Positive Approaches to Challenging Behavior

The functional behavioral assessment or FBA involves gathering information to identify and confirm the function maintaining challenging behavior. The FBA involves three different processes to gather data:

• Indirect assessment methods
• Direct observation
• Functional analysis (not needed for most FBAs)

The first method is called Indirect Assessments.

Indirect assessment methods can include interviews and surveys of the person and others who know that person well and record reviews. Examples of these indirect assessment methods include:

• Interviews with the person and others who know them well, work with them, or interact in the settings where they are successful and where challenging behavior occurs
• Record reviews including psychology records, incident reports, academic or work records, and other written documents
• Surveys, checklists, and questionnaires completed by people who know the child or adult well that gather details about why challenging behavior occurs and other details about routines and settings in the person's life

You can find examples of surveys, interview tools, and record review templates in the Positive Behavior Support Notebook