Embedded Files
When the behavior of interest occurs, the Antecedent (event that immediately preceded the behavior), the target Behavior, and the Consequence (event that immediately followed the behavior)
When to Use It
When to Use It
When you are developing a hypothesis of what environmental factors or events impact a problem behavior
For less frequent behaviors
When behaviors are easy to observe and count
When conducting a Functional Behavior Analysis
This method involves recording the environmental variables related to the problem behavior.
The ABC method if useful for contextual information and correlation regarding environmental events and the problem behavior.
Functional relationships can be hypothesized based on patterns of ABC relationships observed.
Use this method during a functional assessment observation to identify information regarding the possible function of the target behavior.
The ABC method only demonstrates correlation relationships between the problem behavior and observed antecedents and consequences.
Because it requires the observer to record multiple variables, it may require more time and effort to record every instance of behavior, especially high frequency behaviors.
Materials Needed:
A watch or clock to easily reference time
Data collection form (see below for templates)
How to Collect Data
How to Collect Data
Collecting data when the problem behavior has not yet been specified or identified.
When collecting baseline data and behavior trends have not yet been identified, observer may choose to observe for all problem behaviors that may present.
Record contextual information (e.g. date, time, activity taking place, people present, and location).
When a problem behavior occurs:
- immediately record the event that happened right before the behavior in Antecedent column, including the start time
- record the problem behavior in the Behavior column
- and then the event that happened right after the behavior in Consequence column, including the end time
Repeat this process each time problem behaviors occur
Collecting data when the problem behavior has been operationally defined.
Once baseline data is collected and problem behavior is identified, operationally define the behavior and continue to take data on that specified behavior.
Record contextual information (e.g. date, time, activity taking place, people present, and location).
When a problem behavior occurs:
- immediately record the event that happened right before the behavior in Antecedent column, including the start time
- record the operationally defined problem behavior in the Behavior column
- and then the event that happened right after the behavior in Consequence column, including the end time
Repeat this process each time the operationally defined problem behaviors occurs
Templates
How to Summarize Data
How to Summarize Data
If the team is using the information as part of the functional assessment, the team should look at the patterns across behavior, such as a certain time of day, activity occurring, or antecedent observed.
If the team is using the information to monitor the progress of a behavior plan, the data should be summarized as a frequency count.
At the end of each observation period, total the number of occurrences of behavior.
For example, Joseph walked out of class 3 times.
Page updated
Report abuse