# Episode 4: Quick Wins: Smart Assessment Shortcuts & LimitsThis episode explores three studies that challenge conventional wisdom about assessment complexity - from training educators on brief functional assessment tools to streamlining autism diagnosis and questioning whether our standard procedures actually capture the skills we think they measure.
Timestamps
- 00:00 - Cold Open
- 00:30 - Introduction
- 01:30 - Host Introductions & Episode Setup
- 02:30 - Article 1: ISP-Function Training Study
- 06:30 - Article 2: Rapid Autism Assessment
- 10:30 - Article 3: Bidirectional Naming Assessment
- 14:00 - Synthesis & Key Takeaways
- 15:15 - Outro
Articles Discussed
Study 1: Kilgus, S., Eklund, K., von der Embse, N.P., Zahn, M., Meyer, L., Peet, C., & Willenbrink, J. (2025). Education training to support the collection and use of Intervention Selection Profile-Function data: Two randomized controlled trials. *Journal of School Psychology*, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsp.2025.101503
Study 2: Kovic, Y., Dallas, G.D., Andrade, J.L., Lloveras, L.A., Peters, K.P., & Soda, T. (2025). The Rapid Autism Assessment: Reducing Barriers to Behavioral Intervention Services. *Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry*, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2025.03.001
Study 3: Thorsteinsdottir, E.H., Petursdottir, A.I., & SteingrÃmsdóttir, H.S. (2025). Performance of younger and older adults on a bidirectional naming assessment. *Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior*, https://doi.org/10.1002/jeab.70067
Key Concepts
- ISP-Function: Intervention Selection Profile-Function - a brief functional assessment tool designed for Tier 2 interventions in schools
- Rapid Autism Assessment: Streamlined diagnostic procedures that meet insurance requirements while reducing time to diagnosis
- Bidirectional Naming: The ability to both understand a word when heard and produce it when seeing the referent
- Ecological Validity: The extent to which assessment procedures reflect real-world conditions and skills
Key Takeaways
- Basic training alone may be sufficient for staff to accurately use brief functional assessment tools - additional practice doesn't always add value
- Know your local insurance requirements for autism diagnosis - rapid assessments may provide faster access to ABA services without compromising quality
- Some standard assessment procedures may be more difficult than necessary and might not capture real-world skills effectively
- Match assessment complexity to clinical need rather than defaulting to the most comprehensive option
- Question whether your assessment procedures actually measure what you think they're measuring
- Systematic tools and clear criteria matter more than lengthy procedures when making clinical decisions
Resources
Free CEUs for Behavior AnalystsJoin the ABA Clubhouse - 60+ free on-demand CEUs, new content weekly, 2000+ behavior analysts.
skool.com/free-aba-ceus---*The Behaviorist Bookclub is an AI-generated podcast produced by Mastering ABA. Always consult the original research for clinical decision-making.*
Free CEUs for Behavior Analysts
Join the ABA Clubhouse - 60+ free on-demand CEUs, new content added weekly, with over 2,000 behavior analysts learning together.
The Behaviorist Bookclub is an AI-generated podcast produced by Mastering ABA. Always consult the original research for clinical decision-making.
