Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)

Technical definition, clinical ABA application, discriminative non-examples, and test-day traps for behavior analysis candidates.

Formal Definition

A systematic process for obtaining information about the purposes (functions) a problem behavior serves for an individual. Comprises indirect methods, descriptive ABC observations, and experimental functional analyses (FA).

✓ Clinical Example

An analyst conducts a parent interview (indirect), records 15 ABC descriptive logs (direct), and tests analog demand and control conditions (experimental) to identify escape function.

✗ Contrast / Non-Example

Administering a standard IQ test or psychiatric rating scale (these categorize symptoms without identifying environmental maintaining contingencies).

⚠️ How This Concept is Tested (Exam Trap)

A functional behavior assessment (FBA) is the overarching umbrella assessment; a functional analysis (FA) is the experimental manipulation.

Interactive Exam Scenario

1 Practice Question

Sample Question 01Domain F: Behavior AssessmentComponents of an FBA

Which component of a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) yields verified functional relations rather than mere correlational hypotheses?

Select an option to test your answer

Explore Related ABA Concepts

Negative Reinforcement vs. Punishment

Principles

Motivating Operations (MO)

Principles

Schedules of Reinforcement (FR, VR, FI, VI)

Concepts

Extinction Burst

Behavior Reduction

View All Terms in ABA Glossary →

Put Your Knowledge into Exam Readiness

Master this concept and hundreds more with our full question bank, Leitner flashcards, and 4-hour timed mock exam.

Practice Question Bank →Study Flashcards →