Behavior Assessment
Functional assessment before intervention
Define behavior and collect indirect/direct assessment data before selecting intervention procedures.
How this shows up in scenario questions
- 1Choose assessment when function is unknown.
- 2Reject extinction or NCR before identifying maintaining variables.
- 3Use baseline to support intervention decisions.
Common misconceptions
- Selecting a procedure from topography alone.
- Skipping baseline because the behavior is severe.
- Using extinction without knowing the reinforcer.
Distractor patterns
- Implement extinction in all settings immediately.
- Use punishment first.
- Teach a replacement response before assessing function.
Related terms
FBAbaselineABC datafunction
Related practice prompts
Select assessment methods before intervention.
A teacher reports that a learner screams during independent work. No data have been collected and the function is unknown. What should the BCBA do first?
Select least intrusive effective interventions.
Assessment suggests attention maintains disruption. Which intervention plan best aligns with least intrusive effective practice?
Choose functional communication based on the maintaining reinforcer.
Assessment suggests a learner throws materials to escape difficult writing tasks. Which replacement response should be prioritized first?