Toward Unity in the Assessment of Severe Challenging Behavior belongs in serious BCBA study because it shapes whether behavior-analytic decisions stay useful once they leave a clean training example and enter language assessment, teaching sessions, caregiver coaching, and natural communication routines. In Toward Unity in the Assessment of Severe Challenging Behavior, for this course, the practical stakes show up in clearer case conceptualization, better instructional targets, and stronger generalization, not in abstract discussion alone.
Provider: BehaviorLive — via Behavior Analysis Association of Michigan
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Join Free →The interview-informed synthesized contingency analysis (IISCA) or practical functional assessment (PFA) is a contemporary functional analysis (FA) approach that has gained substantial attention and support. Many individuals have highlighted its promising aspects and advocated for its widespread adoption. Discussions surrounding its use have often overlooked important drawbacks and limitations, while using seemingly divisive language. This has inadvertently contributed to a divide between proponents of IISCA/PFA and those favoring other FA approaches. This divide reflects broader challenges within the field, which present opportunities for growth and collaboration in pursuit of the shared goal of improving the lives of our clients and their families. In this invited address, the presenter will (1) outline the valuable aspects of the IISCA/PFA; (2) explore under-discussed and often-dismissed limitations and concerns, and how they mirror larger challenges in the field; and (3) highlight areas of agreement and offer ways for fostering constructive dialogue and call for unity among likely unintended factions. By addressing these issues collaboratively, we can strengthen the field as a whole and better serve those whose qualities of life often rely on our work.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1 | General |
| COA | 1 | — |
Dr. Kranak is an Associate Professor in the Department of Human Development and Child Studies and the Director of Research for the Center for Autism at Oakland University. His research interests include applied and translational investigations of relapse, the assessment and treatment of severe problem behavior, supervision best practices, and protection of the profession of behavior analysis. Dr. Kranak has accrued nearly $2 million in funding for his research and clinical endeavors, including from the NIH. He has repeatedly served as an NIH review panel member for the Child Psychopathology and Developmental Disabilities study section. Dr. Kranak received the 2026 B. F. Skinner New Researcher Award in the area of Applied research, recognizing the contributions his lab and colleagues have made, especially related to severe problem behavior. Additionally, Dr. Kranak is an Associate Editor for Behavior Analysis in Practice and Education and Treatment of Children; and currently serves on the Board of Editors for the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Single-Case in the Social Sciences, and as an ad hoc reviewer for several other journals. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and son, working out, cooking, golfing; and is an avid Pittsburgh sports fan.
Dig into the research behind this topic — plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
280 research articles with practitioner takeaways
258 research articles with practitioner takeaways
256 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.