Exploring Coach Self-Monitoring of Practice-Based Coaching

The importance of support for the feasible, efficient, and accurate implementation of coaching has been recognized. We examined the self-monitoring behaviors of 15 coaches implementing practice-based coaching with early intervention providers. Using an investigator-developed coding system, 60 coaching fidelity checklists were analyzed to quantify and categorize coaches’ self-monitoring behaviors. Ninety percent of checklists included timestamps, and 67% included comments. Fewer than half of all comments were coach-focused. Coach-focused comments most frequently labeled or described their behaviors, whereas evaluating or enhancing comments occurred less often. Positive and noteworthy relations were found between coach self-monitoring accuracy and observed fidelity. Coaches who self-monitored above the median frequency were more likely to implement coaching at or above 80% fidelity. Observation-based self-monitoring may support accurate reporting of coaching implementation fidelity. Implications include the importance of using self-monitoring strategies as implementation supports to enhance the quality and implementation of coaching in early intervention contexts.