Functional Behavioral Functional Behavioral AssessmentAssessment

“Have you ever seen….”

• “Lantana, you skipped 2 school days, so we’re going to suspend you for 2 more.”

• “Trang, I’m taking your book away because you obviously aren’t ready to learn.”

• “You want my attention?! I’ll show you attention,…let’s take a walk down to the office & have a little chat with the Principal.”

Functional Approach?

FUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENTS

• “Children are not born bad or with bad behavior, they learn it!”

• We know that children who exhibit unacceptable and/or inappropriate behavior have learned this behavior from someone and/or somewhere, and display the behavior for a specific reason.

• Our task as educators is to figure out why they are displaying the behavior and how we can assist the child in changing the inappropriate behavior to more acceptable and appropriate behavior.

• A Functional Behavior Assessment is a strategic tool that we utilize in order to assess the possible causes of the behavior, and to assist us in deriving strategies to correct and/or eliminate the inappropriate behavior.

What is FBA?• Problem-solving process for addressing

student problem behavior

• Varied techniques & strategies to identify the purposes (function) of specific behavior

• Used to help problem solving teams select

interventions to address the problem behavior

What is FBA?A systematic process for developing statements about factors that

– contribute to occurrence & maintenance of problem behavior, &

– more importantly, serve as basis for developing proactive & comprehensive behavior support plans.

WHO CONDUCTS FUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENTS?

– A Functional Behavior Assessment is a total team effort from any and everybody involved in the life of a student, ranging from parents to teachers to counselors to paraprofessionals.

– In conducting a FBA and developing a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP), education personnel should draw upon a range of communication and interpersonal skills. As with other collaborative efforts, building level administrative and collegial support is essential to a successful outcome.

Fundamental Rule“You should not propose to reduce a problem behavior without also identifying alternative, desired behaviors person should perform instead of problem behavior” (O’Neill et al., 1997, p. 71).

6 Steps of FBA1. Identify the Problem2. Collect Data using Multiple

Assessments3. Analyze the Data4. Make Determinations &

Hypotheses5. Develop & Implement a Behavior

Implement Plan6. Evaluate Progress & Follow-up as

Necessary

Step 1: Identifying the Problem

• Pinpoint the behavior causing learning or discipline problems, and define that behavior in concrete terms that are easy to communicate and simple to measure and record

A. Identify and define the behavior in a broad sense– “Marco uses inappropriate language at school.”

B. Identify and define the behavior in specific terms– “During outside play and/or free time with

classmates, Marco uses inappropriate language.”

Case Study: Identifying the Problem

• Define these problems more concretely.

– DeWayne is disruptive.– LaDane is disrespectful.– Kendra is slow.

Skill Deficits vs.

Performance DeficitsSkill Deficits

The students does not know how to perform the desired skill.

Performance Deficits

The student knows the desired skill but is unable to perform the skill on a consistent basis.

Identifying the Problem: Important Question

Is the problem behavior linked to a skill deficit?• Is there evidence to suggest that the

student does not know how to perform the skill and therefore cannot?

• Does the student understand the behavioral expectations for the situation?

Identifying the Problem: Important Question

Does the student have the skill? • Sometimes it may be that the student can

perform a skill, but, for some reason, does not use it consistently (e.g., in particular settings).

• Is it possible that the student is uncertain about the appropriateness of the behavior (e.g., it is appropriate to clap loudly and yell during sporting events, yet these behaviors are often inappropriate when playing academic games in the classroom)?

Addressing Skill and Performance Deficits

• Recognize the physical signs that the student is becoming angry.

• Use relaxation skills• Apply problem solving skills• Practice communication skills• Modify curricular and/or environment• Utilize support staff:

– School counselor– School psychologist

Step 2: Collect Data Using Multiple Assessments

• Indirect Assessment– This type of assessment relies heavily on

interviews with teachers and other adults who have direct contact with the student.

– Indirect assessments may also include interviews with the child as well.

– It is very useful to compare the interviews of the adults who have direct contact with the child and the child him/herself, in order to gain perspective on those things that may be similar in nature.

Indirect Assessment: Important Interview Questions

– In what settings do you observe the behavior?

– Are there any settings where the behavior does not occur?

– Who is present when the behavior occurs?

– What activities or interactions take place just prior to the behavior?

– What usually happens immediately after the behavior?

Step 2: Collect Data Using Multiple Assessments

• Direct Assessment– A direct assessment consists of

observing the problem behavior and describing the conditions that surround the behavior.

•Antecedent – what occurs right before the problem behavior occurs.

•Consequence – what occurs right after the behavior occurs.

Sample Scatter Plot11/13 11/14 11/15 11/16 11/17

9:009:059:109:159:209:259:309:359:40

The Value of Assessment

– The utilization of direct and indirect assessments together and a collaborative of all persons who have contact with the student displaying the problem behavior(s) provides an essential tool for formulating Behavior Intervention Plans.

Step 3: Data AnalysisCarefully consider and examine what you have learned

about the behavior and its context.

• Compare & Analyze

• Identify Patterns

• Revise Assessment Plan if Necessary

Step 4: Make Determinations & Establish Hypotheses

• Make determinations about what to do next, using the information and looking at the antecedents and the consequences as well as the reaction to the consequences

• Establish Hypotheses regarding function of behavior

• Test Hypotheses– Example: Daryl calls out during instruction. A functional

behavioral assessment might reveal the function of the behavior is to gain attention (e.g., verbal approval of classmates), avoid instruction (e.g., difficult assignment), seek excitement (i.e., external stimulation), or both to gain attention and avoid a low-interest subject.

Step 5: Make & Implement Behavior

Intervention Plan• As a team, develop the Behavior Intervention Plan to

address the behavior, using the information gathered and summarized in your Functional Behavior Assessment.

• Implement Plan– Manipulate the antecedents and/or consequences of

the behavior– Teach more acceptable replacement behaviors that

serve the same function as the inappropriate behavior– Implement changes in curriculum and instructional

strategies – Modify the physical environment.

• Behavior Intervention Plans must be monitored and data collected and recorded on a regular basis.

• Decisions must be made by the team as to what is working and what is not working.– For those strategies that are not

working, the team must modify and/or change the plan to try something else.

Step 6: Evaluation Progress & Follow-up as Necessary

• Evaluate the faithfulness with which the plan was implemented

• Evaluate the changes in student behavior

• Modify plan if needed

• Continue plan if warranted and develop phase out program as appropriate

6 Steps of FBA1. Identify the Problem2. Collect Data using Multiple

Assessments3. Analyze the Data4. Make Determinations &

Hypotheses5. Develop & Implement a

Behavior Implement Plan6. Evaluate Progress & Follow-up

as Necessary

Case Study• Using the six steps of FBA, please identify

possible interventions for each step. Please be a specific as possible.

– Jaron is failing three classes. He does not complete his homework and rarely participates in class discussions. Jaron is not outspoken, but he tends to get verbally aggressive when his teachers ask him about his work or when he is confronted by peers. Jaron’s mother reports that he is helpful at home and that he has always been a “quiet child.”

Functional Behavior Assessment is a tool used to make decisions about why behaviors are occurring.

It is necessary in order to change behavior to develop appropriate Behavior Intervention Plans and utilize those plans on a consistent basis over a reasonable amount of time.

Summary