Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Scaling Methods in Functional Assessment

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Functional Assessment for Challenging Behaviors and Mental Health Disorders

Part of the book series: Autism and Child Psychopathology Series ((ACPS))

  • 1956 Accesses

Abstract

Challenging behaviors (e.g., self-injurious behavior, aggression, property destruction, and stereotypies) are common among individuals with developmental disabilities. Several function-based assessments exist to identify the primary factors reinforcing and maintaining challenging behavior and aid in implementing effective treatment plans. A number of normed scales have been developed to serve as primary or complementary methods of functional analysis. This chapter provides a brief overview of the benefits and limitations to indirect and direct functional analysis strategies and discusses the most popular scaling methods in detail.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 79.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 99.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Applegate, H., Matson, J. L., & Cherry, K. E. (1999). An evaluation of functional variables affecting severe problem behaviors in adults with mental retardation by using the questions about behavioral function scale (QABF). Research in Developmental Disabilities, 20, 229–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bachman, J. A. (1972). Self-injurious behavior: A behavioral analysis. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 80, 211–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beavers, G. A., Iwata, B. A., & Lerman, D. C. (2013). Thirty years of research on the functional analysis of problem behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 46, 1–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Belva, B. C., Hattier, M. A., & Matson, J. L. (2013). Assessment of problem behavior. In D. D. Reed, F. D. DiGennaro Reed, & J. K. Luiselli (Eds.), Handbook of crisis intervention and developmental disabilities (pp. 123–146). New York, NY: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bihm, E. M., Kienlen, T. L., Ness, M. E., & Poindexter, A. R. (1991). Factor structure of the motivation assessment scale for persons with mental retardation. Psychological Reports, 68(Suppl 3), 1235–1238.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bodfish, J. W. (2004). Treating the core features of autism: Are we there yet? Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, 10(4), 318–326.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boothroyd, R. A. (2001). Review of the motivation assessment scale. In The fourteenth mental measurements yearbook. Lincoln, NE: Buros Institute of Mental Measurements.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bosma, A., & Mulick, J. A. (1990). Brief report: Ecobehavioral assessment using transparent scatter plots. Behavioral Interventions, 5(2), 137–140.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carr, E. G. (1977). The motivation of self-injurious behavior: A review of some hypotheses. Psychological Bulletin, 84(4), 800–816.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conroy, M. A., Davis, C. A., Fox, J. J., & Brown, W. H. (2002). Functional assessment of behavior and effective supports for young children with challenging behaviors. Assessment for Effective Intervention, 27(4), 35–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crawford, J., Brockel, B., Schauss, S., & Miltenberger, R. G. (1992). A comparison of methods for the functional assessment of stereotypic behavior. Journal of the Association for Persons with Severe Handicaps, 17(2), 77–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, E., & O’Neill, R. E. (2000). Comparison of results of functional assessment and analysis methods with young children with autism. Education and Training in Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, 35(4), 406–414.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duker, P. C., & Sigafoos, J. (1998). The motivation assessment scale: Reliability and construct validity across three topographies of behavior. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 19(2), 131–141.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durand, V., & Crimmins, D. (1992). The motivation assessment scale (MAS) administration guide. Topeka, KS: Monaco.

    Google Scholar 

  • Durand, V. M., & Crimmins, D. B. (1988). Identifying the variables maintaining self-injurious behavior. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 18(1), 99–117.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Durand, V. M., & Crimmins, D. B. (1990). Chapter 3: Assessment. In Severe behavior problems: A functional communication training approach. New York, NY: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellingson, S. A., Miltenberger, R. G., & Long, E. S. (1999). A survey of the use of functional assessment procedures in agencies serving individuals with developmental disabilities. Behavioral Interventions, 14(4), 187–198.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Floyd, R. G., Phaneuf, R. L., & Wilczynski, S. M. (2005). Measurement properties of indirect assessment methods for functional behavioral assessment: A review of research. School Psychology Review, 34(1), 58–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goza, A. B., & Ricketts, R. W. (1993). The motivation assessment scale: Analysis of inter-rater and test-retest reliability. In Annual meeting of the Association for Behavior Analysis-International. Chicago, IL.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guess, D., & Carr, E. (1991). Emergence and maintenance of stereotypy and self-injury. American Journal of Mental Retardation, 96(3), 299–319.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, S. S. (2005). Comparing descriptive, experimental and informant-based assessments of problem behaviors. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 26(6), 514–526.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iwata, B. A., DeLeon, I. G., & Roscoe, E. M. (2013). Reliability and validity of the functional analysis screening tool. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 46(1), 271–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iwata, B. A., Dorsey, M. F., Slifer, K. J., Bauman, K. E., & Richman, G. S. (1982). Toward a functional analysis of self-injury. Analysis and Intervention in Developmental Disabilities, 2(1), 3–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iwata, B. A., Dorsey, M. F., Slifer, K. J., Bauman, K. E., & Richman, G. S. (1994). Toward a functional analysis of self-injury. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27(2), 197–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iwata, B. A., Pace, G. M., Dorsey, M. F., Zarcone, J. R., Vollmer, T. R., Smith, R. G., … Willis, K. D. (1994). The functions of self-injurious behavior: An experimental-epidemiological analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27(2), 215–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Iwata, B. A., Vollmer, T. R., & Zarcone, J. R. (1990). The experimental (functional) analysis of behavior disorders: Methodology, applications, and limitations. In Perspectives on the use of nonaversive and aversive interventions for persons with developmental disabilities (pp. 301–330). Sycamore, IL: Sycamore Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iwata, B. A., Vollmer, T. R., Zarcone, J. R., & Rodgers, T. A. (1993). Treatment classification and selection based on behavioral function. In R. Van Houten & S. Axelrod (Eds.), Behavior analysis and treatment (pp. 101–125). Boston, MA: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Joyce, T. (2006). Functional analysis and challenging behaviour. Psychiatry, 5(9), 312–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leader, G., & Mannion, A. (2016). Challenging behaviors. In J. L. Matson (Ed.), Handbook of assessment and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (pp. 209–232). Cham, Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Lennox, D. B., & Miltenberger, R. G. (1989). Conducting a functional assessment of problem behavior in applied settings. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 14(4), 304–311.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., Bamburg, J. W., Cherry, K. E., & Paclawskyj, T. R. (1999). A validity study on the questions about behavioral function (QABF) scale: Predicting treatment success for self-injury, aggression, and stereotypies. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 20(2), 163–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., & Boisjoli, J. A. (2007). Multiple versus single maintaining factors of challenging behaviours as assessed by the QABF for adults with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual and Developmental Disability, 32(1), 39–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., Kuhn, D. E., Dixon, D. R., Mayville, S. B., Laud, R. B., Cooper, C. L., … Matson, M. L. (2003). The development and factor structure of the Functional Assessment for multiple causaliTy (FACT). Research in Developmental Disabilities, 24(6), 485–495.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., & Minshawi, N. F. (2007). Functional assessment of challenging behavior: Toward a strategy for applied settings. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 28(4), 353–361.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., & Vollmer, T. R. (1995). Questions about behavioral function (QABF). Baton Rouge, LA: Disability Consultants, LLC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matson, J. L., & Williams, L. W. (2014). Functional assessment of challenging behavior. Current Developmental Disorders Reports, 1(2), 58–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miltenberger, R. G. (1997). Behavior modification: Principles and procedures. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole: ITP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newton, J. T., & Sturmey, P. (1991). The motivation assessment scale: Inter-rater reliability and internal consistency in a British sample. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 35(5), 472–474.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nicholson, J., Konstantinidi, E., & Furniss, F. (2006). On some psychometric properties of the questions about behavioral function (QABF) scale. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 27(3), 337–352.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Northup, J., Wacker, D., Sasso, G., Steege, M., Cigrand, K., Cook, J., & DeRaad, A. (1991). A brief functional analysis of aggressive and alternative behavior in an out clinic setting. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 24(3), 509–522.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Neill, R. E., Horner, R. H., Albin, R. W., Sprague, J. R., Storey, K., & Newton, J. S. (1997). Functional assessment and program development for problem behavior: A practical handbook. New York, NY: Cole Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paclawskyj, T. R., Matson, J. L., Rush, K. S., Smalls, Y., & Vollmer, T. R. (2000). Questions about behavioral function (QABF): A behavioral checklist for functional assessment of aberrant behavior. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 21(3), 223–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paclawskyj, T. R., Matson, J. L., Rush, K. S., Smalls, Y., & Vollmer, T. R. (2001). Assessment of the convergent validity of the Questions About Behavioral Function scale with analogue functional analysis and the Motivation Assessment Scale. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 45(Pt 6), 484–494.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ray-Subramanian, C. (2013). Motivation assessment scale. In Encyclopedia of autism spectrum disorders. New York, NY: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sasso, G. M., Conroy, M. A., Stichter, J. P., & Fox, J. J. (2001). Slowing down the bandwagon: The misapplication of functional assessment for students with emotional or behavioral disorders. Behavioral Disorders, 26(4), 282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sigafoos, J., Kerr, M., & Roberts, D. (1994). Interrater reliability of the motivation assessment scale: Failure to replicate with aggressive behavior. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 15(5), 333–342.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spreat, S., & Connelly, L. (1996). Reliability analysis of the motivation assessment scale. American Journal of Mental Retardation, 100(5), 528–532.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sturmey, P. (1994). Assessing the functions of aberrant behaviors: A review of psychometric instruments. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 24(3), 293–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sturmey, P. (1995). Analog baselines: A critical review of the methodology. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 16(4), 269–284.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sturmey, P. (1996). Functional analysis in clinical psychology. New York, NY: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sulzer-Azaroff, B., & Mayer, G. R. (1977). Applying behavior-analysis procedures with children and youth. New York, NY: Holt, Rinehart, Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toogood, S., & Timlin, K. (1996). The functional assessment of challenging behaviour: A comparison of informant-based, experimental and descriptive methods. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 9(3), 206–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Touchette, P. E., MacDonald, R. F., & Langer, S. N. (1985). A scatter plot for identifying stimulus control of problem behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 18(4), 343–351.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wieseler, N. A., Hanson, R. H., Chamberlain, T. P., & Thompson, T. (1985). Functional taxonomy of stereotypic and self-injurious behavior. Mental Retardation, 23(5), 230.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zarcone, J. R., Rodgers, T. A., Iwata, B. A., Rourke, D. A., & Dorsey, M. F. (1991). Reliability analysis of the motivation assessment scale: A failure to replicate. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 12(4), 349–360.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

    Paige A. Weir, Johnny L. Matson & Joshua Montrenes

Authors
  1. Paige A. Weir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Johnny L. Matson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Joshua Montrenes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Paige A. Weir .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

    Johnny L. Matson

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Weir, P.A., Matson, J.L., Montrenes, J. (2021). Scaling Methods in Functional Assessment. In: Matson, J.L. (eds) Functional Assessment for Challenging Behaviors and Mental Health Disorders. Autism and Child Psychopathology Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-66270-7_11

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation