Functional assessment and Behavior Intervention Plans

Question 1

What is the core goal?

Answer 1

Decreasing undesirable behaviors and increasing desirable behaviors across all settings

Question 2

What is the importance of data collection

Answer 2

1. Detailed, objective data is crucial to understanding the true function of a behavior
2. Data helps determine if behavior is escape or gain-related, or automatically reinforced

Question 3

why is functional bases intervention important

Answer 3

1. Understanding why a behavior occurs is essential for selecting appropriate interventions
2. Behavior that is reinforced is more likely to happen again
3. Interventions based on behavioral function are more effective than random interventions

Question 4

what is the functional assessment process?

Answer 4

1. A functional assessment helps identify antecedents and consequences of a behavior
2. Data is collected to form a hypothesis about the behavior’s function
3. Before function assessments, interventions were based on guesswork, sometimes making them ineffective

Question 5

why are function-based interventions efefctive

Answer 5

1. Function-based interventions teach individuals alternative ways to fulfill their needs
2. these interventions are more efficient and have better outcomes

Question 6

what is the 1st step of conducting a functional assessment?

Answer 6

1. Planning
   A. Meet with stakeholders to outline data collection goals and timelines
   B. Define the behaviors of concern
   C. Identify who should be interviewed
   D. Establish how to collect data

Question 7

what is the 2nd step in conducting a function assessment?

Answer 7

1. Defining Behaviors
   A. Behaviors should be defined in observable and measurable terms to avoid miscommunication
   B. Operational definitions ensure consistency in identifying behavior occurrences

Question 8

What is ABC recording?

Answer 8

Captures information surrounding behavior, including what happens before and after the behavior

Question 9

what are some tips for ABC recording?

Answer 9

1. Sequence
2. Focus on interactions
3. Record desirable and undesirable behaviors

Question 10

What is event/frequency recording?

Answer 10

counting every instance of a behavior; ideal for behaviors that occur infrequently or with clear beginnings and endings

Question 11

What is duration recording?

Answer 11

measures how long a behavior occurs, useful for behaviors with variable lengths

Question 12

What is latency recording?

Answer 12

measures how long it takes for a behavior to begin after a cue; useful for determining the time between a request and the start of a behavior

Question 13

what is interval recording?

Answer 13

breaks observation into intervals, records if behavior occurred in each interval

Question 14

what is whole interval recording?

Answer 14

behavior must occur throughout the entire interval; used for continuous behavior like staying on task or walk

Question 15

what is partial interval recording?

Answer 15

behavior is recorded if it occurs at any point within the interval; used for discrete behaviors like swearing or hitting

Question 16

what is time sampling?

Answer 16

records behavior at the end of the interval, often used for high-frequency behaviors like fidgeting or looking out the window

Question 17

what is functional analysis data used for?

Answer 17

determines which variables affect the behavior; used when other data methods do not reveal clear patterns

Question 18

what types of conditions are used for functional analysis data?

Answer 18

1. Alone condition (observing a behavior without external interaction)
2. Attention condition (providing attention to see if the behavior is attention seeking)
3. Demand condition (introducing multiple demands to see if behavior is demand-evoked)
4. Tangible condition (providing access to reinforce items to see if behavior is related to tangible rewards)

Question 19

What are the considerations of using functional analysis data?

Answer 19

1. Functional analyses are done with caution
2. Staff must be trained and ready to intervene if dangerous behavior occurs
3. Results help form effective behavior interventions

Question 20

what is interobserver agreement (IOA)

Answer 20

ensures data accuracy by having two observers record the same behavior and then comparing their data

Question 21

what is the formula for calculating interobserver agreement (IOA)

Answer 21

smaller number of recorded instances / larger number of recorded instances x 100 = reliability percentage

Question 22

what is data analysis used for?

Answer 22

to identify the function of the behavior

Question 23

what are patterns?

Answer 23

behaviors may occur in response to environmental variables

Question 24

what are the steps of hypothesis formation?

Answer 24

1. Data sources (behavior analysts form a hypothesis based on data from multiple sources
2. Validity: If 3 or more data sources point to the same function, the hypothesis is considered valid

Question 25

what do data analysts look for?

Answer 25

Patterns in the data that explain the function of behavior

Question 26

what is function-based intervention?

Answer 26

interventions designed based on the identified function of behavior

Question 27

what are the components of behavior intervention plans (BIP)?

Answer 27

1. Antecedent strategies - addressing what happens before the behavior occurs 2. Replacement behaviors - Teaching new behaviors that serve the same function as the undesired behavior 3. Reinforcement - reinforcing desirable behaviors to replace undesirable ones 4. Some BIPs may also include: specific strategies for reducing behaviors, and crisis plans for behaviors posing immediate danger

Question 28

what does it mean to set events?

Answer 28

factors that occur before the behavior that may increase or decrease its likelihood, like feeling sick, too much noise, room temperature, and a non-preferred person

Question 29

what are components of a crisis plan?

Answer 29

1. Behavior identification 2. circumstance 3. Intervention team 4. De-escalation procedures 5. Post-crisis steps