Definition
An A-B-C analysis is a descriptive assessment that is conducted as an initial part of a complete functional behavior assessment. The goal of this analysis is to develop hypothesis regarding the function that a problem behavior serves for an individual with ASD. A-B-C analysis views behavior (B) as a function of the antecedents (A) that precede it and the consequences (C) that follow it. Typically, an A-B-C chart is used over an extended time period to record events that occur naturally rather than being systematically arranged. These events occur in the natural environment, with the observer recording the environmental events that occur immediately before the behavior in the (A) section, the specific behavior observed in the (B) section, and the events occurring immediately after the behavior in the (C) section.
Historical Background
A-B-C analysis began in the 1960s with the beginnings of applied behavior analysis, with Sidney Bijou and colleagues asserting the importance...
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References and Readings
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Dyer, K. (2013). Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence (A-B-C) Analysis. In: Volkmar, F.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_1003
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_1003
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