Behavior Assessment Task Analysis

Content area K, Implementation, Management, and Supervision includes the task list items K-03: Design and use competency based training for persons who are responsible for carrying out behavior assessments and behavior change procedures, K-06: Provide supervision for behavior change agents, and K-09: Secure the support of others to maintain the client’s behavioral repertoires in their natural environments (Behavior Analyst Certification Board, 2012). My submission for this content area is the task analysis assignment, which was completed during SPE 565, and demonstrated the need to ensure all staff involved with any part of the intervention are fully trained, the BA’s role to provide on-going supervision to the staff involved in the behavior

Cooper and colleagues (2007) discuss the need to carefully select and train observers since this is necessary for the collection of accurate and trustworthy data. Potential observers should be interviewed to determine their level of experience with observation, measurement, and data collection since if any part of the intervention is not implemented, measured, or recorded correctly, the intervention will be inaccurate and unreliable. Once an observer or observers have been selected, training on recording the dimension of the target behavior, or as is the case in this assignment, each step of the forward chaining procedure. It is the responsibility of the BA to ensure that each part is fully understood by the observers. It can be helpful to provide examples and non-examples of the target behavior or what defines the successful completion of a step in the task analysis procedure. A training manual should also accompany the verbal instructions and address each aspect of the

The BA chose to implement the first session and have the two observers simultaneously collecting data. Following the first session, the BA compared the data. The BA also conducted brief check ins with the observers to answer any questions that may have arisen during the intervention. Finally, the BA provided her contact information attached to the written instructions and data collection forms so that she could be reached immediately for any questions or concerns. Training does not end with the initial implementation of an intervention. It is necessary to provide ongoing training to ensure that the observer does not alter any part of the system of measurement. This is referred to as an observer drift. This can occur when an observer unintentionally expands the definition of the target behavior even slightly. Any change will affect the data, which in turn affects the validity of the intervention. Observer drift can be reduced by continued training by the BA. This also provides the ability to give feedback to ensure accuracy and reliability of the measurement (Cooper et al.,