Decreasing Problem Behavior with an FBA Part 1: How to Begin

For families and school teams trying to understand what precedes and follows challenging behavior, Christine Austin examines the beginning of a functional behavior assessment. The recording follows target definitions, interviews and repeated ABC observations into hypothesis formation and functional analysis, using recorded examples to illustrate the assessment process.

Presenter biographies: Christine Austin.

MANDATORY DISCLAIMER: The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (“BACB”) does not sponsor, approve, or endorse Special Learning, the materials, information, or sessions identified herein.

Austin compares the Motivation Assessment Scale, Functional Analysis Screening Tool and Questions About Behavioral Function with direct observation. The ABC practice covers worksheet ripping, a transition away from a swing and other recorded examples, followed by her explanations of the observed sequence.

The discussion examines why attention after behavior does not establish its function and what scatter plots can reveal about observation windows. Austin also addresses functional analysis prerequisites and risks, then describes Step-by-Step's neutral-redirection approach; detailed interventions and replacement behaviors are deferred to Part 2.

What does this recording cover?

• The behavior definition block contrasts observable topography with behavioral function and uses examples and nonexamples.
• The indirect assessment discussion examines the MAS, FAST and Questions About Behavioral Function, including informant differences and questionnaire limitations.
• The ABC discussion compares antecedents, adult responses and demand follow-through across repeated observations.
• The scatter plot discussion distinguishes time-of-day patterns from immediate antecedent and consequence information.
• The functional analysis discussion covers test and control conditions, consent, qualified clinicians, repeated measures and injury risk.

Recording context: The recording date is unavailable, and detailed intervention teaching is deferred to Part 2.

Three selected learner comments

The six-item evaluation mean was 4.29/5 across 13 complete responses, from 138 recorded rating responses. This mean includes only complete six-score responses. Source: Special Learning's course evaluation records, snapshot October 11, 2026.

Three selected anonymous responses appear below, with the wording and spelling retained. They describe learners' experiences and requests; they are not a guarantee of results or a claim that these comments represent every learner.

give more info on not only what questions we got wrong but what the answer is especially wen coming so close to passing

Course evaluation response, 2023

Make sure everything is spelled correctly in the quiz. It said "typography" in one of the questions and I couldn't figure out whether or not that was a trick question about topography.

Course evaluation response, 2023

The quality of the video's wasn't that good.

Course evaluation response, 2024

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