1. Chapter 24: Functional Behavior Assessment
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

2. Functions of Problem Behavior
Positive Reinforcement
“Getting something”
Negative Reinforcement
“Getting out of something”
These functions can be
Socially mediated
Non-socially mediated (automatic)
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

3. Positive Reinforcement
Social
Attention from others
Access to tangible stimuli
Automatic
Physical Stimulation
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

4. Negative Reinforcement
Social
Escape from aversive or difficult tasks
Automatic
Escape from aversive stimulation
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

5. Function vs. Topography
Topography = form of the behavior
Function = function of the behavior
Different topographies of problem behavior
Can serve the same function
Can serve different functions
Similar topographies of problem behavior
Function is more important for intervention than form
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

6. FBA and Intervention
When the function of problem behavior has been identified, intervention can consist of:
Altering antecedent variables
Altering consequent variables
Teaching alternative behaviors
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

7. Altering Antecedent Variables
Change and/or eliminate
Motivating operation for problem behavior
Discriminative stimuli that trigger problem behavior
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

8. Altering Consequent Variables
Place problem behavior on extinction
Withhold identified reinforcer when problem behavior occurs
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

9. Teaching Alternative Behaviors
Select appropriate behaviors that serve the same function
Provide reinforcer that previously maintained problem behavior contingent upon the new, alternative behavior
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

10. FBA and Default Technologies
Intrusive, coercive, or punishment-based interventions
Often selected arbitrarily
Understanding why a behavior occurs suggests how it can be changed
Conducting FBAs and understanding why a behavior occurs decreases reliance on default technologies
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

11. FBA and Prevention of Problem Behavior
When default technologies are used, other problem behaviors may emerge
The use of FBA for developing intervention may avoid the development of new problem behaviors
FBA may identify conditions that pose risks for the development of future problem behaviors
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

12. Continuum of FBA Methods
Analog functional analysis
Level of Precision
Level of Difficulty
Direct observation in natural routine
Indirect Assessments
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

13. Functional (Experimental) Analysis
Antecedents and consequences are arranged so that their separate effects on problem behavior can be observed and measured
Often referred to as analog
Similar to what is occurring in natural routine, but more systematic
Allows for better control
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

14. Typical Conditions Contingent attention Contingent escape Alone
Control (e.g., “free play”)
These are presented one at a time until a pattern of problem behavior emerges
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

15. Interpreting Functional Analyses: Attention Function
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

16. Interpreting Functional Analyses: Escape Function
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

17. Interpreting Functional Analyses: Automatic Reinforcement
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

18. Interpreting Functional Analyses: Undifferentiated Pattern
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

19. Advantages of Functional Analysis
Yields a clear demonstration of the variable(s) that relate to the occurrence of problem behavior
Serve as the standard to which all other forms of FBA are evaluated
Enable the development of effective reinforcement-based treatment
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

20. Limitations of Functional Analysis
May temporarily strengthen the problem behavior
May result in the behavior acquiring new functions
Acceptability may be low
Difficult to use for serious, low frequency behaviors
If conducted in contrived settings, may not identify idiosyncratic variables related to problem behavior
Requires time, effort, and professional expertise
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

21. Descriptive FBA
Direct observation of problem behavior under naturally occurring conditions
Events are NOT arranged in a systematic manner
Different Forms
ABC Continuous Recording
ABC Narrative Recording
Scatterplot
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

22. ABC Continuous Recording
Occurrences of targeted problem behaviors and
Selected environmental events
Within the natural routine
During a specified period of time
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

23. Sample ABC Continuous Recording Form
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

24. Advantages of ABC Continuous Recording
Uses precise measures
Provides useful contextual information and correlations regarding environmental events and the problem behavior, which can provide useful information for later functional analyses
Does not require disruption of the individual’s routine
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

25. Limitations of ABC Continuous Recording
Often, antecedents and consequences do not reliably precede and follow problem behavior, making correlations difficult to detect
May use conditional probabilities
Proportion of occurrences of problem behavior preceded by a specific antecedent
Proportion of the occurrence of problem behavior followed by a specific consequence
These may be misleading, however
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

26. ABC Narrative Recording
Data are collected only when behavior(s) of interest are observed
Recording is open-ended
Thus, it is less time-consuming than continuous recording
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

27. Sample Narrative Recording Form
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

28. Limitations of ABC Narrative Recording
Utility in identifying behavioral function not established
May yield false positives because data are collected only when problem behavior occurs
The same antecedent and consequent events may be present when problem behavior is absent
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

29. Limitations of ABC Narrative Recording
Reliability may be low
Unless trained, observers may report “inferred states” rather than events
It is often difficult to discriminate which environmental events actually occasion the problem behavior
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

30. Scatterplot
Procedure for recording the extent to which a target behavior occurs more often at particular times than others
Divide day into blocks of time (e.g., a series of 30-min segments)
For each time period, enter a symbol to indicate whether problem behavior occurred a lot, some, or not at all
Analyze for patterns to identify temporal distributions of behavior and events that occur at that time
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

31. Sample Scatterplot Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

32. Advantages of Scatterplots
Identify time periods during which the problem behavior occurs
Can be useful for pinpointing periods of the day when more focused ABC assessments can be conducted
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

33. Limitations of Scatterplots
Utility of scatterplots is unknown
Subjective in nature
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

34. Indirect FBA Structured interviews Checklists Rating scales
Questionnaires
These are all considered “indirect” because they do not involve observing the behavior; rather they involve soliciting another’s recollection of the behavior
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

35. Structured Behavioral Interviews
Goal: to obtain clear and objective information about the problem behavior(s), antecedents, and consequences, as well as a plethora of other information
Several published examples
Interview significant others
Interview student him/herself
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

36. Behavior Rating Scales
Ask informants to estimate the extent to which behavior occurs under specified conditions
Hypotheses about function of behavior are based on scores associated with each condition
Those conditions with the highest score are hypothesized to be related to the problem behavior
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

37. Advantages of Indirect FBA
Useful source of information for guiding subsequent, more objective assessments
Contribute to hypothesis development regarding the variables that may occasion or maintain problem behavior
Very convenient because they do not require direct observation of behavior
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

38. Limitations of Indirect FBA
Informants may not be accurate
Informants may be biased
Little research exists to support the reliability of information obtained from indirect assessments
Not recommended as principal means of identifying functions of behaviors. Best used for hypothesis development.
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

39. Conducting an FBA
Gather information via indirect and descriptive assessments
Interpret information and formulate hypotheses
Test hypotheses using functional analysis
Develop intervention options based on the function of problem behavior
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

40. Gathering Information
Conduct functional assessment interview with individual’s care providers
Use this information to define target problem behaviors, identify and define potential antecedents and consequences, and to determine what other assessments are warranted
Conduct direct observations of the problem behavior within the natural routine
Use this information to confirm/disconfirm information obtained in interviews
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

41. Interpreting Information and Formulating Hypotheses
Write hypothesis statements in ABC format
Antecedent
Behavior
Consequence
When Tonisha is prompted to wash her hands in preparation for lunch,
she screams and tantrums, which is followed by…
termination of hand washing and lunch by being sent to time-out.
Hypothesized function = escape from hand washing or lunch
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

42. Testing Hypotheses Conduct a functional analysis
Always include a control condition
Select additional conditions depending upon hypotheses
If positive reinforcement (attention) is a hypothesis, conduct contingent attention
If negative reinforcement is a hypothesis, conduct contingent escape
If automatic reinforcement is a hypothesis, conduct alone condition
Alternate conditions in counterbalanced fashion until a pattern emerges
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

43. Brief Functional Analyses
Conducting a functional analysis in a short period of time
Procedure
Implement one session of the control condition
Implement one session of each test condition
Implement a contingency reversal
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

44. Contingency Reversal Used to confirm hypothesis by:
Providing reinforcement for an alternative behavior
Problem behavior no longer produces reinforcement
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

45. Sample Brief Functional Analysis with Contingency Reversal
Esc. for Req.
Esc. for Req.
Control
Cont.
Attn.
Cont.
Esc.
Cont.
Esc.
Rate of Behavior per Min 3 2 1 4
Requests
Problem Behavior 1 2 3 4 5 6
Sessions
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

46. Developing an Intervention
FBA does NOT identify the interventions that will be effective
DOES identify powerful reinforcers that can be used in intervention
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

47. Functional Equivalence
Intervention must match the function of the problem behavior
If problem behavior = escape function
Intervention should provide escape for alternative behavior
OR alter task demands to make escape less reinforcing
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

48. Functional Equivalence
Intervention must match the function of the problem behavior
If problem behavior = gain function
Intervention should provide desired outcome (access to attention or tangibles) for alternative behavior
OR alter antecedent conditions to make attention and/or tangibles less reinforcing
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

49. Alter the ABC Contingency
Antecedent
Behavior
Consequence
Attention in the form of a reprimand and discussion.
When Deshawn is left alone with toys or work…
He hits others, which is followed by…
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

50. Alter the Antecedent Antecedent Behavior Consequence
When Deshawn is left alone with toys or work…
He hits others, which is followed by…
Attention in the form of a reprimand and discussion.
Deshawn is provided with a peer buddy during work/play periods
These are irrelevant because problem behavior is avoided.
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

51. Alter the Behavior Antecedent Behavior Consequence
Attention in the form of a reprimand and discussion.
When Deshawn is left alone with toys or work…
He hits others, which is followed by…
Deshawn is prompted to ask a peer or adult to play/help, which is followed by…
Attention in the form of socialization and help.
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

52. Alter the Consequence Antecedent Behavior Consequence
Attention in the form of a reprimand and discussion.
When Deshawn is left alone with toys or work…
He hits others, which is followed by…
Neutrally blocking the hitting and ignoring Deshawn.
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

53. Summary Prior to intervention When designing intervention
Identify the function
Escape
Gain (attention/tangible)
Automatic
When designing intervention
Modify the ABC contingency
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition

54. Summary Assessment continues after intervention begins
Monitor effectiveness
Changes in function over time
Cooper, Heron, and Heward
Applied Behavior Analysis, Second Edition