What is a FFunctional BBehavioral

AAssessment ?

What is a FFunctional BBehavioral

AAssessment ?

Outcomes• By the end of this presentation

participants will have:

– Defined the basic principles of a Functional Behavioral Assessment,

– Engaged in hands-on practice with two FBA tools, and

– Applied all presentation concepts to a case study

“Have you ever seen….”• “Fred, you skipped 7 class periods in the

past 3 days and have not gone to your detentions so we’re going to give you 3 days of in-school suspension.”

• “Joan, 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 students 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 student 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.

Why FBA?• Looks beyond the behavior and its overt

topography to focus on identifying biological, social, affective, and environmental factors that initiate, sustain, or end the behavior in question.

• Identifying underlying cause(s) of a student’s behavior, or “what a student gets or avoids” can provide valuable diagnostic information that is essential in developing proactive interventions and instructional strategies.

• Although student's behaviors may look alike and/or sound alike, the causes or functions are very different.

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 the 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.

Who Conducts Functional Behavioral Assessments?

• The SST is responsible for conducting the FBA for students for whom the school has behavioral concerns.

Conducting FBA• Amendments to IDEA advise a

functional behavioral assessment approach (which could determine specific contributors to behavior), NOT a specific technique or strategy to use when assessing that behavior.

• There are a variety of techniques available to conduct a functional behavioral assessment.

Problem Topography• Focusing only on the topography will

usually yield little information about effective interventions

• Identifying the underlying cause(s) of a student’s behavior or, more specifically, what the student "gets" or "avoids" through the behavior, can provide diagnostic information necessary to develop proactive instructional strategies

When Sequoia misses her 12:30 medication & teachers present multiple task demands, she makes negative self-statements & writes profane language on her assignments. Teaching staff typically send her to the office with a discipline referral for being disrespectful.

Setting event Antecedent Response Consequence

Misses 12:30medication

Teachersmake

multipletask demands

Sequoia makesnegative self-statements &

writes profanelanguage

Teacher sendsSequoia to

office for beingdisrespectful

What function?Avoid difficult tasks

Setting event Antecedent Response ConsequenceCaesar is

teased severaltimes about his

hair by his friends before

class

His teacherstares at his hair in class

Caesar askshis teacher what she’sstaring at

His teachersends him to

in-school detention

Caesar has dyed his hair three colors & is teased several times by his friends before class. When he enters the class, his teacher stares at his hair. Caesar immediately says “what are you staring at?” His teacher immediately sends him to in-school detention.

What function?Escape adult &peer attention

Setting event Antecedent Response Consequence

When his teacher asks him what the capitol city of a country is, Napoleon gives the correct answers. His teacher praises his correct answer, & tells him he may work by himself or a friend on the rest of the assignment.

None Teacher askswhat capitolcity of countryis

Napoleongive correctanswer

Teacher givesverbal praise & time to workwith a friend

What function?Access peer &adult attention

Setting event Antecedent Response Consequence

Cleo is new to the 6th grade, & English is her second language. When another student approaches & says something to her in English, Cleo turns away. The other student walks away. This happens several times during the day.

New student Studentapproaches &

speaks inEnglish

Cleo turns away

Other student walks

away

What function?Escape peer attention

Setting event Antecedent Response Consequence

As Veloce is walking, other kids look at him & say “what’s up?” He looks back and says: “Who ya lookin’ at?!” “Ya want some of this?!” “Ya talkin’ to me?!” Kids shake their heads & call him “weirdo.”

?? Look at him.“What’s up!”

“Who yalookin’ at?”“Ya wantSome?” “Yatalkin’ to me?

Kids shakeheads & call him “weirdo”

What function?Access peer attention

Fundamental Rule

“You should not propose to reduce a problem behavior without also identifying alternative, desired behaviors that a person should perform instead of the problem

behavior” (O’Neill et al., 1997, p. 71).

What is the context?

What happened

immediatelyBefore

the Problem Behavior?

What is thepresenting problem?

What happens?

Setting Events

TriggeringAntecedent

s

MaintainingConsequence

s

ProblemBehavior

What is the desired

behavior?

DesiredAlternative

What is an acceptable behavior?

AcceptableAlternative

TypicalResultSummary Statement

What is likely to be the result or consequence?

What is the result?

Setting Events Triggering Antecedents Problem Behavior

Acceptable Alternative

Desired Alternative

MaintainingConsequence

DesiredMaintaining

Consequence

Peerconflict

Teacher/peerrequest

Complywithrequest

Escalatedprofanityphysicalaggression

Walkaway

Avoidrequest

Requestcompleted

Caesar

Competing BehaviorPathway

Case Studies: Identifying Functions

• Juan, a 16 year old who reads at a second grade level, throws his reading book across the room and uses inappropriate language to inform the teacher that he does not intend to complete his homework. Often Juan’s tantrums escalate and he leaves the classroom.

• Sumi, an eight year old who reads novels for recreation, finds her classroom reading assignments boring. She shoves her book and workbook to the floor when the teacher starts reading instruction or comments on her lack of progress. The teacher often praises the other students who are following school rules in an attempt to get Sumi to read with the class.

Case Studies: Identifying Functions

• Maurice, a 10 year old who finds multiplication of fractions difficult, throws tantrums when asked to complete worksheets requiring him to multiply fractions. Generally the teacher provides him with one-on-one assistance in order to get him back on track.

• Kerry, a 12 year old who has problems paying attention, sits near the window in the back of the classroom. She frequently slams her text shut and loudly declares that she cannot work. The teacher uses sarcasm or humor to get Kerry re-engaged in the lesson several times during the class period.

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 Deficits

Skill 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 curriculum and/or environment• Utilize support staff:

– School counselor - School Social Worker– School psychologist – Trained staff member

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.

– 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

9:00

9:05

9:10

9:15

9:20

9:25

9:30

9:35

9:40

The Value of Assessment

– The utilization of direct and indirect assessments together and the collaboration 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 Analysis

Carefully 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 FBA

1. 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.”

A 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.

I sincerely thank you for being here today.

Please complete the evaluation, fold it in half,

and place it in the box by the door.

Summary