Functional Analysis Methodology: Some Closing Comments

Abstract

Functional analysis methodologies have emerged as powerful tools in research on the assessment and treatment of severe behavior disorders. Although the defining feature of these approaches is the systematic identification of environmental determinants of behavior, research methodology has varied widely with respect to the arrangements used to demonstrate experimental control as well as the types of variables subject to analysis. This commentary summarizes methodological and conceptual issues that have been raised in current research and offers some suggestions for their resolution.DESCRIPTORS: functional analysisThe research and commentaries contained in this issue ofJABA highlight the many uses to which functional analysis methodologies have been put and suggest a number of interesting avenues for future research. Having read all of the manuscripts during the editing process, I was left with the fear that not much remained to be said. However, in our own research and during frequent discussions with students and colleagues, a number of methodological and conceptual questions often arise, several of which either were not addressed in the current papers or were exemplified in ways that may not be immediately apparent (i.e., although the question might be inferred from the data, it was not a central aspect of the study). My commentary, therefore, will focus selectively on some personal concerns about the current status of research on functional analysis methodologies.' Increasing ComplexityOur initial attempts to develop an experimental approach to behavioral assessment met with a num-I am thankful to my students, whose relentless and probing questions often served as the occasion for me to express many of the views presented here, and to Nancy Neef, whose gracious invitation to participate in the organization of this special issue served as an inducement to get my words onto paper.Reprints may be obtained from Brian

Functional Analysis and Treatment of Destructive Behavior Maintained by Termination of “Don't” (And Symmetrical “Do”) Requests

“…Some investigators have suggested that formal descriptive assessments should be routinely conducted prior to experimental analyses (e.g., . However, others have argued that the utility of combining descriptive assessments and experimental analyses has not been clearly established, in part because interviews and rating scales tend to be unreliable and the results of direct methods do not always correspond to those of experimental analyses (Iwata, 1994;Lerman & Iwata, 1993;Sturmey, 1994). Therefore, we have attempted to use descriptive information conservatively, primarily when the results of an experimental analysis are inconclusive and responding was not maintained at consistent levels in any of the conditions.…”

Establishing Operations: Implications for the Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention of Problem Behavior

“…Under these circumstances, help is reinforcing because (like Michael's screwdriver) it changes the task into an easier one that does not establish motivation to escape. Help, of course, is one kind of attention so that, if such a transitive relation already exists, problem behavior in the context of demands may be attention rather than escape maintained (Iwata, 1994;Repp & Karsh, 1994;Rortvedt & Miltenberger, 1994).…”

Alterations to Functional Analysis Methodology to Clarify the Functions of Low Rate, High Intensity Problem Behavior

“…This study examined the results of the extended duration functional analysis procedures of Kahng, Abt, and Schonbachler (2001) with six children admitted to an inpatient hospital for the treatment of severe problem behavior. Results of initial functional analyses (Iwata, Dorsey, Slifer, Bauman, & Richman, 1982/1994 were inconclusive for all children because of low levels of responding. The altered functional analyses, which changed multiple variables including the duration of the functional analysis (i.e., 6 or 7 hrs), yielded clear behavioral functions for all six participants.…”

“…he development of a functional analysis of problem behavior (Iwata, Dorsey, Slifer, Bauman, & Richman, 1982/1994) transformed the treatment process for self-injurious behavior (SIB) and other problem behaviors by allowing clinicians and researchers to systematically identify the determinants of problem behavior. This functional analysis technology minimized the trial and error approach to treatment selection by allowing the clinician to predict which interventions were more likely to be effective (i.e., those directly designed to address the function of the problem behavior; Iwata, Pace, Cowdery, & Miltenberger, 1994).…”

“…In each situation, additional analyses or modifications are warranted and several have been examined in an effort to identify the determinants of problem behavior (Hanley et al, 2003;Iwata, 1994).…”