Functional Assessment

Question 1

Functional Assessment

Answer 1

Set of procedures that allow relationships between a behavior and its antecedents and consequences to be determined

Question 2

Functions of Problem Behaviors

(Kinds of reinforcing consequences)

Answer 2

Negative reinforcement (escape)
Positive reinforcement
- social
- automatic
- tangible
- activity

Question 3

Define all 4 types of Positive reinforcement

Answer 3

Social: reinforcement provided by another person

Automatic: target behavior automatically results in reinforcement

Tangible: reinforcer is a physical item

Activity: reinforcement involves access to an activity

Question 4

Funtional Assessment Methods (7)

Answer 4

Indirect (Informant assesment)
Direct observation (Descriptive assessment)
- Unstructured
- Structured
- Scatterplot analysis
- ABC observations
Experimental methods (Functional analysis)

Question 5

Indirect Methods (Informant Assessment)

Answer 5

Data on antecedents, behaviors and consequences are collected from the target person based on their memory of what happened
- ex: interviews, questionnaires

Question 6

Direct Observation Methods (Descriptive Assessment)

Answer 6

Data on antecedents, behaviors and consequences are gathered as the behavior occurs in its natural environement

Question 7

Unstructured

Answer 7

Observations are made without altering events in the environment
- preforming usualy daily activities

Question 8

Structured

Answer 8

Specific antecedents in the environment are manipulated, results are recorded, consequences are not altered

Question 9

Scatterplot Analysis

Answer 9

Recording period is divided into intervals
- ex: every 30mins, if behavior occurs, grid is shaded in

Question 10

ABC Observations

Answer 10

Record Antecedents, Behaviors and Consequences under normal conditions as they occur

Question 11

Experimental Methods (Functional Analysis)

Answer 11

Experimenter manipulates antecedents and consequences to determine their effects on the target behavior on a structured situation

Question 12

Test conditions

Answer 12

Present different EO (Establishing Observation) and possible reinforcer for problem behavior in each condition

Question 13

Control condition

Answer 13

Present AO (Abolishing Observation) and withhold possible reinforcers for problem behavior

Question 14

Exporatory

Answer 14

Determine patterns of relationships that are not yet clear

Question 15

Hypothesis Testing

Answer 15

Comfirm predictions from informant or descriptive assessment

Question 16

6 Steps to Conduct a Functional Assessment

Answer 16

1. use indirect methods first
2. formulate a hypothesis about possible antecedents and consequences
3. preform direct observation
4. does data from direct observation support hypothesis?
5. develop behavior support plan
6. conduct functional analysis to confirm hypothesis