Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)
Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)
Why should I do it:
- Provides more information about students’ behavior
- Helps identify factors regarding behaviors that may not be obvious
- Provides data trends and patterns
- FBA can be simple or intensive
- Helps identify the root causes, functions, and reinforcers of behaviors
- Provides data for developing an appropriate and effective behavior plan
When should I do it:
- When a student is not responding to interventions
- When it is unclear as to why the behavior is occurring
- When a student’s behaviors require a behavior plan
- When antecedents and/or reinforcers cannot be readily identified
- When a student is suspended multiple times or has a high number of office discipline referrals
- When a student is getting into trouble frequently
- When a pattern of trend seems to be forming
- When a student seems to engage in the same behavior regardless of consequence
- When consequences and/or rewards seem ineffective
- When a student does not appear to care or be affected by attempts to address the behavior
How do I do it:
- Begin with a Simple Functional Behavior Assessment (SFBA) by downloading and completing the SFBA form below
- If the SFBA does not yield enough data and insight to determine the function of behavior, download and complete the Intensive Functional Behavior Assessment form available below (IFBA)
- When completing the FBA forms, gather information and data from the student’s records, parents, teachers, and any other staff that work with the student
- Once you have completed the FBA form and have a theory as to the function of the behavior, develop a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) based on the data and results from the FBA
Resources & Support for technique:
(Items with footnotes link to external websites)
- Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA)
- Data Tracking Forms:
- Determining Rewards
- Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP)
Footnotes:
- Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency. Simple Functional Behavior Assessment. [https://www.resa.net/teaching-learning/pbis/#fs-panel-4809].
- Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency. Intensive Functional Behavior Assessment. [https://www.resa.net/teaching-learning/pbis/#fs-panel-4809].
- Academic Success For All Learners. Functional Behavioral Assessment. [http://www.iseesam.com/teachall/text/behavior/LRBIpdfs/Functional.pdf].
- Mauro, T. Functional Behavioral Assessment. [http://specialchildren.about.com/od/fba/g/FBA.htm].
- Webster, J. FBA – Identifying Behavior for a Functional Behavior Analysis. [http://specialed.about.com/od/iep/a/definebehavior.htm].
- Webster, J. FBA – Functional Behavioral Analysis. [http://specialed.about.com/od/specialedacronyms/g/fbaglossary.htm].
- Webster, J. FBA – How to Write a Functional Behavior Analysis. [http://specialed.about.com/od/behavioraldocuments/tp/FBAlist.htm].
- Webster, J. Antecedent – – A Specific Meaning for Analyzing Difficult Behaviors. [http://specialed.about.com/od/glossary/g/Antecedent.htm].
- State of Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Functional Behavior Assessment Form. [http://www.k12.wa.us/SpecialEd/Data/StateForms/7a_Functional_Behavioral_Assessment.doc].
- West Allis Milwaukee School District. Example of Completed FBA (OASYS Form) . [http://p3cdn2static.sharpschool.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_1212649/File/migration/FBAOASYS-Example.pdf].
- Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency. Behavior Review Form. [http://www.resa.net/downloads/positive_behavior/beh_review_form.doc].
- Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency. WEEKLY SCATTERPLOT. [http://www.resa.net/downloads/positive_behavior/weekly_scatterplot_times.doc].
- Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency. . [http://www.resa.net/downloads/positive_behavior/weekly_scatterplot_blank.doc].
- Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency. ABC Log. [http://www.resa.net/downloads/positive_behavior/abc_log.doc].
- Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency. Time Out Log. [http://www.resa.net/downloads/positive_behavior/time_out.doc].
- Wayne County Regional Educational Service Agency. POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL DATA SUMMARY. [http://www.resa.net/downloads/positive_behavior/individual_data_summary.xls].
- Modified by Gable, R. A. (1991) from: Cartwright, C. A., & Cartwright, G. P. (1970). Determining the motivational systems of individual children. TEACHING Exceptional Children, 2:3, 143-149. Forced-Choice Reinforcement Survey. [http://www.spannj.org/BehavioralPresentation/BehavioralPresentation/Student%20Involvement%20%26%20behavior%20problems/Forced%20Choice%20Reinforcement%20menu/Forced%20Choice%20Reinforcement%20Menu.pdf].
- Gogebic-Ontonagon ISD. Gogebic-Ontonagon ISD – Behavioral Consultant Forms. [http://www.goisd.org/article_133.php].