Functional assessment: Contributions and future directions.

Horner (1994) wrote a think-piece, not an experiment.

The paper argued that functional assessment should guide both science and treatment.

It urged researchers to test how well new tools work in real clinics.

The author saw functional assessment lifting clinical standards.

He warned that without it, teams pick punishers that feel right but miss the real reason for behavior.

Melanson et al. (2023) later counted 1,333 FA cases and showed the field listened: sessions got shorter, clinics use tangible tests more, and autistic clients are now the norm.

Contreras et al. (2023) found a snag: simple ABC checklists match full FA results only half the time. This looks like a contradiction, but it isn’t—Horner (1994) wanted better tools, and the 2023 review proves we still need them.

Amador et al. (2024) answered with trial-based FAs: quick 5-minute probes that fit inside a class period and still give clear functions, moving us closer to the easy, valid tools Horner (1994) envisioned.

If you run FAs, you are living the 1994 forecast. Pick the shortest method that still gives a clear answer—trial-based for schools, full FA for severe cases. Always double-check descriptive guesses with a brief test so you don’t plan treatment on a coin-flip hypothesis.