SQ5 (Chapter 27) – 7 points
Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA)
Chapter Study Questions: Use the questions below
PDF of Cooper, Heron, and Heward 3rd Edition
1. What are at least 2 benefits of conducting functional behavior assessment
Question (FBA) as part of the process for treating problem behavior?
Two benefits of conducting a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) as
part of the process for treating problem behavior are:
1. Identifying the Function of Behavior – FBA helps determine why a
behavior is occurring by identifying the antecedents (triggers) and
consequences that maintain the behavior. This allows for the
development of targeted interventions that address the root cause
Answer rather than just the symptoms of the behavior.
2. Developing Effective Interventions – By understanding the function of
the problem behavior, practitioners can design interventions that
teach alternative, functionally equivalent behaviors. This increases
the likelihood of long-term behavior change by ensuring that the
replacement behavior meets the same needs as the problem
behavior but in a more appropriate way.
2. Why is it important to identify the conditions that account for a behavior
Question rather than just the topography?
Answer It is important to identify the conditions that account for a behavior rather
than just its topography because:
1. Understanding the Function Leads to Effective Interventions – Two
behaviors may look the same (e.g., hitting), but they may serve
different functions (e.g., to escape a task or to gain attention). If we
only focus on what the behavior looks like (topography) without
understanding why it occurs, interventions may be ineffective or even
reinforce the problem behavior.
2. Prevents Misguided Treatment – If we address behavior based on
appearance alone, we may apply interventions that do not target the
actual cause. For example, punishing a child for yelling without
recognizing that the yelling is to escape a difficult task may not stop
the behavior; instead, it might increase other escape behaviors like
, avoidance or aggression.
Why is it important to understand why a behavior occurs before
3 implementing a treatment to change it? Provide an example of how treating
Question
. a problem behavior before understanding its function can be problematic.
Understanding why a behavior occurs before implementing a treatment is
crucial because behaviors, including problem behaviors, are often
maintained by specific environmental contingencies (e.g., reinforcement). If
the function of the behavior is not understood, the intervention may be
ineffective or even exacerbate the problem.
For instance, Imagine a student frequently leaves their seat during class. A
teacher, assuming the behavior is for attention, decides to ignore the
student when they leave their seat. However, if the actual function of the
Answer
behavior is escape from difficult tasks, ignoring it does nothing to address
the root cause. Instead, the student continues leaving the seat because it
successfully allows them to avoid challenging work.
In this case, failing to identify the behavior’s function results in an ineffective
intervention. A better approach, informed by a Functional Behavior
Assessment (FBA), would be to teach the student appropriate ways to
request breaks or provide academic support to make tasks more
manageable.
Completing an FBA can lead to three main strategies for modifying
4 environmental variables associated with problem behavior. Give an
Question
. example of each type of modification, with respect to a single hypothetical
behavior
Hypothetical Behavior: A child frequently throws objects in the classroom
when given independent work.
1. Altering Antecedent Variables (Preventing the Behavior)
Example: The teacher provides clear visual instructions and breaks tasks
into smaller steps to make independent work less overwhelming. By
modifying the task presentation, the child is less likely to become frustrated
and throw objects.
Answer
2. Altering Consequence Variables (Changing How Behavior is Reinforced)
Example: If the child throws objects and gets sent out of the classroom
(escape reinforcement), the teacher changes the response by requiring the
child to stay and complete a simplified version of the task instead of
avoiding work. This removes the reinforcement for the problem behavior.
3. Teaching Functionally Equivalent Replacement Behaviors
Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA)
Chapter Study Questions: Use the questions below
PDF of Cooper, Heron, and Heward 3rd Edition
1. What are at least 2 benefits of conducting functional behavior assessment
Question (FBA) as part of the process for treating problem behavior?
Two benefits of conducting a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) as
part of the process for treating problem behavior are:
1. Identifying the Function of Behavior – FBA helps determine why a
behavior is occurring by identifying the antecedents (triggers) and
consequences that maintain the behavior. This allows for the
development of targeted interventions that address the root cause
Answer rather than just the symptoms of the behavior.
2. Developing Effective Interventions – By understanding the function of
the problem behavior, practitioners can design interventions that
teach alternative, functionally equivalent behaviors. This increases
the likelihood of long-term behavior change by ensuring that the
replacement behavior meets the same needs as the problem
behavior but in a more appropriate way.
2. Why is it important to identify the conditions that account for a behavior
Question rather than just the topography?
Answer It is important to identify the conditions that account for a behavior rather
than just its topography because:
1. Understanding the Function Leads to Effective Interventions – Two
behaviors may look the same (e.g., hitting), but they may serve
different functions (e.g., to escape a task or to gain attention). If we
only focus on what the behavior looks like (topography) without
understanding why it occurs, interventions may be ineffective or even
reinforce the problem behavior.
2. Prevents Misguided Treatment – If we address behavior based on
appearance alone, we may apply interventions that do not target the
actual cause. For example, punishing a child for yelling without
recognizing that the yelling is to escape a difficult task may not stop
the behavior; instead, it might increase other escape behaviors like
, avoidance or aggression.
Why is it important to understand why a behavior occurs before
3 implementing a treatment to change it? Provide an example of how treating
Question
. a problem behavior before understanding its function can be problematic.
Understanding why a behavior occurs before implementing a treatment is
crucial because behaviors, including problem behaviors, are often
maintained by specific environmental contingencies (e.g., reinforcement). If
the function of the behavior is not understood, the intervention may be
ineffective or even exacerbate the problem.
For instance, Imagine a student frequently leaves their seat during class. A
teacher, assuming the behavior is for attention, decides to ignore the
student when they leave their seat. However, if the actual function of the
Answer
behavior is escape from difficult tasks, ignoring it does nothing to address
the root cause. Instead, the student continues leaving the seat because it
successfully allows them to avoid challenging work.
In this case, failing to identify the behavior’s function results in an ineffective
intervention. A better approach, informed by a Functional Behavior
Assessment (FBA), would be to teach the student appropriate ways to
request breaks or provide academic support to make tasks more
manageable.
Completing an FBA can lead to three main strategies for modifying
4 environmental variables associated with problem behavior. Give an
Question
. example of each type of modification, with respect to a single hypothetical
behavior
Hypothetical Behavior: A child frequently throws objects in the classroom
when given independent work.
1. Altering Antecedent Variables (Preventing the Behavior)
Example: The teacher provides clear visual instructions and breaks tasks
into smaller steps to make independent work less overwhelming. By
modifying the task presentation, the child is less likely to become frustrated
and throw objects.
Answer
2. Altering Consequence Variables (Changing How Behavior is Reinforced)
Example: If the child throws objects and gets sent out of the classroom
(escape reinforcement), the teacher changes the response by requiring the
child to stay and complete a simplified version of the task instead of
avoiding work. This removes the reinforcement for the problem behavior.
3. Teaching Functionally Equivalent Replacement Behaviors
