific: Treatment addresses each discipline's focus area but may leave gaps at the intersections between disciplines |
| Professional Growth | Integrated Planning: Professionals learn from each other's perspectives, expanding their clinical knowledge and flexibility | Discipline-Specific: Professionals operate within their disciplinary boundaries with limited exposure to alternative viewpoints |
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 perspective taking: practicing what we preach and uncovering collaboration blind spots! 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.
Perspective Taking: Practicing What We Preach and Uncovering Collaboration Blind Spots! — Teresa Cardon · 1.5 BACB Ethics CEUs · $15
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.
279 research articles with practitioner takeaways
258 research articles with practitioner takeaways
252 research articles with practitioner takeaways
1.5 BACB Ethics CEUs · $15 · 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.