Question

Explain the difference between functional assessment and functional analysis. Minimum of 3 paragraphs.

Answer 1

• The Functional assessment is a multi-step process that may include some or all of the following:
• record review
• parent and staff interviews
• student interviews if appropriate
• the completion of rating scales such as the Motivation Assessment Scale (MAS) or the Question About Behavior Function (QABF)
• direct observation of the student in the problem activity/setting
• functional analysis.
• The funtional assessment should result in a statement or statements that tell you WHY the child is engaging in the behavior.
• Functional Behavioral Assessment, (FBA) helps educators to understand the functions of the behavior. Then educators can design interventions to teach appropriate replacement behavior(s.The rationale behind conducting an FBA is that all behavior serves an identifiable purpose. In a Functional Behavioral Assessment, behavior interventionists collect data, conduct interviews, review existing information, and observe student behavior in order to form a hypothesis about behavioral function.
• The functional analysis is one step or possible component of the functional assessment. The functional analysis is a manipulation of events to prove why the behavior is happening.A more formalized process of identifying the function of behavior is called a functional analysis, (FA). An FA is more clinical approach to determining which of the functions is maintaining the behavior.
• A Functional Behaviour Assessment (FBA) is not one single thing; it is a broad term used to describe a number of different methods that allow researchers and practitioners to identify the reason a specific behaviour is occurring.The terms "functional assessment" and "functional analysis" are sometimes thought to be the same thing but they are not; a functional analysis is one specific type of functional assessment.