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For behavior technician supervisors

Practice writing observable descriptions

Help a new technician replace an interpretation with a description another observer can check.

A short, fictional exercise for a supervisor and new technician to discuss together. This does not replace required training, supervision, assessment or an individualized plan.

Try a fictional example

A trainee writes, “The learner was upset and refused.” Ask: what did the observer see or hear? Which words describe an interpretation?

Practice facts: during a fictional table activity, the learner said “no,” pushed the worksheet away and moved to a chair across the room. The activity was paused.

Show a possible rewrite

“During the table activity, the learner said ‘no,’ pushed the worksheet away and moved to a chair across the room. The activity was paused.” This describes what happened without assuming a reason. Record only what was actually observed.

Discuss together

  1. What context helps another reader understand the event?
  2. Which details are observed actions, and which are guesses?
  3. What would you ask the supervisor if the written definition or reporting procedure were unclear?

Use a fictional scenario for practice. Follow the supervisor’s written definitions and the organization’s rules for any real record.

Build an ABA foundation

Intro to ABA: Level 1 is introductory training for new staff: $199 paid once, with a free seven-day trial of the first two sessions. After activation, the published course gives 10 weeks to complete it. Complete the course and pass the final exam to earn a certificate of completion.

It is not a professional credential, a CE certificate, or the BACB 40-hour RBT training. Check the learner’s license dates and the requirements for their intended role.

See Intro to ABA: Level 1

Return to the supervisor onboarding guide

Reference for the broader technician knowledge areas: BACB RBT Test Content Outline (3rd ed.), checked November 3, 2026. This practice is not a BACB assessment or an official preparation resource.