ABCs of Functional Behavior Assessment

Amanda Fishley's recorded introduction to functional behavior assessment follows DASH: define, ask, see and hypothesize. A recurring middle-school classroom example connects observable behavior definitions, interviews, ABC charts, direct observation and baseline data. The presenter limits this introductory framework to mild-to-moderate behaviors that are not dangerous.

Catalogue presenter credits: Amanda Fishley.

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Fishley addresses teachers, paraprofessionals and educational teams, distinguishing inconsequential behavior from behavior that interferes with learning. The generic example of Jay, a middle-school student, follows talking during instruction, leaving his seat and tearing worksheets across the assessment process.

The session compares indirect interviews with direct observation, introduces the stranger test for clear definitions, and shows how an ABC chart can use narrative entries or checklists. Fishley closes by connecting baseline measures and a where–when–why hypothesis to discussion of intervention planning.

What does this recording cover?

• DASH: define, ask, see and hypothesize
• Observable behavior definitions and the stranger test
• Interviews and direct classroom observation
• ABC charts and setting events
• Baseline measures and function hypotheses

Recording context: The recurring classroom case is a generic example. This introduction excludes dangerous behavior. The recording date is not supplied.

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