Functions of Behavior The functional categories or response classes of behavior are listed below. Under the function is a brief description of reinforcers that select and maintain behaviors within each functional category. Socially Mediated Positive Reinforcement (SMPR) Access to items and activities act as reinforcer Attention acts as reinforcer 2. Socially Mediated Negative Reinforcement (SMNR) Removal of stimulus acts as reinforcer Automatic Positive Reinforcement Behaviors produce stimulation that acts as a reinforcer Automatic Negative Reinforcement Removal of some bodily stimulation acts as a reinforcer (Pain Reduction) Usually treated medically.

Assessment and Behavior Plan Development And Implementation Step # 1 ---DATA COLLECTION Topographical Definitions Data Recording Open-Ended Interview (Hanley, 2014) Modified Experimental Analyses through Individualized Assessment (ABC Recording) Step # 2 ---ANALYZE THE DATA Sort Data by Antecedent Category/MO Summarize the Frequency and Duration Graph Baseline Data on Line Graph Step # 3 --- BEHAVIOR PLAN DEVELOPMENT Identify Suspected Functions Select Treatments Based Upon Suspected Function Write Plan Step # 4 --- IMPLEMENT TREATMENTS BASED UPON SUSPECTED FUNCTION, GRAPH TREATEMENT DATA & EVALUATE EFFECTIVENESS.

STEP # 1 ---Data Collection Topographically define the behavior in observable and measurable form. On the next slide are examples of topographical definitions.

Data Recording Interview persons familiar with individual and problem behavior. Purpose of this interview is to determine when and where you will observe occurrences of the problem behavior and how you will individualize the assessment to insure you see frequent occurrences of the behavior and the conditions that seem to trigger the response.

See Appendix For Legible Copy Interview

Answers Activity 1 Name Date: ___________ Time:___________ Antecedent Behavior Consequence (What Did You Do) q Interruption/Transition q Crying q q Access Denied/ Told “no” q Whining q Wants something q Screaming q Sensory Reinforcement is valuable q Flopping q Grabbing q Demand @ Table q Bolting q Demand in NET q Biting MO is Unclear/Out of the Blue Other q Hitting   Duration:________ q Kicking q Other Answers Activity 1

Modified Experimental Analysis and Individualized Assessment Use the information from the interview to determine where, when and how you conduct the assessment. For example you may discover through your interview that the behavior always occurs after the individual is “denied access” to an activity or object (TOLD NO). You would arrange the situation so that the child’s environment triggers the motivation for the item or activity so you have the opportunity to tell him “No” he can’t have it. This will trigger the problem behavior and ask the person managing the child to do what they normally do. You will then be able to record the antecedent and consequence for the behavior to help determine the function of the problem behavior. This is a modified experimental analysis that only lacks a control condition. Britt Roger K Anthony Contrived Trials