Behavior Assessment
Functional assessment before intervention
Define behavior and collect indirect/direct assessment data before selecting intervention procedures.
Concept review facts
Use this block to decide whether the concept needs definition review, scenario practice, or missed-question repair.
What this concept means here
Define behavior and collect indirect/direct assessment data before selecting intervention procedures.
How it appears in questions
Choose assessment when function is unknown.
Best next action
If this concept is weak, practice Behavior Assessment scenarios and write one correction rule after each miss.
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.
Self-check before more practice
Can you define it without using the term itself?
If not, pause and rewrite the definition in plain language before answering more scenarios.
Can you spot the clue in a scenario stem?
Look for the data, timing, function, stakeholder, or ethical constraint that makes this concept relevant.
Can you reject the closest distractor?
A concept is not stable until you can explain why a plausible wrong answer is weaker.
Related terms
FBAbaselineABC datafunction
Turn this concept into practice
Use this page as a weak-area checkpoint: practice related scenarios, then review missed answers and save a study plan from your results.
Related study guides
Related practice prompts
Practice moreObservable and measurable intervention goals: Functional assessment before intervention.
Assessment data suggest a less intrusive plan may address repeating questions after instructions, but the team asks for a faster restrictive option. Across 8 sessions in service week 9, 3 observers recorded 54 minutes of observation in the telehealth caregiver meeting. The BCBA should:
Observable and measurable intervention goals: Functional assessment before intervention.
Assessment data suggest a less intrusive plan may address calling out during independent work, but the team asks for a faster restrictive option. Across 7 sessions in service week 20, 2 observers recorded 17 minutes of observation in the elementary classroom. The BCBA should:
Observable and measurable intervention goals: Functional assessment before intervention.
Assessment data suggest a less intrusive plan may address pausing work after corrective feedback, but the team asks for a faster restrictive option. Across 6 sessions in service week 30, one observer recorded 27 minutes of observation in the vocational training room. The BCBA should:
Observable and measurable intervention goals: Functional assessment before intervention.
Assessment data suggest a less intrusive plan may address repeating questions after instructions, but the team asks for a faster restrictive option. Across 6 sessions in service week 38, 3 observers recorded 13 minutes of observation in the telehealth caregiver meeting. The BCBA should:
Observable and measurable intervention goals: Functional assessment before intervention.
Assessment data suggest a less intrusive plan may address pausing work after corrective feedback, but the team asks for a faster restrictive option. Across 8 sessions in service week 43, one observer recorded 18 minutes of observation in the vocational training room. The BCBA should:
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