Behavior Analysis and Intervention

Positive Reinforcement

• Problem behaviors can be reinforced through the attention they receive from others
• Access to desired items or events can also reinforce problem behaviors
• Behaviors can be automatically reinforced by providing their own reinforcement

Negative Reinforcement

• Behaviors can be learned to avoid or postpone aversive events
• Behaviors directly terminating aversive stimuli are reinforced automatically

Function Versus Topography

• The function of a behavior is more important than its form
• The same reinforcement contingencies can affect both desirable and undesirable behavior
• The function of a behavior suggests how to change it

Role of Functional Behavior Assessment in Intervention and Prevention

• Functional behavior assessment (FBA) helps guide interventions based on the function of problem behavior
• FBA provides three strategic approaches for interventions:
  • Altering antecedent variables
  • Altering consequent variables
  • Teaching alternative behaviors

Alter Antecedent Variables

• FBA can be used to identify antecedents that trigger problem behaviors
• Antecedent variables can be altered to make problem behavior less likely

Alter Consequent Variables

• FBA identifies reinforcements for problem behavior, which should be removed
• Reinforcements should be allocated for alternative behaviors instead

Teach Alternative Behaviors

• Appropriate replacement behaviors should be taught that serve the same function as problem behavior
• Reinforcement should be given for these replacement behaviors

Role of FBA in Default Technologies

• Understanding the function of behavior helps prevent reliance on punishment
• FBA can lead to more effective interventions based on reinforcement

Role of FBA in Prevention

• FBA can help prevent problem behavior by identifying conditions that trigger it
• FBA data can help identify potential future problem behaviors and prevent their development

Overview of FBA Methods

• Three types of FBA methods:
  • Functional Analysis
  • Descriptive Assessment
  • Indirect Assessment
• Functional analysis confirms hypotheses regarding functional relations between problem behavior and environmental events

Advantages of ABC Continuous Recording

• Descriptive assessments based on continuous recording use precise measures
• Correlations in continuous recording may reflect causal relations
• Continuous recording is useful for designing functional analyses
• Continuous recording does not disrupt routine

Considerations for ABC Continuous Recording

• Correlations between events and problem behaviors may be difficult to detect
• Conditional probability or contingency space analysis might be necessary

ABC Narrative Recording

• A descriptive assessment involving open-ended recording when events occur
• May be less time-consuming than continuous recording

Considerations for Narrative Recording

• Utility in identifying functional relations has not been established
• Functional relations may be inaccurately identified
• Observers may report inferred states rather than observable events
• Distinguishing events that occasion a behavior can be difficult
• Useful for preliminary information gathering

Scatterplot Recording

• Identifies time periods when problem behaviors occur most frequently
• Different symbols are used to indicate the frequency of a target behavior in different time segments

Considerations for Scatterplots

• Advantages: Helps identify time periods with higher frequencies of problem behavior
• Concerns: Temporal patterns may not be evident reliably
• Interpretation may be difficult due to the subjective nature of ratings

Indirect Functional Behavior Assessment

• Uses structured interviews, checklists, rating scales, or questionnaires
• Identifies potential environmental conditions correlated with problem behavior
• Indirect because it does not involve direct observation of the behavior

Behavioral Interviews

• Obtain information about problem behaviors, antecedents, and consequences
• Clarify descriptions of behaviors:
  • When, where, with whom, and frequency of behavior
  • Events preceding behavior
  • Actions following behavior
• Information about preferences, skills, and communication are also collected

Behavioral Rating Scales

• Informants estimate the extent to which behavior occurs under specific conditions using a Likert scale
• Hypotheses about the function of behavior are based on these ratings

Testing Hypotheses

• Functional analyses are used to test hypotheses
• A control condition is included in the analysis to promote the lowest frequency of problem behavior
• Play conditions are often used as control conditions with preferred toys, activities, no demands, and continuous attention
• Conditions are chosen to test specific hypotheses

Developing Interventions

• Interventions should match the function of problem behavior
• Intervention should functionally equivalent to problem behavior
• FBA identifies
  • Antecedents that trigger behavior
  • Behavioral deficits to remedy
  • Reinforcement contingencies to alter
  • Powerful reinforcers
• Example: If behavior serves an escape function, interventions should provide escape for alternative responses or alter task demands

Developing Interventions (Continued)

• FBA is ongoing during intervention implementation
• The function of behavior can change over time, requiring intervention adjustments

Austin, J., & Carr, J.(Eds.).(2000).Handbook of applied behavior analysis

Fryling and Baires (2016) The practical importance of the distinction between open and closed-ended indirect assessments.pdf