1. Assessment of Behavior
Chapter 6
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Terry Overton Assessing Learners with Special Needs, 5e

2. What is a Behavior?
1) Observable
2) Definable
3) Measurable
- frequency (how often does it occur?)
- duration (how long does it occur?)

3. _______ 1. Angry _______ 11. Happy
Place a B or N in each blank, depending whether the term is a specific Behavior or Not a specific behavior
_______ 1. Angry _______ 11. Happy
_______ 2. Hits classmates and yells _______ 12. Walks to the door
_______ 3. Is bad _______ 13. Loves food
_______ 4. Does not complete homework _______ 14. Eats all the food on the plate
in 1 minute
______ 5. Is sad _______ 15. Good boy
______ 6. Cries 4 times during the day _______ 16. Sings at recess
______ 7. Good student _______ 17. Verbally abusive
______ 8. Pays attention _______ 18. Uses swear words 20 times in 10 minutes
______ 9. Raises hand _______ 19. Is afraid
______ 10. Neurotic _______ 20. Hides in the corner when confronted by the class bully

4. Behavioral Approaches
Classical Conditioning - an organism learns to connect or associate stimuli. 4

5. When Christina was a baby, her parents would drive her around in the car to get her to fall asleep because the feeling of motion automatically made her drowsy. As an adult, Christina feels drowsy whenever she sits in a car, even when it is not moving.
What is the unconditioned stimulus (US)? _________________________________
What is the unconditioned response (UR)? _________________________________
What is the conditioned stimulus (CS)? ___________________________________
What is the conditioned response (CR)? ___________________________________

6. Nausea Conditioning in Cancer Patients
UCS
(drug)
UCR
(nausea) CS
(waiting
room) CR

7. Behavioral Approaches
Skinner’s Operant Conditioning
Operant Behavior - operates (acts) on environment
produces consequences
Consequences (rewards and punishments) are contingent on the organism’s behavior.
Reinforcement (reward) increases
the probability that a behavior will occur.
Punishment decreases the probability
that a behavior will occur. 7

8. Types of Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement – giving something that the person wants that increases the behavior
Examples:
Praise
Teacher attention
Rewards
Negative reinforcement – taking away something that the person does not want that increases the behavior
Chores
Taking away time-out

9. Types of Punishment
Presentation Punishment (type I) – giving something that the person does not want that decreases the behavior
Detention
Extra work
Removal Punishment (type II) – taking away something that the person wants that decreases the behavior
Loss of recess
Loss of privileges

10. Schedules of Reinforcement
Continuous Reinforcement
reinforcing the desired response each time it occurs
Partial (Intermittent) Reinforcement
reinforcing a response only part of the time
results in slower acquisition
greater resistance to extinction

11. Reinforcement Schedules
Copyright 2001 by Allyn and Bacon

12. Schedules of Reinforcement: Frequency and Predictability
Fixed Ratio: reinforcer given after fixed number of behaviors
Fixed Interval: reinforcement only at certain periodic times
Variable Ratio: reinforcer given after unpredictable number of behaviors
Variable Interval: reinforcement at some times but not others
Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006

13. Francis sells jewelry to a local gift shop
Francis sells jewelry to a local gift shop. Each time he completes 10 pairs of earrings, the shopkeeper pays him for them. This is an example of a ___________ schedule of reinforcement.
A. Fixed ratio
B. Variable ratio
C. Fixed interval
D. Variable interval
Sandra’s mail is delivered every day at 10:00. She checks her mailbox several times each morning, but only finds mail the first time she checks after 10:00. This is an example of a __________ schedule of reinforcement

14. Vernon is practicing his golf putting
Vernon is practicing his golf putting. On the average, it takes him four tries before the ball goes in the hole. This is an example of a _________ schedule of reinforcement
A. Fixed ratio
B. Variable ratio
C. Fixed interval
D. Variable interval
Paula is an eager third-grader, and loves to be called on by her teacher. Her teacher calls on her approximately twice each period, although Paula is never sure when her turn will come. This is an example of a __________ schedule of reinforcement

15. Manifestation Determination (discipline)
Removal to an IAES (“interim alternative educational setting”) must include continued services if more than 10 days
School personnel may remove a student to an IAES for up to 45 school days (not calendar days), whether or not the conduct is a manifestation due to:
Drugs
Weapons
Inflicting serious bodily injury (at school, on school premises, or at a school function)

16. Functional Behavioral Assessment
IDEA requires assessment teams to conduct functional behavioral assessments (FBA).
Examines circumstances surrounding the occurrence and/or nonoccurrence of the challenging behavior
It asks “what is the function of the behavior?”
Task avoidance or escape, sensory stimulation, attention, continuing a reinforcing activity
Antecedents
Difficulty of assignment, noise levels, fatigue
Behavior
Consequences
Reinforcement or punishment
Provide new curricular and instructional approaches.

17. Functional Behavioral Assessment
Direct measures involve the student, including direct observations and interviews with the student.
Indirect methods include teacher and parent reports, interviews with persons who know or work with the student, and evaluation of work samples.
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Terry Overton Assessing Learners with Special Needs, 5e

18. Methods of Direct Observation
Anecdotal or Narrative Recording- Observations of behavior
in which the teacher notes all behaviors and
interactions that occur during a given period of
time.
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Terry Overton Assessing Learners with Special Needs, 5e

19. Follow This Case
Matt, a 4th grade student, seems to react in a negative manner towards his peers. During his reading class, he pushed another student and said a sarcastic remark to his teacher when he was instructed to get his reading homework out to pass toward the front of the class.
During this reading class, Matt’s teacher requested that the special education teacher observe to assist her with figuring out why Matt seemed to be having difficulty. The special
education teacher completed an anecdotal recording.
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Terry Overton Assessing Learners with Special Needs, 5e

20. Anecdotal Recording of Matt
Matt entered the classroom. He went to his desk and talked to the student sitting next to him. The student responded. When the teacher requested that the students prepare for their oral reading period, Matt continued talking with his peer. The peer asked Matt to leave him alone. Matt continued talking to the student and the student replied “Leave me alone. Stop talking. We are going to get into trouble.” At this point, Matt shoved the student. Peer repeats request. The teacher instructed the students to hand in their reading questions that were assigned for homework. The peer told Matt, “ Pay attention. Get your homework out.” At this point, Matt replied, “I didn’t do the stupid homework.” The peer laughs.
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Terry Overton Assessing Learners with Special Needs, 5e

21. Write each in the following format: Antecedents Behaviors Consequences
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Terry Overton Assessing Learners with Special Needs, 5e

22. Antecedents Behaviors Consequences
Matt enters the room.
Matt talks to his peer.
The peer responds.
Teacher gives command.
The peer responds.
Matt talks to his peer.
Peer tells Matt to
stop.
Matt pushes peer.
The peer responds.
Peer tells Matt to get homework out.
Matt talks to peer.
The peer responds
(laughs).
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Terry Overton Assessing Learners with Special Needs, 5e

23. Event Recording Event recording-Recording the frequency of a target
Behavior; also called frequency counting.
Matt’s teacher and the special education teacher reviewed the
anecdotal recording. They determined that Matt’s talking
was being reinforced by the responses of his peer. In other
words, talking to the peer served the function of receiving
peer attention. The special education teacher asked Matt’s
teacher if Matt behaved in the same manner during other
classes. The teacher decided to complete an observation for
other classes and other days to see if the behavior was consistent.
The next slide illustrates the data.
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Terry Overton Assessing Learners with Special Needs, 5e

24. Event Recording for Matt Target Behavior: Talking to Peers
Monday Tuesday Wednesday
Reading
Spelling
Writing
Math
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Terry Overton Assessing Learners with Special Needs, 5e

25. Review the frequency count presented on the
Previous page. Discuss the following questions.
Is Matt’s behavior consistent in all of the other periods observed?
When does the behavior seem the most
problematic?
Is the behavior the same across the three
days of the observations?
What hypotheses can you generate or, in other words, what other information would
you want to find out to help you understand the behaviors?
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Terry Overton Assessing Learners with Special Needs, 5e

26. Special Education Teacher and General Classroom Teacher Discussion
The teachers discussed the data and made the following
Observations. Matt’s talking is consistently more problematic during reading class. His talking seemed to
increase through the week in reading class.
The questions that the teachers decided they wanted to answer were:
How is Matt achieving in reading? How does Matt feel
About the reading tasks he is required to do? For example, does he dislike the oral reading time or the written homework for the stories read in class?
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Terry Overton Assessing Learners with Special Needs, 5e

27. Special Education Teacher and General Classroom Teacher Discussion
Other questions they considered were:
Does Matt have friends in his other classes? (The peer he talked with is only in his reading class.)
Are there factors outside the classroom that prevent him
from completing his homework for reading?
Because reading is the first class of the day, are there factors that occur in the mornings before school or on the way to school that impact his behavior (setting events)?
Does Matt use his time in class to complete his work?
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Terry Overton Assessing Learners with Special Needs, 5e

28. Frequency or Event Recording

34. Latency Recording
Latency recording- Observations involving the amount of time that elapses from the presentation of the stimulus until the response occurs.
One intervention that Matt’s teacher implemented was a change in
seating arrangement. Matt was no longer sitting next to the same peer. He continued to have some difficulty in reading class.
As the teachers discussed Matt’s behaviors, one of the factors that
seem to influence Matt’s ability to make academic progress was
the length of time it required Matt to complete his assignments. His teacher noted that Matt seems to take a long time getting organized and getting to work. His teacher decided to complete a
latency recording. For comparison, the teacher also completed a latency recording for 2 peers sitting beside Matt.
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Terry Overton Assessing Learners with Special Needs, 5e

35. Latency Recording Stimulus Time to Respond Instruction Get reading
Books out
Take out
Paper
Begin
Chapter
questions
Matt
145 seconds
90 seconds
120 seconds
Peer 1
20 seconds
15 seconds
18 seconds
Peer 2
5 seconds
12 seconds
10 seconds
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Terry Overton Assessing Learners with Special Needs, 5e

36. Analyzing the Data
As you can see, Matt seems to take significantly more time responding to requests in reading class.
Can you suggest some strategies or interventions
that might be beneficial to try?
Matt’s teacher analyzed Matt’s permanent products in his academic subjects. His teacher noted that Matt’s skills seemed to be somewhat weak in the areas of reading decoding, reading comprehension, and writing. Discuss the impact of his academic skills on his behavior and the impact of his behavior on his academic achievement. Review the other types of informal academic and behavioral assessment that should be used next.
Copyright ©2006 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved.
Terry Overton Assessing Learners with Special Needs, 5e

37. Momentary Time Sampling

38. T: Observation 1 = 20% C: Observation 1 = 80%

40. Checklists and Rating Scales
Child Behavior Checklist
Behavior Assessment System for Children (BASC)
Connor’s Rating Scales
Projective Tests
Sentence Completion
Drawing Tests
Rorschach
Apperception Tests