Evaluating Structured Group Supervision to Support Practice-based Research Skills in Applied Behavior Analysis

Abstract Historically, research and practice in applied behavior analysis (ABA) are conducted separately from one another. This separation creates a disconnect between researchers and practitioners that is known as the research-to-practice gap. The purpose of this preliminary study was to evaluate whether a six-week group supervision curriculum for 10 ABA practitioners working in a university-based autism services setting increased their ability to (a) ethically design and conduct practice-based research and (b) disseminate their findings in peer-reviewed journals and professional presentations. A mixed-methods design was used, including pre- and post-self-reported assessments of research skills, content review of research products, tracking of dissemination outcomes, and social validity measures. Results indicated that participants showed noticeable gains from pre-assessment to post-assessment self-reported ratings and documented research activity in the three months following group supervision. Qualitative thematic analysis indicated increased clarity in participants’ descriptions of research capacity, applied impact, and mentorship, while time remained a notable barrier. Social validity ratings indicated that most participants were satisfied with the group supervision experience. Findings suggest that more advanced skills, including research literacy, experimental designs, data graphing and analysis, and manuscript writing, are likely to require additional instructional support beyond weekly group supervision. Given the preliminary nature of the study, the findings are discussed along with implications for practice and future research.