A direct and descriptive measurement, and assessment procedure in which instances of a naturally occurring target behavior and the specific environmental events (antecedents and consequences) accompanying the behavior are recorded. Measurement is conducted only when the behavior occurs using narrative, written descriptions of the behavior and the corresponding specific environmental events and used to calculate conditional probabilities for that behavior.

5th Edition Task List

F-7  Conduct a descriptive assessment of problem behavior.

6th Edition TCO

F.5 Design and evaluate descriptive assessments.

Related Content

Tandem schedules of reinforcement

A compound schedule of reinforcement in which two or more un-signaled (No SD) basic schedules of reinforcement are in effect and must be met successively for the response to contact…

Tangible function

When the source of reinforcement for a behavior is access to specific socially mediated tangible items.

Scatterplot recording

A direct and descriptive measurement and assessment method that uses interval data to display behavior patterns during specific periods and used to assess the times and/or activities during which challenging…

Functions of behavior

The four main sources of reinforcement for any wanted or unwanted behavior.

Escape function

When the source of reinforcement for a behavior is escaping a socially mediated stimulus that is aversive to the individual.

Descriptive FBA

A direct assessment, requiring direct observation of a behavior in naturally occurring conditions, to identify the environmental events associated with the behavior in order to hypothesize a function.

Conditional probability

A formula that generates information from ABC recording to assess the statistical possibility that a target behavior will occur under specific antecedent and/or consequence conditions.

Attention function

When the source of reinforcement for a behavior is access to socially mediated attention.

Automatic reinforcement function

When the source of reinforcement for a behavior is self-mediated access to specific reinforcement or escape from aversive stimuli.

ABC continuous recording

A direct and descriptive measurement and assessment procedure in which instances of a naturally occurring target behavior and the specific environmental events (antecedents and consequences) accompanying the behavior are recorded.…

Test your ABA Terminology ➠ Functional Assessment Procedures

Focusing on ABC data collection, PTB co-founder Dana Meller discusses functional assessment procedures. Dana explains how to generate mathematical probabilities for target behaviors based on specific antecedents and consequences, providing a step-by-step guide to quantitatively analyzing the gathered information. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Sections F-7: Conduct a descriptive assessment of problem behavior and F-9: Interpret functional assessment data.

Test Your Descriptive Assessment Skills ➠ ABC Recording Methods

Get a comprehensive overview of ABC Recording Methods. PTB co-founder Dana Meller breaks down the two types, along with their differences, benefits, and practical applications. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Sections F-7: Conduct a descriptive assessment of problem behavior; and F-9: Interpret functional assessment data.

Test Your ABA Behavior Assessment Terminology ➠ ABC Recording Methods

PTB co-founder Dana Meller discusses the two types of ABC recording methods, focusing on each technique's differences and accuracy concerns. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section F-7: Identify the defining features of single-subject experimental designs (e.g., individuals serve as their own controls, repeated measures, prediction, verification, replication).

Test your ABA Terminology ➠ Interpret Descriptive Assessment Data

Test your knowledge of interpreting descriptive assessment ABC data with PTB co-founder Dana Meller. Here she discusses conditional probability, including the rules that apply, and provides a step-by-step example using the calculation formula and how to report these data. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Sections F-7: Conduct a descriptive assessment of problem behavior; F-9: Interpret functional assessment data.