# 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 DiscussedStudy 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.2025.101503Study 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.2025.03.001Study 3: Thorsteinsdottir, E.H., Petursdottir, A.I., & Steingrímsdóttir, 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.70067Key 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

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The Behaviorist Bookclub is an AI-generated podcast produced by Mastering ABA. Always consult the original research for clinical decision-making.