Question 1

Functional assessment is a process of understanding
A) The inner states of a person that tells us why they act the way that they do
B) The physiological and environmental factors that contribute to a person's problem behaviors
C) The skills that represent a functional curriculum for that individual
D) What motivates individuals

Accepted Answer

Functional assessment focuses on identifying the physiological and environmental factors that contribute to a person's problem behaviors, aiming to understand and address these behaviors effectively.

Question 2

Functional assessment is the general label used to describe a set of processes for
A) An assessment of a student or individual
B) Deciding what to do about a problem behavior
C) Determining what skills a person need to be successful
D) Defining the events in an environment that reliably predict and maintain problem behaviors

Accepted Answer

Functional assessment involves identifying the environmental factors that predict and maintain problem behaviors, allowing for more effective interventions.

Question 3

The purpose of a functional assessment is to
A) Gain information that will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of behavioral interventions
B) Provide a standardized assessment that can be used in a report
C) Make decisions about the individual
D) Decide what the person's primary diagnosis should be

Accepted Answer

The purpose of a functional assessment is to gain information that will improve the effectiveness and efficiency of behavioral interventions by identifying the antecedents, behaviors, and consequences (the ABCs of behavior). This helps in understanding the function or purpose behind a person's behavior, which in turn guides the development of effective interventions.

Question 4

When direct observation information is collected for 10 to 15 instances of the problem behavior, it typically allows observers an opportunity to discover whether a pattern exists that will allow determination of which of the following?
A) What problem behaviors happen together
B) When, where, and with whom are problem behaviors most likely
C) What consequences appear to maintain occurrence of the problem behavior
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Collecting direct observation information for 10 to 15 instances of problem behavior allows observers to identify patterns in what behaviors occur together, the contexts (when, where, and with whom) they are most likely to happen, and what consequences may be maintaining those behaviors.

Question 5

Which of the following is least important in the functional assessment process?
A) The diagnostic label of the individual (such as autism, emotional disturbance, Down syndrome)
B) The antecedents of the problem behavior
C) The consequences of the problem behavior
D) The function that the problem behavior serves
E) All of the above

Accepted Answer

The diagnostic label of the individual is least important in the functional assessment process because functional assessment focuses on identifying the antecedents and consequences of a behavior and the function the behavior serves, rather than on the individual's diagnosis.

Question 6

Understanding the consequences that maintain problem behaviors is
A) Important in determining what will be successful with that individual
B) To control what the person does
C) An essential element of a functional assessment
D) Important but not the key element of a functional assessment

Accepted Answer

A functional assessment is a process of identifying the environmental factors that maintain problem behaviors. Understanding the consequences that maintain problem behaviors is an essential element of a functional assessment because it allows the assessor to identify the specific behaviors that are being reinforced and the specific reinforcers that are maintaining the behaviors.

Question 7

If we consider problem behaviors as occurring in contexts, it becomes logical to 
A) Change the behavior of the person
B) Change the context
C) Determine reinforcement schedules for the person
D) Determine what the person is thinking about the situation
E) All of the above
F) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Changing the context can alter the environmental factors contributing to problem behaviors, potentially reducing or eliminating the behavior without needing to change the person directly.

Question 8

In analyzing people's activity patterns, you can address issues such as
A) The variety of activities they perform
B) The degree of community integration they experience
C) The extent to which their preferences are reflected and accommodated
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Analyzing people's activity patterns can indeed address a variety of aspects including the diversity of activities they engage in, the level of their integration within the community, and how well their activities align with their personal preferences.

Question 9

Primary outcomes of the functional assessment process involve
A) A clear description of the problem behaviors, including classes or sequences of behaviors that frequently occur together
B) Identification of the events, times, and situations that predict when the problem behaviors will and will not occur across the full range of typical daily routines
C) Identification of the consequences that maintain the problem behaviors
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed are primary outcomes of the functional assessment process. It involves a clear description of problem behaviors, identification of predictive events and situations, and understanding the consequences that maintain these behaviors.

Question 10

One of the goals of a good functional assessment is to
A) Provide a clear diagnosis of the individual
B) Provide insight into the person's feelings
C) Analyze what the person is thinking
D) Bring clarity and understanding to otherwise chaotic and confusing situations
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

A good functional assessment aims to bring clarity and understanding to situations that may seem chaotic and confusing by identifying the relationships between environmental conditions and behaviors.

Question 11

Functional assessment is a process for
A) Figuring out what is going on in a specific situation
B) Redesigning environments so they "work" for people
C) Deciding what will be best in a given situation
D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of Functional assessment is a process for
A) Figuring...

Question 12

The three approaches for functional assessment are
A) Informant methods, direct observation, and functional analysis
B) Testing, direct observation, and functional analysis
C) Listening, direct observation, and functional analysis
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

The three approaches for functional assessment are informant methods, direct observation, and functional analysis. These methods are used to gather information about an individual's behavior to identify the reasons behind specific behaviors and to guide the development of interventions. Informant methods involve collecting information from people who know the individual well, direct observation involves watching the individual in different settings, and functional analysis involves manipulating environmental conditions to understand the effects on behavior.

Question 13

Many examples of functional assessment interviews and questionnaires can be found in the literature. In most cases, however, they share an emphasis on gaining information about which of the following?
A) Which of the problem behaviors are causing concern
B) What events or physical conditions that occur significantly earlier in time prior to the problem behavior increase the predictability that the problem behavior will occur
C) What events and situations that occur just prior to the problem behaviors reliably predict occurrence of problem behaviors
D) Given a specific situation when the problem behavior occurs, what consequences appear to maintain the problem behavior
E) All of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of Many examples of functional assessment interviews and...

Question 14

Many conditions including allergies, sinus or middle ear infections, premenstrual and menstrual cycle effects, urinary tract infections, toothaches, and chronic constipation
A) Will influence what a person is thinking
B) Will require that a physician be a part of the assessment team
C) Require a formal diagnosis
D) May exacerbate the occurrence of particular behaviors
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Many conditions can exacerbate the occurrence of particular behaviors due to discomfort, pain, or other symptoms they cause, affecting an individual's mood, reactions, and actions.

Question 15

Problem behaviors may take many forms, such as
A) Violent and aggressive attacks
B) Destruction of property
C) Self-injurious behavior
D) All the above
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Problem behaviors can manifest in various ways, including violent and aggressive attacks, destruction of property, and self-injurious behavior, making all the options listed correct.

Question 16

Functional assessment is not like a medical diagnosis because
A) Medical issues are not that important in analyzing problem behavior
B) Different types of jargon are used
C) The information from a functional assessment does not allow a simple match of a problem behavior with a prepackaged clinical intervention
D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Functional assessments focus on understanding the context and reasons behind a behavior rather than matching it with a predefined clinical intervention, which is more common in medical diagnoses.

Question 17

Personal futures planning
A) Should often be used in complex situations
B) Should be used with adults who know what they want to do
C) Offers a broader context in which to build behavior support plans
D) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Personal futures planning offers a broader context in which to build behavior support plans by considering the individual's long-term goals and aspirations.

Question 18

Functional assessment is not a value-free technology and this handbook provides which of these value-based assumptions?
A) Behavioral support must be conducted with the dignity of the person as a primary concern.
B) The objective of functional assessment is not just to define and eliminate undesirable behaviors but to understand the structure and function of those behaviors in order to teach and promote effective alternatives.
C) Functional assessment is a process for looking at relationships between behavior and the environment.
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

All the choices provided reflect value-based assumptions inherent in the functional assessment process. These include the importance of dignity (A), the goal of understanding behaviors to teach alternatives (B), and the emphasis on the relationship between behavior and environment (C).

Question 19

One of the central reasons for conducting a functional assessment is to
A) Know what a person is feeling when the problem behavior is occurring
B) Know what a person is thinking when the problem behavior is occurring
C) Obtain information about when, where, and why problem behaviors occur is extremely valuable in building effective and efficient behavioral support
D) All of the above
E) None of the above

Accepted Answer

Functional assessments are conducted to gather detailed information about the circumstances under which problem behaviors occur, including the antecedents (what happens before the behavior), the behavior itself, and the consequences (what happens after the behavior). This information is crucial for developing effective interventions. Choices A and B, focusing on feelings and thoughts, are not the primary focus of a functional assessment in behavior analysis.

Question 20

The individuals who exhibit problem behaviors may
A) Be labeled as having a disability
B) Have no disability label
C) Be extremely intelligent
D) All of the above

Accepted Answer

Individuals who exhibit problem behaviors can fall into any of these categories: they may be labeled as having a disability, they may not have any disability label, or they could be extremely intelligent. Problem behaviors are not exclusive to any particular group.

Quiz 1: Introduction

Functional assessment is a process of understanding

Functional assessment is the general label used to describe a set of processes for

The purpose of a functional assessment is to

When direct observation information is collected for 10 to 15 instances of the problem behavior, it typically allows observers an opportunity to discover whether a pattern exists that will allow determination of which of the following?

Which of the following is least important in the functional assessment process?

Understanding the consequences that maintain problem behaviors is

If we consider problem behaviors as occurring in contexts, it becomes logical to

In analyzing people's activity patterns, you can address issues such as

Primary outcomes of the functional assessment process involve

One of the goals of a good functional assessment is to

Functional assessment is a process for

The three approaches for functional assessment are

Many examples of functional assessment interviews and questionnaires can be found in the literature. In most cases, however, they share an emphasis on gaining information about which of the following?

Many conditions including allergies, sinus or middle ear infections, premenstrual and menstrual cycle effects, urinary tract infections, toothaches, and chronic constipation

Problem behaviors may take many forms, such as

Functional assessment is not like a medical diagnosis because

Personal futures planning

Functional assessment is not a value-free technology and this handbook provides which of these value-based assumptions?

One of the central reasons for conducting a functional assessment is to

The individuals who exhibit problem behaviors may