Mod 6b
Operational Definition:
-defining behavior in observable terms
-ensuring that objective data can be recorded
-anyone can read or understand
-grandmother test
-scope of the definition
-what is included
-what is excluded
-function or topography based definitions
-label and define
Function vs Topography:
-function
-defines changes in environment
-why use function based definition?
-when function is priority
-easier for recording
-entire response class
-topography
-defines the form of behavior
-why use topography based definition?
-cannot access functional outcomes
-behavior does not produce outcome
Importance of Operational Definitions:
-so everyone knows what the behavior looks like
-so we can all measure the behavior the same
-so we can properly treat the behavior
-takes time to create
-write them out to determine loopholes
-let at least 2 others evaluate to ensure clarity
-observe several times to ensure definition captures behavior
Good vs bad definition: aggression
Mod 6c
-entire purpose is finding a function
Behavioral Consequences
Payoffs: attention, avoidance, control, escape, communication, isolation, anger release,
self-stimulation
Costs: reprimands, instructions, loss of privileges, ignoring, time out,
Historically Evaluated Functions:
-access to social attention
-access to tangibles
-escape, delay, reduction, or avoidance of tasks
-automatic
AP method: additional functions
-control
-respondent
-synthesized
Mod 6d
Functional Behavior Assessments:
-second hand observation
-indirect measures
-live interviews
-assessment forms
-first hand observation
-descriptive assessment
-antecedent behavior consequence (ABC) data
-functional analysis
FBA: main components
-clear description of aberrant behavior
-describe when behavior will and will not occur
-settings
-settings events
-times
-the consequences that maintain behavior
-why the behavior is occurring
-take a lot of data
Why Conduct FBAs?
-Identify why behaviors occur
-develop a proactive plan
-develop a reactive plan
-reduce problem behavior
-mandated by federal law
Indirect Methods
-three components
-what we do
-what we say
-what we observe
-things we do
-take active listening posture
-eye contact
-remember your face
-nonverbal encouragements
-things we say
-encouragement
-quality of verbal statements
-things we observe
-identify the content/substance
-identify client’s feelings (indicated by what they say)
-what they are saying and how they say it
Indirect Methods: Kind of information
-motor movements
-eye contact
-facial expression
-fidgeting
-verbal behavior
-content
-paralanguage
-circumstances
-who, what, when, where
-outcome
Indirect methods: style to use
-actively listening
-providing rationales for asking questions
-paraphrase what person says
-intersperce comments about situation
-be empathetic
-be appreciative
-take notes
Indirect Methods: setting events
“Tell me what happened right before?”
-greg hanley question
-how could you get the behavior to occur?
-how could you not get the behavior to occur?
-can you tell me what else is occurring in the environment when the behavior happens?
-has there been other changes eg sleeping changes, meds, diet change
Some setting events:
-physical
-sleep patterns
-allergies
-illness
-seizures
-hunger
-learning and self regulation
-impulsivity
-attending
-organizational/planning skills
-specific disability
-social emotional
-refused desired object/activity
-fight w friend
-losing a game
-environmental and routines
-time of day
-change in school placement
-change in home routine
-death in family
Questions on Consequenecs
-what do you do after child engages in problem behavior?
-greg hanley question
-if i gave you 1000 $ how could you get it to stop?
“What have you done to try to stop behavior?”
“What has nnot worked that you tried?”
“What has worked that you have tried?”
Second hand observation: Question on behavior
-what is the behavior that you are concerned with
–tell me about intensity of behavior
-why do you think behavior is occurring
-how often does behavior occur
-what time of day does behavior occur
-what behaviors are you most concerned about
Formal indirect assessments
-functional analysis screening tool
-question about behavioral function
-aberrant behavior checklist
Indirect methods
Advantages:
-ways to get information quickly
-ways to build rapport
-can get caregivers or staffs perspective
-helps set up fba and fa
Disadvantages:
-more subject to bias
-not always accurate
-behavior plans cannot be done by only behavior assessments
Direct Methods
Descriptive assessment:
-systematic observation of behavior in natural environment
-data can be used to formulate treatment plans
-two levels
-observation w slight manipulations
-w no manipulations
Direct Observation:
-two step process
-observation
-describing behaviors
-circumstances surrounding behavior
-who and what sets up occasion
-who was present
-when and where
-what other people are saying/doing
-outcomes of behavior
-consequences of behavior
-does physical environment change
-what maintains the behaviors
-other individuals response to behavior
Antecedent
-what happened just before behavior occurred
-other events that occurred throughout day that could affect behavior
-layering effect
-observing:
-child
-environment
-adults
-interaction effects
-be as specific as possible
Behavior:
-need clear operational definitions
-scoring multiple behaviors simultaneously
-deciding number of behaviors to score
-using a code
-level or intensity of behavior
-score all
-be specific as possible
-replicability
-test if others know what you mean
-the grandmother test
Consequence:
-what occurred immediately after behavior?
-more demands
-feedback
-given access to preferred items
-is there a consistent response to the behavior?
Observing:
-child
-environment
-adults
-interaction effects
Other:
-date
-time
-environment
-other notes
Calculating ABC data:
-take total amount of aberrant behaviors
-work the numbers across commonalities
-antecedents
-consequences
-combination of antecedents and consequences
-graph the data
-evaluate for commonalities
-make treatment decisions based upon the data
Direct Methods
Advantages:
-observe in natural environment
-can take objective data
-can lead to effective intervention
Disadvantages:
-more subjective to bias
-not always accurate
-prisoner of the moment
-behavior plans can not be done by only indirect assessments
Mod 6E
-systematic evaluation
-client’s behavior
-environment
-used to determine function of behaviors
-final component of the fba
-interview
-direct observation
-functional analysis
-most precise way to determine function
-comparing target behaviors across different environmental conditions
-must use research design
-multielement
-reversal
-must have supervision from trained staff to conduct a functional analysis
-long history in field
Hanley et al (2003)
-over 500 published
-70 % w children
-91 % w participant w disability
-31 % conducted in schools
-not commonly done by teachers/thetapists
-over 95 % resulted in usable outcomes
-can lead to successful treatment plans
-can lead to reductions of problem behavior
Attention Condition
-general set up
-client does not receive attention
-client receives attention contingent on aberrant behavior
-therapist is busy w another task
-once problem behavior occurs provide attention
-where in the escalation cycle
Tangible condition
-general set up
Clinician deprives access to tangible items
-provide tangible items contingent on aberrant behavior
-therapist
-provides attention non contigently
-has items out of reach
-once aberrant behavior occurs, provide tangible items
-where in escalation cycle
-precursor or actual aberrant behavior
Demand/escape condition
-general set up
-therapist provides client a difficult task
-once aberrant behavior is displayed, task stops
-therapist
-have to ensure that it is non preferred work
-short break between problem behavior and work
-where in escalation cycle
Alone Condition
-general set up
-child is left alone in room
-child has nothing to do
-nothing occurs when problem behavior happens
-therapist
-keep child safe
-where in escalation cycle
Interpreting the graph
-data should be graphed
-multiple data paths
-looking to see if differences in graph
Concerns w traditional fba model
-safety
-undifferentiated results
-analogue conditions
But known to be precise
IISCA:
-informed interview synthesized contingency analysis
-now called practical functional assessment
-components
-no descriptive or close ended assessment
-use an open ended interview
-not using standard approach
-2 conditions
-synthsize multiple contingencies
-open ended interview
-must build rapport prior to starting
-let person know they are the experts on child
-no yes or no questions, million dollar question, what are the most problem concerning
behaviors
-listen for establishing operations
-the analysis
-test condition
-control condition
-leads to effective treatment
The Big 4
-written in 1980s
-consistent w autism partnership method
-big 4
-attention, escape, access, automatic
-other functions
-cotrol, emotional respondents
-in the moment analysis of function
-proactive
-teach all functions to clients
-teach prior to problem behavior
-reactive
-teach all functions to clients
-conduct in the moment assessment
-proceed based upon what function is occurring in the moment
-functions change moment to moment
-functions do co occur
Role of RBT: Functional assessment
-assist w procedures
-abc data collection
-assist w data collection during fa
-implement behavior reduction plan
-implement skill acquisition plan
