F08 Conduct Functional Analysis of Problem Behavior Part 1 Flashcards
A young adult with a severe intellectual disability exhibits dangerous aggressive behavior about once a month described by staff as occurring “out of the blue”. You should
Conduct a descriptive assessment
Functional analysis and other functional assessment methods are most likely to yield similar results when analog conditions
Approximate those of the natural environment
Advocates of brief functional analysis maintain that
An extended functional analysis is sometimes necessary
An analog assessment in which therapists deliver the functional consequences is not likely to yield valid results if the problem behavior
Is maintained by peer reactions
Assessment of behavior maintained by amelioration of painful stimulation should not employ
Functional analysis methodology unless one takes advantage of naturally occurring pain
Using functional analysis methodology with low-frequency behaviors that are not easily evoked
Is usually ill-advised
A problem with assessing low frequency behaviors is that they
Are not easily evoked
Using functional analysis methodology with very dangerous behavior is ethically questionable because such behaviors
Are intentionally provoked
Functional analysis sessions are conducted in the child’s classroom with his regular teacher when his peers are at recess. This may yield
Valid results unless that behavior is maintained by peer attention
An advantage of brief functional analysis is that
All the above:
The avoidance of establishing a significant reinforcement history for the undesirable behavior.
It is well suited when there is little time.
A hypothesis might be derived from an analysis of antecedents.
The risk of establishing a reinforcement history for the undesirable behavior is minimized.
A hypothesis might be derived from an analysis of antecedents.
An analog assessment may not yield valid results if the function of the problem behavior
Is pain onset
Functional analyses generally consist of which experimental conditions?
a. Contingent alone, contingent play, contingent escape, and contingent attention conditions
b. Attention, no attention, tangibles, and no tangibles conditions
c. Control, play, contingent attention, and alone conditions
d. Contingent escape, alone, contingent attention, and play conditions
Task: F-8
Correct Answer:
“Contingent escape, AKA – Demand (Escape Condition)
alone,
Contingent attention,
and play conditions. AKA– control Condition”
These are the most common phases used, and sometimes a contingent tangible condition is used.
The free play condition is used as the control.
“Contingent alone” condition is technically incorrect because it is simply called the alone condition (the subject is alone during the condition… being alone is not contingent on his target behavior.) “Contingent play” is technically incorrect because it is simply called the play condition (the subject is playing during the play condition, therefore play is not delivered contingent on any target behavior).
Contingent Attention Condition
The purpose of this condition is to determine if
The purpose of this condition is to determine if the individual’s problem behavior is due to attention positive reinforcement. Under conditions of social deprivation and in the presence of one or two adults, eye contact, physical contact, reprimands, or verbal interaction may be contributing to the individual’s problem behavior. The therapist presents verbal statements, such as “No, don’t do that” or similar comments that typically are given by others in the individual’s natural environment immediately after the individual’s problem behavior.
Contingent Attention Condition
even telling the individual not to do
even telling the individual not to do something may increase the likelihood that the behavior occurs or serves as a positive reinforcer!
it is called CONTINGENT Attention Condition because
Attention positive reinforcement is when social reinforcers are delivered (e.g., verbal, eye contact, gestures) immediately after the behavior and the behavior is more likely to occur in similar future situations (Martin & Pear, 2011).