An assessment instrument with empirically established validity and reliability that compares a client’s results to the normative levels of the population for whom the specific test was designed.

An indirect assessment method in which individuals knowledgeable about the occurrence of the behavior of interest and the relevant environmental variables, answer questions by making selections from a closed set…

Functional behavior assessment activities that aim to identify the events in the natural setting that correlate with the behavior of interest by collecting information from individuals who know the individual…

The methods and activities used by behavior analysts to gather information about the function of problem behavior, the results of which are used to guide goal setting and interventions for…

A direct functional behavior assessment procedure that looks at the complex environmental relationships of every element of an individual’s life to assess physiological, social, and home-based conditions and an individual’s…

A comparison of an individual’s behavior to same-age, typically developing peers to determine if a challenging behavior is at problematic levels or appropriate for that age or context. Hint: Not…

An assessment that measures performance against a set of predetermined developmental tasks and commonly accepted criteria for specific developmental levels, measuring the presence, absence, or emergence of developmentally appropriate tasks.

An assessment of performance levels on specific tasks or lessons (e.g., motor, language, cognition, self-help or academic skills) often used by teachers in educational settings.

An indirect assessment method administered using checklists to gather descriptions of the referral behavior and the relevant antecedents and consequences, as well as information about the frequency, duration, or intensity…

An indirect assessment method used to identify potential target behaviors and the client’s and relevant individual’s primary concerns by asking about the client’s home environment,family dynamics, social history, community involvement,…

Looking to review direct assessment methods? PTB founder Dana Meller gets right to it with this quick explainer.