The purpose of a Functional Analysis Assessment is to determine what behaviors are interfering with a child's ability to profit from or access his or her educational program. This type of assessment is based more upon direct observation, combined with review of related behavioral data and other factors, plus interviews or surveys
The main steps involved in an FAA/FBA are as follows:
- Initial interview with school and/or parents to develop the specific reason the assessment is being conducted
- Observation at school
- Teacher consultation
- Parent consultation
- Data collection or psychometric surveys highlighting positive adaptive behaviors that facilitate learning and interfering behaviors that impede learning, present a risk to the child, or disrupt the learning of his or her peers.
- Data analysis to determine frequency, and severity of interfering behaviors; factors maintaining interfering behaviors
- Interviewing the student alone or in a small group with school permission
- Ecobehavioral assessment
- Reinforcer assessment
- Report write-up
- Recommendations
- Review at IEP meeting
- If requested, team-driven development of behavior intervention program or specialized training related to assessment findings