"As a teaching and instructional guide, Functional Behavior Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment is a first-rate resource for students and young professionals new to the field of ABA or looking to expand their knowledge and practice competencies."--New England Psychologist

"[This book provides] the practicing behavior analyst [with] a well-grounded tool in completing the process from analysis to treatment. I highly recommend the book for all practicing behavior analysts as well as for graduate students entering the field."

Michael F. Dorsey, Ph.D., BCBA
Professor of Program in Applied Behavior Analysis, Endicott College

"...one of the most detailed, practical, and useful textbooks geared for behavioral graduate students who are also concurrent practitioners....I learned a lot in one semester with the use of this textbook."

Albee Ongsuco
Doctoral Student, Pediatric School Psychology, East Carolina University

"Ever since I began assigning Functional Behavioral Assessment, Diagnosis, and Treatment for my courses on behavioral assessment, I have had no complaints (from students) about giving out too many pages to read each week. In fact, I have only had positive comments about how the material in this book really helps them to apply what they are learning in class to their work with clients. Now I recommend this text to faculty I supervise for their courses on functional assessment and treatment planning!"

Jose A. Martinez-Diaz, PhD, BCBA-D
Professor and Associate Dean, Graduate School of Behavior Analysis
Florida Institute of Technology & CEO, ABA Technologies, Inc.

Now in its second edition, this popular text provides a comprehensive approach to functional behavioral assessment, a function-based diagnostic classification system of the target problem, and functional behavioral treatment. This new edition also provides a wealth of new case studies, some drawn from the authors' own clinical experiences, in addition to a greater analysis of the role of establishing operations (EO) and abolishing operations (AO).

An ideal textbook for courses in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), this book helps students cultivate an in-depth understanding of assessing, diagnosing, and treating problem behaviors in a functional perspective.

Key features:

• Provides a methodology for functional behavioral assessment, including indirect as well as direct measurement techniques such as analogue and in-situ methods
• Includes innovative recommendations for conducting descriptive and trigger analyses and discusses how to use them in assessment and treatment evaluation
• Presents a function-based, diagnostic classification system for diagnosing problem behaviors, as well as functional diagnostic system for assessing the current strength of potential replacement behaviors
• Includes integrated online ancillary materials for students-brief narrated PowerPoint presentations and video lectures-ideal for generating class discussions
• Features an online instructor's manual, including test items and PowerPoint slides for use in lectures

Preface xi

Acknowledgments

1 Basic Concepts and Principles

Why Does He Do That?

The Cornerstone for Understanding Why

Maintaining Contingencies Involving Positive Reinforcement

Maintaining Contingencies Involving Negative Reinforcement

Contrasting the Two Types of Maintaining Contingencies

2 Functional Behavioral Assessment of Problem Behavior

Determining the Need for Intervention

Baseline Measurement of Observable Problem Behaviors

Measuring Observable Behavior

What Is Baseline Data?

Conducting a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)

3 A Function-Based, Diagnostic Classification System for Problem Behaviors

Characteristics of Function-Based Classification Systems

Diagnose Behavior, Not Client

Prescriptive Differential Treatment

Assess Context Variables

Assessment Phase Concludes With a Differential Diagnosis Phase

What Is the Utility of a Function-Based Diagnostic Classification System?

The Function-Based Diagnostic Classification System

4 Replacement Behavior Options

What Is a Replacement Behavior?

Replacement Behavior Options for DA Problem Behaviors

Replacement Behavior Options for SMA Problem Behaviors

Replacement Behavior Options for DE Problem Behaviors

Replacement Behavior Options for SME Problem Behaviors

5 Functional Behavioral Treatment Protocols

Protocols for 2.0 SMA Problem Behaviors

2.0 SMA Functions: Alternate Direct Access Form

2.0 SMA Functions: DRL Group Contingencies for Peer Attention

2.0 SMA Functions: Omission Training (Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior, or DRO)

2.0 SMA Functions: Noncontingent Reinforcement (NCR) With Extinction

2.0 SMA Functions: Premack Contingency Option

2.0 SMA Functions: Access Mand (Request) Option

4.0 SME Functions: Premack Contingency Option

4.0 SME Functions: Tolerance Training Option (or Differential Negative

4.0 SME Functions: Escape Mand (Protest or Negotiating Behavior) Option

4.0 SME Functions: Alternate Direct Escape Form

4.0 SME Functions: Noncontingent Escape (NCE) Option

Appendix A: Diagnostic Classification System for the Replacement

Appendix B: Why Artie Can't Learn

Appendix C: Errorless Learning

References

Index