Functional Behavior Assessment Paper

A functional behavior assessment is a systematic method of gathering and analyzing information about why an individual engages in specific behaviors which enables the identifying the potential functions, triggers, and abating influences (Mayer, Sulzer-Azaroff, & Wallace, 2014). In conducting a functional behavior assessment an attempt is made to identify which antecedents and consequences can be reliably associated with the occurrence of the behavior. Indirect assessment methods are utilized in the way of interviews and questionnaires, as well as direct observation of the antecedents and consequences. Functional analysis includes manipulation of environmental factors. In the assessment of a client who has recently begun to engage in the SIB of slapping her face, the first step would be to collect information surrounding the behavior. After obtaining the client history to rule out any biological or physiological variables which may be influencing the change in behavior, such as: recent health …show more content…
Descriptive assessments serve to identify the function of the behavior within the natural environment through directly monitoring and recording the setting events, antecedents, and consequences which occur in relation to the behavior (Mayer, Sulzer-Azaroff, & Wallace, 2014). Utilizing an A-B-C analysis the cause and effect relationship of the behavior would be clearly demonstrated which could be inspected for a pattern of antecedents and consequences. Paired with an ecobehavioral assessment, which gives further information through its consideration of those circumstances beyond the immediate behavior and environment which could influence behavior such as ongoing and prior events, hunger, sleep, what was going on in the environment, it could be hypothesized when the behavior is more likely to occur as well as the potential functions of the behavior (Mayer, Sulzer-Azaroff, & Wallace,