Functional
Behavioral Assessment
What is a "Functional Behavioral
Assessment" (FBA)?
The term "Functional Behavioral
Assessment" comes from what is called a "Functional Assessment" or
"Functional Analysis" in the field of applied behavior analysis. This
is the process of determining the cause (or "function") of behavior
before developing an intervention. The intervention must be based on
the hypothesized cause (function) of behavior.
School districts are now required to
conduct functional
behavioral analyses of problem behaviors, under certain circumstances.
Here are some examples of the
questions you would want answers to
from a FBA:
- What are the problematic/inappropriate
behaviors that Student is exhibiting?
- What behaviors has school
staff defined/targeted?
- How do these behaviors present themselves?
- What data has been grathered: teacher observations?
- When does behavior occur? time and place that behavior is
observed?
- Who is present when the behavior occur?
- What is the underline cause of these
behaviors?
- What are the goals to diminish these
behaviors?
- What action plan is in place (i.e. behavior plan)?
Click on the titles below to view the
articles about Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA):
Wrightlaws
article on "What, Why, When, Where, and Who?"
by
Stephen Starin, Ph.D.
Center for Effective
Collaboration and Practice (CECP),
information on Functional
Behavioral
Assessment (FBA), includes three parts:
Part I - An IEP Team’s Introduction To
Functional Behavioral
Assessment & Behavior Intervention Plans
Part II - Conducting a Functional
Behavioral Assessment
Part III - Creating Positive Behavioral Intervention Plans and
Supports.
Positive
Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), article on Preparing for an FBA
Meeting What Should I Bring?
by Terry Scott, Ph.D.
School Behavior
articles, samples of charts, and forms that can be used for conducting
an FBA, by Leslie E. Paker, Ph.D. 
Behavior
Intervention Plans
(BIP) may also be refer to as a Behavior
Management Plan (BMP), or a Behavior Management Invention
(BMI). To view a sample of a elementry students Behavior
Management Plan (BMP), click here.
