Assessing Behavior

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Assessing Behavior

• Natasha L. Hiden
• Caldwell College

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Assessing Behavior Guideline 3

• Overview of the process
• Referral
• Observation
• Prompts? Reinforcement?
• Baseline data
• Obligation to explain behavioral assessment and
  conditions necessary for intervention to work
  (3.08) , and those that may prevent it from being
  properly implemented (3.01, 3.02)

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Assessing BehaviorGuideline 3

• If controlling variables are determined through a
  functional assessment, he/she is obligated to
  explain the limiting conditions for treatment.
• Explain what data means
• Obligation to explain the baseline data,
  functional assessment, reinforcement assessment,
  or other forms of behavioral data collection to
  the client (3.09)

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Assessing Behavior (3.0)

• Behavior analysts who use behavioral assessment
  techniques do so for purposes that are
  appropriate in light of the research
• (A) Behavior analysts assessments,
  recommendations, reports, and evaluative
  statements are based on information and
  techniques sufficient to provide appropriate
  substantiation for their findings.
• (B) Refrain from misuses of assessment
  techniques, interventions, results, and
  interpretations
• (C) Recognize limits with which judgments or
  predictions can be made
• (D) Do not promote use of techniques by
  unqualified persons

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Environmental Conditions that Preclude
Implementation (3.01)

• If environmental conditions preclude
  implementation of a behavior analytic program,
  the behavior analyst recommends that other
  professional assistance (i.e. assessment,
  consultation, or therapeutic intervention by
  other professionals) be sought.
• Identify constraints and attempt to modify or
  eliminate them prior to behavior plan
• Required stable environment, some control over
  reinforcers, consistency in delivery of
  consequences.

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Functional Assessment (3.03)

• (A) The behavior analyst conducts a functional
  assessment, as defined below, to provide the
  necessary data to develop an effective behavior
  change program
• Best Practice
• (B) FA includes variety of systematic info
  regarding the occurrence of behavior.
• Informal descriptive analysis Interviews and
  informal observations
• Formal Functional Assessment
• Case Example Cassandra P and Debbie
• 24yr-old women severely retarded pulling handfuls
  of hair
• Because the behavior is self-injurious, should
  Cassandra begin an intervention?

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Accepting Clients (3.04)

• The behavior analyst accepts as clients only
  those individuals or entities( agencies, firms,
  etc.) whose behavior problems or requested
  service are commensurate with the behavior
  analysts education, training, and experience. In
  Lieu of these conditions, the behavior an analyst
  must function under the supervision of or in
  consultation with a behavior analyst whose
  credentials permit working with such behavior
  problems or services
• Acknowledge the limitations of expertise.
• Example In the field for 7 yrs never worked on a
  eating/feeding behaviors and your supervisor has
  no experience with this, should you develop a
  plan for this behavior, even if your supervisor
  asks you to?

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Consent-Client Records (3.05)

• The behavior analyst obtains the written consent
  of the client or client-surrogate before
  obtaining or disclosing client records from or to
  other sources.
• Case example Dr. Stuart W. and Tom
• BACA working with Tom for 2 years
• Support apt living and community wk shop
• Rather stay home and sleep
• Dr. Stuart was wondering if Tom would benefit
  from counseling
• He plans to invite his friend and colleague to
  lunch and tell him about it
• What should he do first?

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Describing Program Objectives (3.06)

• The behavior analyst describes, preferably in
  writing, the objectives of the behavior change
  program to the client or client-surrogate before
  attempting to implement the program.
• Standard practice to specify in writing the
  objectives of all behavior programs.
• Case example Susan (women with DD) is spending
  all of her money on junk food and has no money
  for transportation and is begging for money.
  Angie (CBA) wants to instruct staff to
  immediately begin treating begging with social
  disapproval.

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Behavior Assessment Approval (3.07)

• The behavior analyst must obtain the clients or
  client-surrogates approval in writing of the
  behavior assessment procedures before
  implementing them.
• Before any baseline or functional assessment
  procedures are begun, the behavior analyst much
  have approval of client or clients
  representative.
• Does this apply to baseline data collection?
• Does anyone follow this protocol for baseline
  data collection?

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Describing Conditions For Program Success (3.08)

• The behavior analyst describes to the client or
  client-surrogate the environmental conditions
  that are necessary for the program to be
  effective.
• Describe program, series of contingency
  statements, controlling and maintaining
  variables.
• Case example Rosemary dresses inappropriately
  and wears excessive amounts of makeup. How would
  you handle the situation with Rosemary?

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Explaining Assessment Results (3.09)

• Unless the nature of the relationship is clearly
  explained to the person being assessed in advance
  and precludes provision of an explanation of
  results (such as in some organizational
  consulting, some screenings, and forensic
  evaluations), behavior analysts ensure that an
  explanation of the results is provided using
  language that is reasonably understandable to the
  person assessed or to another legally authorized
  person on behalf of the client. Regardless of
  whether the interpretation is done by the
  behavior analyst, by assistants, others, behavior
  analysts take reasonable steps to ensure that
  appropriate explanations of results are given.
• Rosemary FA revealed her behavior was a function
  of lack of stimulating materials in workshop,
  staff failed to provide reinforcement for on task
  or task completion and her dressing appeared to
  be maintained by her boyfriend who she met at a
  motel near workshop. How would you explain
  results to her?

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Reference

• Bailey, J. S., Burch, M. R. (2005). Ethics for
  behavior analysts A practical guide to the
  behavior analyst certification board guidelines
  for responsible conduct. Mahway, NJ Lawrence
  Erlbaum.