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Functional Behavior Assessment in Schools: Current Status and Future Directions

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Abstract

Functional behavior assessment is becoming a commonly used practice in school settings. Accompanying this growth has been an increase in research on functional behavior assessment. We reviewed the extant literature on documenting indirect and direct methods of functional behavior assessment in school settings. To discern best practice guidelines and directions for future research, we evaluated studies to identify the (a) type of FBA used, (b) participant characteristics, (c) settings in which functional behavior assessments commonly were conducted, and (d) trends in the use of various methods of functional behavior assessment over time.

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Notes

  1. The latency functional analysis variation reported by Davis et al. (2013) was used with only a single participant, an 8-year-old boy with intellectual disability, and is not included—this analysis was conducted in an empty classroom.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, USA

    Cynthia M. Anderson

  2. University of Texas, San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Billie Jo Rodriguez

  3. Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI, USA

    Amy Campbell

Authors
  1. Cynthia M. Anderson
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  2. Billie Jo Rodriguez
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  3. Amy Campbell
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Cynthia M. Anderson.

Appendix

Appendix

Indirect assessment

Citation

Interview

Functional assessment interview form

Dunlap et al. (1991)

Preliminary functional assessment survey

O’Neill et al. (1997)

Student-assisted functional assessment

Kern et al. (1994)

Functional assessment checklist for teachers and staff (FACTS)

March et al. (2000)

Student-guided functional analysis interview form

Reed et al. (1997)

Functional assessment and intervention system

Stoiber (2004 )

Functional assessment informant record for teachers

Edwards (2002)

Problem identification interview

Sugai and Tindal (1993)

Setting event identification interview

Conroy (1999)

Teacher functional behavior assessment checklist

Stage et al. (2002)

Rating scale

Motivation assessment scale problem behavior questionnaire

Durand and Crimmins (1992)

Problem behavior questionnaire

Kratochwill and Bergan (1990)

Functional assessment screening tool (FAST)

Iwata (1995)

Questions about behavioral function

Paclawskyj et al. (2000)

Aberrant behavior checklist

Aman et al. (1985)

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Anderson, C.M., Rodriguez, B.J. & Campbell, A. Functional Behavior Assessment in Schools: Current Status and Future Directions. J Behav Educ 24, 338–371 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10864-015-9226-z

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