Which term analyzes the purposes (functions) of problem behavior by arranging antecedents and consequences representing those in the person's natural routines within an experimental design so their separate effects can be observed?

• A. FBA
• B. FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS
• C. GENERAL CASE ANALYSIS
• D. HABITUATION

Answer: (B)

Functional analysis tests why a behavior occurs by systematically changing the triggers and consequences that surround the behavior, in conditions that resemble the person’s daily routines, so you can observe how each variable affects the behavior. By creating different scenarios—where attention is provided, demands are present, a tangible is available, or the person is left alone—you can compare the rate of problem behavior across conditions. If the behavior only increases in a condition where attention is given, the function is attention-maintained; if it grows when demands are present and the consequence is escape, it’s escape-maintained; if it rises when access to a tangible is possible, it’s tangible-maintained; and if it occurs even when social consequences are minimized, automatic reinforcement may be involved. This approach provides a direct test of functional causes, guiding precise intervention.

A broader functional behavior assessment may rely on interviews or descriptive observation without manipulating variables, which can be less definitive about function. General case analysis focuses on ensuring the intervention generalizes across settings and exemplars, and habituation refers to reduced responding with repeated exposure to a stimulus.