Conducting a Functional Analysis By Cherie Ba and Moses Olagunju
Objectives: To understand and define what functional analysis is. To create positive non aversive methods in the approach to severe and challenging behaviour. To have an understanding of the teaching methods used in positive programming and developing support plans . To look at ways of monitoring and recording behaviours of concern.
What is Functional Analysis? The purpose of Functional Analysis is to identify events that control behaviour; These events may occur before the behaviour (i.e. Antecedents) or after the behaviour (i.e. Consequences) Functional Analysis specifically includes a description of the problem, a history of the problem, an antecedent analysis, consequence analysis, and an analysis of the meaning of the behaviour. (Lavigna and Willis 1996)
Behavioural assessment reports need to fulfil five main objectives of functional analysis. They need to: Describe the person behaviour clearly Identify slow and fast triggers for the behaviour List the rein forcers that are maintaining the behaviour Produce summary statement describing these relationships Show that these relationships have been verified by direct observation.
Comprehensive assessment reports of Functional Analysis and the Components. Identifying Information Reason for referral Data Source Description of the service Background information Description of the problem History of the problem Ecological Analysis Antecedent Analysis Consequence Analysis Motivational Analysis Mediator Analysis Recommended Support plan Support procedures Recommendations
Teaching Plans: General Skills Functionally Equivalent Functionally Related Coping and Tolerance Skills
Methods of recording challenging behaviour: ABC Charts Time Sampling Scatterplots
Monitoring Chart for recording inappropriate nudity.
Case Study of Dominic Behaviour Of Concern Functional Analysis of Behaviour Support Plan and measuring behaviour Outcome and Results Graphs
Average duration in minutes of inappropriate nudity.
Average level of severity
Number of events each week