Functional Behavior Assessments

1159 Words3 Pages

Through my commentary portfolio and class material, I was able to develop an understanding of what applied behavior analysis entails, as well as how it will be incorporated into my future career as a school psychologist. Applied behavior analysis, also known as behavior modification, is the psychological field of analyzing and modifying human behavior (Miltenberger, 2012). As the name indicates, ABA is applied and behavioral. Behavior analysts work with subjects, behaviors, and events that are valued in society, and remedy everyday problems that society deems to be of importance (Baer et al., 1968; Bijou, 1970). ABA studies are pragmatic, in that they deal with stimuli that are specifically related to an individual’s problem behavior, the specific …show more content…

Behavioral school psychologists view a student’s school problems as a problem with the arrangement of environmental contingencies, and not a problem with the child. Thus to determine the appropriate arrangement of the contingencies, educators often carry out functional assessments to determine what the function of problem behavior is and what is maintaining it (Ervin et al., 2001). Functional behavioral assessment (FBA) is used to determine specific environmental events or stimuli that are linked with behavior. The purpose of an FBA is to identify the problem behavior and operant function of the behavior, and directly link the findings to interventions. Treatments derived from FBAs utilize the three behavioral principles to rearrange contingencies in an individual’s environment (Asmus, Vollmer, & Borrero, 2002). Experimental analysis for academic interventions, which has been given the name brief experimental analysis (BEA), helps educators to diminish academic deficits by applying treatment directly and in the shortest time possible. BEAs come in several forms, but all involve some process of breaking down a treatment package in order to develop an individualized intervention in its simplest form with the fewest components necessary to be effective (Daly, Anderson, Gortmaker, and Turner, …show more content…

The instructional hierarchy helps to link assessment of academic responding to interventions that include specialized treatment components. The ultimate goal of interventions is to increase the frequency and quality of student responding (Daly, Lentz, & Boyer, 1996). Once the current level of responding and ideal level is determined, school psychologists can apply reinforcement and antecedent manipulation strategies to help students move up the instructional hierarchy and eventually acquire the necessary skills and adapt them to everyday

Open Document