On the Importance of Fidelity, Integrity, and Adherence in Behavior-Analytic Publications: An Introduction to the Special Issue on Procedural Fidelity

Abstract

Procedural fidelity, treatment integrity, and treatment adherence are important concepts for research and practice in behavior analysis. Although commonly used as synonyms, minor differences among the terms exist and may affect their acceptability. Thus, there may be merit to adopting the term procedural fidelity. Measures of fidelity are critical because they inform our interpretation of how procedures change behavior, provide a foundation for the development of more streamlined interventions, and suggest which treatment components may be most useful in a particular context. Yet, fidelity measures can be affected by the measurement system and analytic strategies, and fidelity is not consistently reported in behavior-analytic publications. The studies published in the special issue of Education and Treatment of Children highlight the breadth of work that can be conducted in the area of fidelity. Suggestions for future studies are provided.