This comparison draws in part from “Utilizing Stay Interviews to Increase Employee Engagement in ABA Organizations” by Emily Jenkins, M.Ed., 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 utilizing stay interviews to increase employee engagement in aba organizations, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Timing | Exit interview: conducted after resignation decision is final | Stay interview: conducted proactively with current employees before any flight risk emerges |
| Information reliability | Exit interview: responses skewed by desire for positive references and social acceptance; often underreport management issues | Stay interview: employees with something to gain from honest feedback are more candid; context supports disclosure |
| Actionability | Exit interview: informs future hiring and policy, but cannot retain the individual providing feedback | Stay interview: generates information the supervisor can act on immediately to change conditions for this specific employee |
| Supervisor relationship impact | Exit interview: typically conducted by HR, not the direct supervisor; no direct relationship effect | Stay interview: conducted by the direct supervisor; communicates investment and care, which itself affects retention |
| Organizational learning | Exit interview: patterns emerge slowly from aggregate exit data over time | Stay interview: themes across current employees reflect live organizational conditions, allowing faster response |
| Implementation cost | Exit interview: low; occurs at natural transition point, typically one-time investment per departure | Stay interview: ongoing time investment (45-60 min per employee quarterly); requires supervisor skill development |
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 utilizing stay interviews to increase employee engagement in aba organizations 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.
Utilizing Stay Interviews to Increase Employee Engagement in ABA Organizations — Emily Jenkins · 1 BACB Supervision 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.
279 research articles with practitioner takeaways
239 research articles with practitioner takeaways
239 research articles with practitioner takeaways
1 BACB Supervision 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.