A concise review of the correspondence between the traditional functional analysis and alternative assessment formats

Rahaman, Javid A.; Fahmie, Tara A.; Melanson, Isaac J.; DeBrine, Jordan E.; Zangrillo, Amanda N.

doi:10.1002/jaba.1060

J of App Behav Analysis

2024

DOI: 10.1002/jaba.1060

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A concise review of the correspondence between the traditional functional analysis and alternative assessment formats

Javid A. Rahaman,

Tara A. Fahmie,

Isaac J. Melanson

et al.

Abstract: The functional assessment of challenging behavior (e.g., self‐injurious behavior) has evolved over many years of research and practice. This concise review summarizes the positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of common procedural adaptations reported to improve functional assessment safety and efficiency. We conclude with suggestions for clinicians and researchers.

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Cited by 3 publications

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Efficiency, Safety, and Dissemination: Considerations for Research and Practice Related to the Practical Functional Assessment

Kranak,

Briggs

2024

Behavioral Interventions

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Researchers have developed and evaluated procedural modifications to the functional analysis (FA) to improve its efficiency and safety while maintaining its precision. A contemporary FA modification is the interview‐informed synthesized contingency analysis (IISCA) or practical functional assessment (PFA). Nearly all of the extant dissemination efforts related to the IISCA/PFA support this approach, with little attention to its drawbacks and limitations. Further, the IISCA/PFA has been widely disseminated and seems to have been readily adopted by many clinicians as the nonpareil FA. However, researchers and clinicians should be aware of several lingering issues and considerations to have a more balanced understanding of the IISCA/PFA (e.g., the conditions under which this approach should be considered). Accordingly, we outline the strengths of the IISCA/PFA, considerations surrounding various factors (e.g., the dissemination tactics), ideas for future research, and how the discussion on this topic should move forward.

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Efficiency, Safety, and Dissemination: Considerations for Research and Practice Related to the Practical Functional Assessment

Kranak,

Briggs

2024

Behavioral Interventions

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Validating social reinforcer classes for low‐severity challenging behavior identified by sensitivity tests

Melanson,

Fahmie,

Ferris

et al. 2024

J of App Behav Analysis

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Behavior analysts typically assess and treat challenging behavior after it occurs regularly and at high severity. Although effective, this reactive approach is quite costly and resource intensive. A growing literature supports an alternative preventive approach; the first step involves conducting sensitivity tests to screen the topographies and functions of low‐severity behavior evoked by establishing operations commonly included in challenging behavior research (e.g., Fahmie et al., 2020). Despite the potential value of sensitivity tests, their correspondence with functional analyses has yet to be established. This study measured the correspondence between social reinforcer classes nominated by sensitivity tests and social reinforcer classes verified by traditional functional analysis outcomes of the same behaviors. Participants included 10 young autistic learners who were reported to exhibit low‐severity challenging behavior. Data showed generally high correspondence between both assessment outcomes for challenging behavior but not for appropriate requests.

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Toward Maximizing Assessment Efficiency: A Synthesized Trial-Based Functional Analysis and Competing Stimulus Assessment

Shawler,

Castaneda-Velazquez,

Lafo

2024

Behavioral Sciences

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Despite the success of the standard functional analysis (FA), some limitations to conducting an FA in practice include time, resources, ecological relevance, and safety, which have led to the development of procedural adaptations such as trial-based and synthesized FA formats. The purpose of this case study was to identify the function(s) of self-injurious behavior (SIB) for a 3-year-old female with developmental disabilities using a brief trial-based FA with ecologically relevant synthesized contingencies, based on caregiver input, to minimize opportunities for SIB. We identified that positive physical attention likely functioned, at least in part, as a reinforcer for SIB, in less than 42 min. Overall harm to the child as a result of the synthesized trial-based FA was minimal, and the caregiver viewed the modified conditions favorably. We then assessed the role of competing stimuli on SIB rates with the child’s mother and identified two potential items that may compete with attention as a reinforcer for SIB. Our findings highlight the utility and importance of individualized assessment as the first step in the safe treatment of severely challenging behavior.

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A concise review of the correspondence between the traditional functional analysis and alternative assessment formats

Cited by 3 publications

References 27 publications

Efficiency, Safety, and Dissemination: Considerations for Research and Practice Related to the Practical Functional Assessment

Efficiency, Safety, and Dissemination: Considerations for Research and Practice Related to the Practical Functional Assessment

Validating social reinforcer classes for low‐severity challenging behavior identified by sensitivity tests

Toward Maximizing Assessment Efficiency: A Synthesized Trial-Based Functional Analysis and Competing Stimulus Assessment

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