Autism Spectrum Disorders Functional Analysis of Problem Behavior

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These training materials were created for the Autism Center of Excellence at Western Michigan University. This course has been designed to provide behavioral health professionals working with clients with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This course provides participants with another assessment methodology for identifying problem behavior, mapping out the causes and consequences of that problem behavior. This course also provides additional resources like the FAST assessment worksheet and other resources to help behavioral health professionals. 

This course will be updated in the near future to address current accessibility standards. If you are unable to access the content in this section, please contact the imp support team for assistance.

Assessing Problem Behavior

The introduction to this course provides a brief definition of problem behavior in clients that are afflicted with behavioral health disorders or Autism Spectrum Disorder. This course also provides insight into the antecedent, the problem behavior, and consequences of that behavior.

The FAST Assessment Tool

The course expert provides a helpful tool for mapping behavior. The FAST or Functional Analysis Screening Tool helps behavioral health professionals ask important and pointed questions to help get to the root of the problem behavior. 

The ABC Form

The ABC form has also been presented in this course as a mapping tool to determine the antecedent event, problem behavior, and consequences of the behavior to better determine what outside factors, if any, are initiating the problem behavior. 

Reinforcement-Based Approaches to Behavior Reduction 

The final sections of this course focus on potential strategies for reducing the problem behavior and initiating positive behavioral change. 

Dr. Brian Iwata

Dr. Brian Iwata received his Ph.D. in psychology from Florida State University and subsequently held positions at Western Michigan University and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He is Distinguished Professor in Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Florida, where he also has directed the Florida Center on Self-Injury and the Prader-Willi Syndrome Program. Brian is the former chief editor of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and former president of the Association for Behavior Analysis, the Society for the Advancement of Behavior Analysis, the Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, Division 33 of the American Psychological Association, and the Florida Association for Behavior Analysis. His primary areas of interest are disorders of learning and behavior and research methodology. He has published over 240 articles and chapters on these topics, and he has received $7 million in research grants to support that work. Much of Iwata's research has focused on the functional (experimental) analysis of severe behavior disorders. This approach to assessment and treatment is one of the most significant advancements in behavior analysis over the past 30 years and is now considered the standard in the field for both clinical research and practice.

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