A comparison of sources of baseline data for treatments of problem behavior following a functional analysis
Your multielement functional analysis data can double as baseline—no new session needed.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team asked: do we need a fresh baseline after a functional analysis?
They compared three ways to pick baseline data: multielement FA data, pairwise FA data, or a new baseline session.
All three sources were then used to plan treatment for the same problem behaviors.
What they found
Treatment success did not depend on which baseline numbers they used.
Choosing the multielement FA data shaved off extra baseline sessions without hurting decisions.
How this fits with other research
Melanson et al. (2023) show FAs are already getting shorter and moving to outpatient rooms. Using FA numbers as baseline keeps that speed-up going.
Sturmey (1995) warned that analog baselines can mislead. Scheithauer et al. (2020) answer with real data: the FA itself gives a safe, ready baseline.
Grauerholz-Fisher et al. (2023) found probe style changes baseline height in skill teaching. Here, baseline source did not change treatment choice in behavior reduction. Together they tell us to worry more about probe style in acquisition and less about source in FA work.
Why it matters
You can skip the extra baseline session after your FA. Plug the multielement data straight into your treatment graph. You save time, reduce client exposure to reinforcement tests, and still pick the right intervention. One less step means faster help for the learner and quicker relief for staff.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
It is common practice in research on the treatment of problem behavior to compare levels of targeted behaviors during treatment to levels when treatment is not in place. Some researchers use data collected as part of a multielement functional analysis as the initial baseline, whereas others collect new baseline data following completion of the functional analysis. We evaluated whether the source of baseline data influences the reliability and efficiency of decision-making. Results suggest that similar decisions are made in regard to treatment efficacy using the different sources of baseline data, but using data from a multielement functional analysis as baseline may save time. Interrater agreement was adequate, but lower for some graphs than has been observed in past studies. Several potential explanations for this discrepancy are discussed.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 2020 · doi:10.1002/jaba.549