Instruction in Functional Assessment, 2014a
Instruction in Functional Assessment, 2014a
Instruction in Functional Assessment, 2014a
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Chapter 4<br />
Teach<strong>in</strong>g <strong>Functional</strong><br />
<strong>Assessment</strong> Content and<br />
Process<br />
Focus Questions:<br />
<br />
<br />
How can knowledge of functional assessment (FA) best be taught?<br />
How can the decision-mak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> complet<strong>in</strong>g a FA process best be taught?<br />
The complex repertoire <strong>in</strong>volved <strong>in</strong> us<strong>in</strong>g FA when design<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>terventions to decrease<br />
challeng<strong>in</strong>g behaviors of <strong>in</strong>dividuals with developmental disabilities requires knowledge<br />
and skills across diverse topic areas. Learn<strong>in</strong>g goals, objectives, desired behaviors, and<br />
criteria must be specified to pave the way for identification of appropriate <strong>in</strong>structional<br />
methodology and assessment approaches (Hendrix & Tieman, 1971; Vargas, 2009). An<br />
<strong>in</strong>structional analysis should clearly identify the requisite subareas and the prerequisite<br />
knowledge and skills to atta<strong>in</strong> those learn<strong>in</strong>g goals and objectives (Dick, Carey, & Carey,<br />
2009).<br />
Sources for the Content Doma<strong>in</strong>s for<br />
Assess<strong>in</strong>g and Treat<strong>in</strong>g Challeng<strong>in</strong>g<br />
Behaviors<br />
A solid grasp of basic behavioral pr<strong>in</strong>ciples and procedures is essential to understand<strong>in</strong>g<br />
the underp<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g of challeng<strong>in</strong>g behaviors and the ways <strong>in</strong> which they can be modified.<br />
S<strong>in</strong>ce the <strong>in</strong>dividual’s behavior and environment are be<strong>in</strong>g manipulated, ethically, the college<br />
student must have a well-established knowledge-base of both the theoretical basis for<br />
behavioral approaches and how to correctly implement effective practices. Important topics<br />
for college students to know <strong>in</strong>clude behavioral pr<strong>in</strong>ciples and procedures, behavioral def<strong>in</strong>itions,<br />
ethics, methods of record<strong>in</strong>g behavior, analyz<strong>in</strong>g graphs, s<strong>in</strong>gle participant research<br />
designs, functional assessment, <strong>in</strong>tervention strategies, and evaluat<strong>in</strong>g treatment effective-