Efficiency in functional analysis of problem behavior: A quantitative and qualitative review

Abstract

Originating in the mid-1960s, functional analysis (FA) has become the gold standard method for understanding the environmental variables that come to shape and maintain problematic behaviors such as aggression, self-injury, and property destruction. Over the decades, a number of studies have refined FA methods, attempting to improve the overall efficiency of the analysis through experimental design and procedural modifications. In the present review, we used ongoing visual-inspection criteria and basic probability theory to compare and analyze levels of efficiency across FA types. The multielement design and synthesized contingency analyses were about equally efficient with respect to the mean number of sessions conducted per function tested, and the trial-based and synthesized contingency analyses were the 2 most efficient with respect to the mean duration per function tested. We discuss the implications of these findings in the broader context of efficiency and provide recommendations for maximizing efficiency during an FA. We also discuss other qualitative procedural details that may influence the overall efficiency of an FA.

Parent‐implemented brief functional analysis and treatment with coaching via telehealth

“…Iwata et al (1982/1994) introduced the experimental functional analysis (FA) to identify reinforcing contingencies maintaining self‐injury. This FA methodology is considered the gold standard and has been successfully replicated across numerous studies, participants, and topographies of challenging behavior (Beavers et al, 2013; Hanley et al, 2003; Saini et al, 2020).…”

Application of automated nonparametric statistical analysis in clinical contexts

“…That is, by using a fully automated procedure such as ANSA, behavior analysts may inadvertently overlook some critical details readily observed through visual inspection (e.g., cyclical patterns, sequence effects). In fact, PHVI procedures were purposely not fully automated to ensure that raters had to visually examine the data (Fisher et al, 2003;Hagopian et al, 1997;Roane et al 2013;Saini et al, 2018Saini et al, , 2020. It would also be remiss to not mention that ANSA currently does not appropriately control for autocorrelation.…”

“…Functional analyses (FAs) are the gold standard for determining the maintaining variables of problem behavior (Saini et al, 2020). Results of FAs influence and guide necessary treatment decisions that reduce problem behavior and increase adaptive behavior (Iwata & Dozier, 2008).…”

The Use of Isolated and Synthesized Latency Functional Analyses in the Assessment and Treatment of Clothing Removal Exhibited by a Child with Autism

“…Contingent on the target behavior occurring, reinforcement in the form of contingent escape and access to preferred items would be provided simultaneously. Since they test for more than one operant function at a time, synthesized functional analyses are often quicker (see Saini et al, 2020) and have been purported to be more ecologically valid (Coffey et al, 2020) than standard function analyses that test one condition at a time. That is, the conditions tested in the synthesized functional analyses may better approximate complex reinforcement contingencies found in everyday life (2020).…”

“…Despite descriptive data and the synthesized analysis indicating that two consequences (task removal/delay and attention) were maintaining the behavior, the isolated analysis identified escape was not functionally related to clothing removal and led to the development of an effective intervention to reduce the behavior. For comparison, a recent review by Saini et al (2020) on the efficiency of various functional analysis methods indicated that the average duration to determine a function using structured judgement criteria with reversal and multielement functional analysis to be 281 and 150 minutes, respectively.…”