TRAINING THERAPISTS IN FUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENTS
Open Access
- Author:
- Shamsi, Durriya Ahmed
- Graduate Program:
- Special Education
- Degree:
- Master of Science
- Document Type:
- Master Thesis
- Date of Defense:
- None
- Committee Members:
- David Lee, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor
- Keywords:
- Functional behavior assessment
problem behaviors
intervention
applied behavior analysis
training educators - Abstract:
- With the emphasis on FBAs and requirement by most school districts to use this intervention in the academic environment, this study focused on training therapists in conducting FBAs. The study was conducted at a residential facility which houses children and adults with special needs. Two of the participants were PhD level psychologists and one was a Masters level professional. All three participants were working with school age children and had expressed a need to learn how to conduct FBAs. Thus the purpose of this study was to teach these professionals how to conduct FBAs, as being cognizant in how to conduct FBAs was deemed significant within the purview of their jobs. It was also considered important in trying to decipher the function and reason for the behavior of their students. A baseline probe was taken to determine the therapists’ competencies in FBA terminology. Then a voiceover power point presentation was presented which explained FBAs in detail. A post intervention probe was taken to determine if the therapists’ understanding of FBAs had increased and a social validity survey was assessed to determine if this training had been beneficial and pertinent for these therapists. The results indicated that the understanding of FBAs had increased and it was determined that the training had been socially significant.