Descriptive Assessment of Challenging Behavior

A functional behavior assessment (FBA) is a multistep process to identify the function of challenging behavior. During the FBA process, the clinician gathers information about the challenging behavior via descriptive assessments to inform one or more hypotheses regarding the function. The FBA is concluded by conducting a functional analysis to test the hypotheses. In this chapter, you will introduce your supervisees to the various approaches to conducting indirect and direct descriptive assessments. During the group supervision meeting, you will guide your supervisees through interpreting a behavioral interview, scatterplot, and ABC recording. Next, your supervisee will conduct a behavioral interview for their client. During the individual supervision meeting without a client, you will assist them in interpreting the interview and preparing for ABC continuous recording. During the final supervision meeting with the client, you and your supervisee will independently conduct an ABC continuous recording and measure IOA.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA Tonya N. Davis & Jessica S. Akers

1. Tonya N. Davis