Functional Behavioral Assessment: Building a Systemic Response to

Problem Behavior

Tim Lewis, Ph.D.

University of Missouriwww.missouri.edu/~spedtl

OSEP Center on Positive Behavioral Intervention & Supports

www.pbis.org

The key

BEHAVIOR is functionally related to the TEACHING ENVIRONMENT

Individual Support Plans

• When small group not sufficient

• When problem intense and chronic

• Grounded in Applied Behavior Analysis

• Driven by Functional Behavioral Assessment

• Linked to school-wide system

Primary Prevention:School-/Classroom-Wide Systems for

All Students,Staff, & Settings

Secondary Prevention:Specialized Group

Systems for Students with At-Risk Behavior

Tertiary Prevention:Specialized

IndividualizedSystems for Students

with High-Risk Behavior

~80% of Students

~15%

~5%

CONTINUUM OFSCHOOL-WIDE

INSTRUCTIONAL & POSITIVE BEHAVIOR

SUPPORT

Process (FA to PBIS)

• Conduct functional behavioral assessment

• Create plan based on functional assessment outcome

• Develop infra-structure to support behavior change (system change)

Functional Assessment

• Behavior is learned– All behavior communicates

– Every social interaction you have with a child teaches that child something

Child Throws Tantrum

Parent Gives Item Child Stops Tantrum

Child Wants Something

Functional Assessment

• Behavior communicates need– Children engage in behavior(s) to

"get" something or to "avoid" something

– Need is determined by observing what happens prior to and immediately after behavior

Functional Assessment

• Concerned with the functional relationships between BEHAVIOR and the TEACHING ENVIRONMENT

• “Functional Relationships”

– When “X” happens, high degree of likelihood “Y” will result

Functional relationships with the Teaching Environment

Events that follow behavior

• Following a student behavior the environment “gives” something to the student and student behavior maintains or increases -- what ever was given is reinforcing to that individual

Functional relationships with the Teaching Environment

Events that follow behavior

• Following a behavior the environment allows the student to stop an activity or is removed from the situation and the student behavior maintains or increases -- the event the student is avoiding is aversive to that individual

Functional Assessment

“A process for gathering information used to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of behavioral support” (O’Neil et al.)– Operational definition of behavior– Identification of events that are functionally related to

behavior– Identification of consequences that maintain behavior– Hypothesis about function of behavior – Direct observation to confirm/support hypothesis

Functional Assessment

Pre-Assessment• Interviews• Rating Scales

Direct Observation• A-B-C • Checklist• Functional Analysis

Develop Hypothesis

Develop hypothesis statement regarding the likely functions of the problem behavior and the context (social and environmental conditions) in which it is most likely to occur.

Hypothesis

• When this occurs….

• The student does….

• To get/avoid...

FA Hypotheses

• Positive reinforcement by attention

• Positive reinforcement by tangible items

• Negative reinforcement by escape/avoidance of demands

• Reinforcement by sensory consequences

• Multiple functions

Intervention Considerations

• Functional equivalent = Teach replacement behavior

• Response outcome = Replacement behavior should result in same or similar outcome as problem behavior

• Environmental modifications to promote use and maintain replacement

Teach Alternative Behavior

• Function = Get– Social skills that access attention appropriately– Social skills that delay access to desired objects or

events

• Function = Escape – Social skills that access assistance with difficult tasks– Social skills to avoid negative adult & peer interactions

Modify Environment

Attention• Withhold attention for problem behavior

• Provide high rates of reinforcement for replacement behavior

Modify Environment

Escape• Do not allow student to “escape” tasks

unless they use pro-social alternative behavior

• Modify tasks to promote high rates of engaged time

Designing Functional Interventions: Example

ReadingClass /Peers

On Task

Off Task

On TaskWorkingw/Peers

WorkCompletion /

Grades

PeerAttention

Arg

um

en

t o

n P

lay

gro

un

d

Setting Events

Predictors Behavior Consequences

• Playground monitor debriefs student prior to coming into building.

• Change seating arrangement during reading class.• Pre-correct class RE rules of cooperative groups.

• Set up cooperative peer groups.• Identify appropriate peers and teach cooperative strategies.• Teach rules and skills of cooperative groups to target student.• Role play cooperative learning with peers and target student.• Monitor progress (momentary time sampling)

• Verbal praise when on-task (VI 3 minutes).• Error correction for off-task.• Free time with peers for meeting established daily criteria.

SYST

EMS

PRACTICES

DATASupportingStaff Behavior

SupportingDecisionMaking

SupportingStudent Behavior

PositiveBehaviorSupport OUTCOMES

Social Competence &Academic Achievement

FBA – PBIS Plan Process

Success requires:

1. Individual(s) with expertise in FBA-PBS

2. Fluency with a clear process among all staff including their role

3. A basic understanding of the Applied Behavior Analysis = Behavior is functionally related to the teaching environment

Step Document Who is responsible for completing document?

Completed document should be given to:

One Request for Assistance (A) Referring Teacher Case Manager

Two Archival Review (B) Teacher w/ Office Staff assistance

Case Manager

Three Problem Behavior Questionnaire (C) Referring Teacher Case Manager

Four FACTS –Teacher Interviews (D) Referring teacher and Case Manager complete together

Case Manager

Five Environmental Inventory (E) Case Manager

Six Intervention development meeting

Seven Optional Additional Interviews a) AVAF (F) b) CVAF (G) c) IVAF (H) d) Student (I)

Case Manager

Eight Optional Observations MU & Case Manager

Nine Intervention development meeting

FBA Student Plan Development

1. Define Problem Behavior (observable & measurable, Form A) [3 Minutes]

2. Review Collected DataContext [10 Minutes]

Archival Review [Form B]– examine data for patterns such as time of day, tasks, adults, or peers in which problem behavior is present or absent and examine for overlap between academic concerns and patterns of problem behavior. Also examine for patterns of appropriate behavior in relation to academic strengths.

Environment Inventory [Form E]– examine for patterns of behavior (problem/appropriate) in relation to critical features such as high rates of problem behavior during low structure, low rates of positive feedback.

FBA Student Plan Development

Context Summary

When/during

there is an increase in problem behavior.

Data Source Hypothesized Function Team Confidence in Hypothesized Function

PBQ (Form C) Get / Avoid Low Medium High

FACTS (Form D) Get / Avoid Low Medium High

FBA Student Plan Development

• Possible Function of Problem Behavior [5 minutes]

3. Summarize Data

1. Data sources not clearly pointing toward function or confidence is low – conduct direct observation and reconvene planning meeting with additional information (See below)

2. Data sources pointing toward a clear function and confidence is high – develop a hypothesis(es)

FBA Student Plan Development

Hypothesis One

• When/during (conditions) student (behavior)

to (get/avoid)

Additional Info if neededData Source (form #) Hypothesized Function Team Confidence in Hypothesized Function

Additional Teacher Interview (F,G,H)

Get / Avoid Low Medium High

Student Interview (I) Get / Avoid Low Medium High

A-B-C observation Get / Avoid Low Medium High

FA test protocol Get / Avoid Low Medium High

FBA Student Plan Development

4. Develop Plan Based on Assessment [15 minutes]A) Define Replacement behavior (observable & measurable):

• Detail strategies to teach replacement behavior:

B) Context alteration to support use of replacement behavior:• Prompts prior to “trouble spots”• Changes in environment (e.g., routines, grouping, work difficulty)

C) Outcomes when student uses replacement behavior (matched to function) & scheduled delivery {GET = teacher attention, earn free time with peers, special privileges; AVOID = task choice, ask for assistance, peer tutor, “take-a-break,” re-seated}:

FBA Student Plan Development

5. Share Plan with Family/External Agency [1 minute]

Check appropriate actions

6. Plan Review Schedule [1 minute]a. Copy one page plan and distribute

b. Prior to next meeting (check appropriate actions)

C. Team meeting review date