A Systematic Review of Pyramidal Training for Implementing Behavioral Interventions

The pyramidal training approach is a promising strategy to train behavioral interventionists in applied settings, as it maximizes efficiency of training by allowing for more trainees to learn and implement a diverse range of behavioral strategies in less time. This systematic review synthesized 30 single-case studies that evaluated pyramidal training in training practitioners to implement behavioral interventions. Results support the effectiveness of the pyramidal training model at the case, tier, and study levels across various settings, targeted skills, and participant types, particularly for improving practitioner implementation fidelity. However, strategies for promoting maintenance of trained skills, such as feedback and coaching, have not been routinely incorporated into pyramidal training procedures. Future researchers should evaluate the utility of post-training observations of implementation fidelity to determine the sustainability and most efficacious methods for promoting fidelity of trained behavioral interventions. Ultimately, the pyramidal training approach shows great promise but requires further optimization and empirical scrutiny.