Functional Behavior Assessment(FBA)
A systematic process for identifying the purpose, or function, that a behavior serves so that effective, function-based interventions can be designed.
A Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) is the process used to determine why a behavior occurs, that is, what the individual gains or avoids by engaging in it. The premise is that behavior is functional: it is maintained by its consequences. Common functions include gaining attention, obtaining access to items or activities, escaping or avoiding demands, and automatic or sensory reinforcement.
An FBA typically combines several methods. Indirect assessment gathers information through interviews, rating scales, and record reviews. Descriptive assessment involves direct observation of the behavior in its natural setting, often using A-B-C recording to capture antecedents and consequences. In some cases a functional analysis is conducted, in which conditions are systematically manipulated to confirm the maintaining variables.
The value of an FBA lies in what it enables. Once the function of a behavior is understood, the team can design a behavior intervention plan that teaches replacement behaviors serving the same function and arranges antecedents and consequences accordingly. Reliable, well-organized data collection throughout the assessment is essential, because conclusions about function are only as trustworthy as the records they rest on.