Description
Antecedents, Behavior, and Consequences
For this assignment, use the case study about James on page 263-276 in your Functional Assessment text. Create a blank Functional Analysis Observation Form (FAOF) using page 264-265 in your Functional Assessment text as a guide to document the behaviors of James.
The disruptive target behaviors for this analysis include James':
- Hits and kicks adults when confronted for inappropriate behavior.
- Noncompliant behavior.
- Off-task behavior.
- Disruptive Behavior.
- Property Destruction.
You will also target his cooperative behavior.
Use the table you have created to record:
- The antecedents (A) that trigger the behavior.
- The consequences (C) that follow the behavior.
- The setting events (SE) that may be affecting behavior.
Remember that there may not be setting events for each instance of behavior, but they may be present throughout the activity. Antecedents and consequences may also occur across paragraphs.
Once you have completed the table:
- Use the space below the table to list the patterns or consistencies in antecedents and consequences that appear to be related to the disruptive behaviors.
- Develop a summary statement concerning antecedents, disruptive behaviors, and consequences. Then develop a summary statement concerning antecedents, cooperative behavior, and consequences.
- Explain the importance of conducting assessments prior to the implementation of intervention. How does this ensure effective treatment?
Assignment Requirements
Your assignment should meet the following requirements:
- Written communication: Should be free of errors that detract from the overall message.
- APA formatting: References and citations are formatted according to current APA style guidelines.
- Describe the antecedents that trigger specific behaviors.
- Describe the consequences that follow specific behaviors.
- Select the setting events that may be affecting specific behaviors.
- Analyze patterns or consistencies in antecedents and consequences that may be related to disruptive behaviors.
- Summarize the antecedents, disruptive behaviors, and consequences.
- Summarize the antecedents, cooperative behaviors, and consequences.
- Explain the importance of conducting assessments prior to the implementation of intervention to ensure effective treatment.
- Resources: A sufficient number of scholarly or professional resources.
- Length: 2–3 double-spaced pages.
- Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12-point.
CASE STUDY: Identify Generalization and Maintenance and Prevention Strategies and Identify Additional Strategies to Employ
Case Study Provided by Edward Cancio
James
James is a third-grade student who is attending Port Washington Elementary School. He is a student identified with emotional and behavior disorders (E/BD). James is receiving special education services in a self-contained classroom for students with E/BD.
James has consistently struggled with academic tasks and does not like school or his teachers. His cognitive ability is within the average range. When he is successful while working in one-to-one situations, he is compliant and he can complete his class work. Additional strengths include athletic ability, positive peer interactions outside of the special education classroom (e.g., P.E., lunchroom activities, assemblies, recess), and he can ignore the inappropriate behaviors of other students when he is academically focused. James’s favorite classes are P.E., art, and music.
In addition to E/BD, James has been diagnosed with a learning disability (LD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (combined type). The related services that James receives are social work and nursing services. The classroom is staffed by one full-time special education teacher and one full-time paraprofessional. The program serves 13 students with E/BD. James’s primary teacher, Ms. Butke, has requested behavioral consultation to more effectively deal with James’s disruptive and aggressive behavior. Ms. Butke indicates that James exhibits the following challenging behaviors at various times throughout the day:
- • Hits and kicks adults when confronted for inappropriate behavior
- • Noncompliant behavior
- • Off-task behavior
- • Disrupts the classroom by roaming around the room, trying to distract students from their academic activities
- • Throws objects in class
- • Destructive toward property
Ms. Butke is concerned with the safety of the other individuals in the classroom (both students and staff) and the effect of James’s behaviors on the amount of instructional time he and his classmates miss. Ms. Butke feels that if the staff can teach James more self-control and assist him in asking for help when it is needed, his aggressive, noncompliant, disruptive, and off-task behavior will substantially decrease.
The district’s behavioral consultant observed James in various settings and was able to see many of the behaviors identified by Ms. Butke. The consultant was able to observe examples of prosocial behavior. In addition, the consultant noted the contexts in which James’s challenging behavior occurred (antecedents and setting events) and potential consequences for those behaviors. These are described on the following ABC recording chart.
Antecedents and Setting Events | Behavior | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
James reported to reading class 20 minutes late (reading follows lunch hour) | After teacher explained what James needed to work on, he sat for 20 minutes | Teacher did not respond to off-task behavior |
Sitting in seat during reading class | After 20 minutes of off-task behavior, James wanders around the classroom | Teacher did not respond to out-of-seat behavior |
Reading class | Takes marker off teacher’s desk, scribbles on the teacher’s edition of the reading book | Teacher ignores behavior |
Reading class | Takes ruler out of teacher’s desk, walks to bulletin board, and slides ruler from the top of the classroom rules poster and catches ruler at the bottom of the poster | Teacher does not respond to behavior |
Reading class | Tears classroom rules poster off the board, rips up poster, and throws pieces across the room | Told to return to his seat |
Told to return to his seat | Refuses | Teacher tells him he will have to go to the office |
Told he would have to go to the office | Tumbles a room divider | Teacher calls the office for assistance, the assistant principal removes James from class, suspended for 5 days |
Written language lesson, working with teacher | On task, compliant | Praise, awarded bonus points |
Correcting written language assignment in groups | Works cooperatively with group | Praise to group, group receives 5 minutes free time |
Free-time activity | Plays board game with peers | Praise |
Math assignment, independent work | Throws wadded-up pieces of paper at classmates | Told he would miss class movie after math |
Math assignment, independent work | Leaves desk, moves to teacher’s desk, tips over room divider on top of teacher | Removed from class, suspended for 7 days |
Analysis of the ABC recording form indicates that the antecedent conditions that are in effect when James engages in appropriate behavior are situations in which he understands the concepts of the lesson, when he works one-on-one with the teacher or paraprofessional, when he works in group activities, or when he participates in social activities with his peers.
In contrast, circumstances that precede his challenging behavior typically include situations in which he doesn’t understand concepts presented during instruction, when he works independently, when he is left alone for periods of time, or when he is confronted for inappropriate behavior (e.g., off-task behavior, roaming around the room).
The function of James’s challenging behavior is negative reinforcement. His behavior results in escape and avoidance from academic activities or assignments. The negative reinforcement function was primarily selected because James engages in challenging behavior during academic-related tasks. James has had a chronic history of academic failure. For James, difficult academic tasks are aversive, and he demonstrates challenging behaviors when presented with these tasks. The consequences for his behaviors (e.g., conflicts with staff, then left alone) effectively terminate aversive antecedent tasks, activities, or assignments.
The negative reinforcement function was also identified because James does not engage in these behaviors during social and nonacademic-related activities (e.g., social interactions with peers, P.E., lunch, music, and art). Rather, during nonacademic antecedent conditions, he engages in prosocial behavior. Consequently there are apparent differences in the types of antecedent/setting event conditions that trigger prosocial versus challenging behavior.
In addition to negative reinforcement, James’s challenging behavior is also maintained by positive reinforcement. The consequences for both prosocial and challenging behavior usually provide some form of attention from peers, teachers, or paraprofessionals. Conditions that precede James’s challenging behavior often
**The table is included in the case study**
Explanation & Answer
Attached. Please let me know if you have any questions or need revisions.
Surname 1
FUNCTIONAL ASSESSMENT
Antecedents, Behavior, and Consequences
Name
Course
Professor
February 2, 2021
Time
8 a.m. –
9 a.m.
Setting Events (SE)
paraprofessionals.
Attention from peers, teachers, or
activities.
Engaging in social and nonacademic-related
Missing class movie,
Praised by the teacher.
Ignored by the teacher.
Conflict with school staff.
Consequences (C).
Escape from academic activities.
Antecedents (A).
Getting suspended from school.
Participating in social activities with peers.
Working on group activities.
Working one on one with the teacher.
Start date: _________________________
Understanding the lesson’ s concept.
Confronted for inappropriate behavior.
Behaviors.
Left alone for periods of time
Working independently.
Failing to understand concept
Being academically focused.
Compliant behavior.
Positive peer interaction.
Destructive towards property.
Throwing objects in class.
Roaming around the classroom.
Off-task behavior.
Non-compliant behavior.
Hitting...
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