Functional analysis of separate topographies of aberrant behavior.

The team ran a separate functional analysis for each problem behavior shape. One kid might hit, bite, and flop. They tested each move on its own.

They compared short sessions to long sessions. The goal was to see if mixed-up data hides different reasons for each behavior.

Separate tests gave clear answers. When data were lumped, the true functions got blurry.

Brief tests worked as well as long ones when each topography had its own curve.

Bell et al. (2018) later showed you can watch one FA and still predict the function of other topographies 83% of the time. This builds on the 1994 insight while saving hours.

Warner et al. (2020) took the idea further. Once you know each shape's job, you can treat them as one response class if they all fade together during extinction. This updates the 1994 call to keep topographies apart.

LeFrancois et al. (1993) had already proven that watching minute-by-minute trends in a single session can match a long FA. The 1994 paper extends that logic to separate curves for each shape.

Next time you see two topographies, run two curves, not one. A five-minute glance at each line tells you if one behavior is for escape and the other for attention. You will pick the right treatment faster and avoid mixed-up results.