Abstract
Functional analyses often involve extended exposure to evocative events and problem behavior, which potentially places the client at risk of retraumatization. The performance-based, interview-informed synthesized contingency analysis (IISCA) is a brief analysis that is conducted in a single session and applies a trauma-assumed framework in the development of the assessment procedures (e.g., measures of calm, reinforcing precursors to avoid escalation and physical management). We conducted 12 applications of the performance-based IISCA in the United States and Brazil and (1) compared the results to a subset of 7 applications who also experienced the original IISCA and (2) incorporated a function-based treatment informed by the performance-based IISCA in a further subset of 5 of those 12 applications. The results support the use of the performance-based IISCA in that this variation of the IISCA corresponded with the original IISCA and informed effective treatment of problem behavior.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Notes
The low value of the range was from a single implementer in Brazil who had no prior experience with conducting functional analyses.
References
Breaux, C. A., & Smith, K. (2023). Assent in applied behaviour analysis and positive behaviour support: Ethical considerations and practical recommendations. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 69(1), 111–121. https://doi.org/10.1080/20473869.2022.2144969
Coffey, A. L., Shawler, L. A., Jessel, J., Bain, T., Nye, M., & Dorsey, M. F. (2021). Generality of the practical functional assessment and skill-based treatment among individuals with autism and mental health disorders. Behavioral Interventions, 36(1), 298–314. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.1755
Darnell, D., Flaster, A., Hendricks, K., Kerbrat, A., & Comtois, K. A. (2019). Adolescent clinical populations and associations between trauma and behavioral and emotional problems. Psychological Trauma: Theory Research Practice and Policy 11(3) 266–273. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000371
Dillon, C. M., & Carr, J. E. (2007). Assessing indices of happiness and unhappiness in individuals with developmental disabilities: A review. Behavioral Interventions, 22(3), 229–244. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.240
Ghaemmaghami, M., Hanley, G. P., Jessel, J., & Landa, R. (2018). Shaping complex functional communication responses. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 51(3), 502–520. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.468
Ghaemmaghami, M., Hanley, G. P., & Jessel, J. (2021). Functional communication training: from efficacy to effectiveness. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 54(1), 122–143. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.762
Hanley, G. P. (2012). Functional assessment of problem behavior: dispelling myths, overcoming implementation obstacles, and developing new lore. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 5(1), 54–72. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03391818
Hanley, G. P., Jin, C. S., Vanselow, N. R., & Hanratty, L. A. (2014). Producing meaningful improvements in problem behavior of children with autism via synthesized analyses and treatments. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 47(1), 16–36. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.106
Hayes, S. C., Nelson, R. O., & Jarrett, R. B. (1987). The treatment utility of assessment. A functional approach to evaluating assessment quality. American Psychologist, 42(11), 963–974. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.42.11.963
Iovino, L., Canniello, F., Simeoli, R., Gallucci, M., Benincasa, R., D’Ella, D., Hanley, G. P., & Cammilieri, A. P. (2022). A new adaptation of the interview-informed synthesized contingency analyses (IISCA): The performance-based IISCA. European Journal of Behavior Analysis, 23(2), 144–155. https://doi.org/10.1080/15021149.2022.2093596
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. (Reprinted from Analysis and Intervention in Developmental Disabilities, 2, 3–20, 1982). https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1994.27-197
Jennett, H., Hagopian, L. P., & Beaulieu, L. (2011). Analysis of heart rate and self-injury with and without restraint in an individual with autism. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5(3), 1110–1118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2010.12.007
Jessel, J., Hanley, G. P., & Ghaemmaghami, M. (2016). Interview-informed synthesized contingency analyses: thirty replications and reanalysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 49(3), 576–595. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.316
Jessel, J., Ingvarsson, E. T., Metras, R., Kirk, H., & Whipple, R. (2018). Achieving socially significant reductions in problem behavior following the interview-informed synthesized contingency analysis: a summary of 25 outpatient applications. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 51(1), 130–157. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.436
Jessel, J., Hanley, G. P., & Ghaemmaghami, M. (2020). On the standardization of the functional analysis. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 13(1), 205–216. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-019-00366-1
Jessel, J., Rosenthal, D., Hanley, G. P., Rymill, L., Boucher, M. B., Howard, M., Perrin, J., & Lemos, F. M. (2021). On the occurrence of dangerous problem behavior during functional analysis: An evaluation of 30 applications. Behavior Modification, 46(4), 834–862. https://doi.org/10.1177/01454455211010698
Kerns, C. M., Newschaffer, C. J., & Berkowitz, S. J. (2015). Traumatic childhood events and autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 45(11), 3475–3486. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2392-y
Kratochwill, T. R., & Shapiro, E. S. (2000). Conceptual foundations of behavioral assessment in schools. In E. S. Shapiro & T. R. Kratochwill (Eds.), Behavioral assessment in schools (pp. 3–15). Guilford Press.
Metras, R. L., & Jessel, J. (2021). Adaptations of the interview-informed synthesized contingency analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 54(3), 877–881. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.849
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 outclinic setting. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 24(3), 509–522. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1991.24-509
Rajaraman, A., Austin, J. L., Gover, H. C., Cammilleri, A. P., Donnelly, D. R., & Hanley, G. P. (2022). Toward trauma-informed applications of behavior analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 55(1), 40–61. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.881
Rose, J. D., & Beaulieu, L. (2019). Assessing the generality and durability of interview-informed functional analyses and treatment. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 52(1), 271–285. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.504
Santiago, J. L., Hanley, G. P., Moore, K., & Jin, C. S. (2016). The generality of interview-informed functional analyses: systematic replications in school and home. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(3), 797–811. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2617-0
Sigafoos, J., & Saggers, E. (1995). A discrete-trial approach to the functional analysis of aggressive behaviour in two boys with autism. Australia & New Zealand Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 20(4), 287–297. https://doi.org/10.1080/07263869500035621
Slaton, J. D., Hanley, G. P., & Raftery, K. J. (2017). Interview-informed functional analyses: a comparison of synthesized and isolated components. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 50(2), 252–277. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.384
Taylor, S. A., Phillips, K. J., & Gertzog, M. G. (2018). Use of synthesized analysis and informed treatment to promote school reintegration. Behavioral Interventions, 33(4), 364–379. https://doi.org/10.1002/bin.1640
Thomason-Sassi, J. L., Iwata, B. A., Neidert, P. L., & Roscoe, E. M. (2011). Response latency as an index of response strength during functional analyses of problem behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 44(1), 51–67. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.2011.44-51
Wallace, M. D., & Iwata, B. A. (1999). Effects of session duration on functional analysis outcomes. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 32(2), 175–183. https://doi.org/10.1901/jaba.1999.32-175
Warner, C. A., Hanley, G. P., Landa, R. K., Ruppel, K. W., Rajaraman, A., Ghaemmaghami, M., Slaton, J. D., & Gover, H. C. (2020). Toward accurate inferences of response class membership. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 53(1), 331–354. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.598
Whelan, C. J., Hanley, G. P., Landa, R., Sullivan, E., LaCroix, K., & Metras, R. (2021). Randomized controlled trial of seminar-based training on accurate and general implementation of practical functional assessments. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 54(4), 1437–1455. https://doi.org/10.1002/jaba.845
Acknowledgments
Joshua Jessel declares a part-time consultative role at FTF Behavioral Consulting. Gregory P. Hanley declares that he is the owner/founder of FTF Behavior Consulting.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflicts of interest
Tess Fruchtman declares no conflict of interest. Natasha Raghunauth-Zaman declares no conflict of interest. Aaron Leyman declares no conflict of interest. Felipe M. Lemos declares no conflict of interest. Henrique Costa Val declares no conflict of interest. Monica Howard declares no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary Information
ESM 1
(DOCX 34 kb)
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Jessel, J., Fruchtman, T., Raghunauth-Zaman, N. et al. A Two Step Validation of the Performance-Based IISCA: A Trauma-Informed Functional Analysis Model. Behav Analysis Practice (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-023-00792-2
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40617-023-00792-2