Assessment of Data Recording Practices Among Direct Service Providers of Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Implications for Training and Supervision

Objectives

The study objective was to assess the attitudes and opinions of direct service providers (DSPs) about their data recording responsibilities, training, and supervision at a human services organization for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Methods

The DSPs (n = 42) completed a 10-item questionnaire with Likert-scale ratings and open-ended comments during in-person group meetings at program settings.

Results

Quantified ratings revealed that the DSPs generally understood and approved most facets of data recording but were more equivocal concerning the clarity of behavior definitions, process of data evaluation by clinicians, consistency among co-workers, and impact of competing activities. Some differences in average ratings were apparent between DSPs from child and adult programs.

Conclusions

Findings from the study suggested several strategies human services organizations can implement to train and supervise DSPs in data recording and the benefits of social validity assessment for addressing performance improvement among practitioners.