A comparative effectiveness trial of functional behavioral assessment methods

Abstract

Clinicians report primarily using functional behavioral assessment (FBA) methods that do not include functional analyses. However, studies examining the correspondence between functional analyses and other types of FBAs have produced inconsistent results. In addition, although functional analyses are considered the gold standard, their contribution toward successful treatment compared with other FBA methods remains unclear. This comparative effectiveness study, conducted with 57 young children with autism spectrum disorder, evaluated the results of FBAs that did (n = 26) and did not (n = 31) include a functional analysis. Results of FBAs with and without functional analyses showed modest correspondence. All participants who completed functional communication training achieved successful outcomes regardless of the type of FBA conducted.

A concise review of the correspondence between the traditional functional analysis and alternative assessment formats

“…however, the extinction analysis cannot identify any potentially relevant reinforcers missed by the initial functional analysis. Third, despite the practical advantage of validating a new assessment with a treatment instead of another assessment (Sidman, 1960), comparative effectiveness trials (inclusive of cases with both positive and negative treatment outcomes) are rare at present (see Call et al, 2024). Researchers should continue exploring such alternative avenues to assess functional analysis validity.…”