A Research Report On Behavior

Behavior

There are many credible research sources that provide a definition of behavior with each one containing small variations in the complete definition. According to Merriam-Webster online, behavior is defined as (a) the manner of conducting oneself, (b) anything that an organism does involving action and response to simulation, (c) the response of an individual, group, or species to its environment, and (d) the way in which something functions or operates (Behavior, n.d.). O’Neill, et al. (2015) define behavior as “something that a person does that can be observed, with two or more observers agreeing that the behavior occurred” (p. 7). O’Neill, et al. (2015) also emphasize that behavior is not defined as a feeling, but rather applies to observable behavior. Furthermore, O’Neill, et al. (2015) accentuate that behavior is not an “inner state” (p. 7) but the observable actions that occur as a result. According to Cosgrave (2015), there are four primary functions of behavior to include (a) social attention, (b) tangibles or activities, (c) escape or avoidance, and (d) sensory stimulation. These functions according to O’Neill, et al. (2015), work directly with the student’s environment and result in specific outcome-based behaviors. O’Neill, et al. 2015 highlight two major functions of behavior to include the need to obtain something desirable or to avoid something undesirable. O’Neill, et al. (2015) examine examples of this connection to include actions such as hitting to obtain attention from the teacher or to escape an undesirable task. O’Neill, et al. (2015) impart that all problem behaviors have a specific underlying function which directs a student to behave in a particular manner.

Purpose and Primary O...

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...ers that the student finds positive.

• What do you know about the history of the undesirable behaviors, the programs that have been attempted to decrease or eliminate them, and the effect of those programs- pertains to the research and understanding of how the student has previously been treated in order to avoid repeating ineffective interventions.

• Develop summary statements for each major function or consequence- summary statements should gather hypothesis developed from obtained information and summarize the environmental setting, antecedents, problem behaviors, and the maintaining consequences for the student (O’Neill, et al., 2015).

Completing the FAI has the intended outcome of narrowing problem behaviors to specific events and identifying variables such as settings or activities that can be connected with specific functions and problem behaviors.