Getting to the FACT of the Matter: It's Time to Rethink How We Conceptualize Functional Analysis matters because it changes what a BCBA notices when decisions have to hold up in case conceptualization, intervention design, staff training, and literature-informed problem solving. In Getting to the FACT of the Matter: It's Time to Rethink How We Conceptualize Functional Analysis, for this course, the practical stakes show up in stronger conceptual consistency and better translational decision making, not in abstract discussion alone.
Provider: BehaviorLive — via BABAT
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Join Free →While behavioral intervention based on results from functional analyses (FA) shows more successful intervention effects, survey data on behavior analysts implementing FAs in their practice has shown they are rarely implemented (Oliver et al., 2015). Research has studied why behavior analysts state they do not use FAs while also disputing the stated limitations (Hanley, 2012). The avoidance of FAs in practice by behavior analysts often results in behavior analysts turning to descriptive assessments (Oliver et al., 2015); however, our science questions the validity of descriptive assessments, leaving practicing behavior analysts at a crossroads to select the best assessment method for their clients. This symposium will first review the results of a recent survey to assess the current status of behavior analysts implementing functional analysis in practice and contextual variables that may influence clinical decisions concerning the utility of FA methodology. Second, the authors will demonstrate a functional analysis clinician's tool (FACT) developed to synthesize FA methodologies into one location and guide clinicians through the process of making decisions related to the core components of an FA (condition selection, condition duration, design, data collection, etc.) that are individualized based on their client's needs. This symposium will end with a discussion on the clinical information from the first two talks.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1 | General |
Adriana (Adie) Anderson is a BCBA in San Diego, California, and works at Easterseals Southern California as Research Supervisor. She received her master's degree in Special Education with an emphasis in Autism from San Diego State University, where she worked with Sabrina Daneshvar. Adie obtained her Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Endicott College while working under the advisement of Dr. Jill Harper. Her personal interests include soccer and a passion for Whitney Houston, while her research interests are focused on providing effective and efficient training to staff, developing social skills, and creating tools to teach decision-making skills.
Dig into the research behind this topic — plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
280 research articles with practitioner takeaways
279 research articles with practitioner takeaways
258 research articles with practitioner takeaways
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All behavior-analytic intervention is individualized. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. Treatment decisions should be informed by the best available published research, individualized assessment, and obtained with the informed consent of the client or their legal guardian. Behavior analysts are responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their competence and adhering to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.