3.10 Hypothesis Statement

Resource: Tiered Fidelity Inventory Version 2.1

3.10 Hypothesis Statement

Behavior support plans include a hypothesis statement, including (a) operational description of problem behavior, (b) identification of context where problem behavior is most likely, and (c) maintaining reinforcers (e.g., behavioral function) in this context.

Date Sources

• Three randomly selected Tier III behavior support plans created in the last 12 months (see TFI Tier III Support Plan Worksheet)

Scoring Criteria

0 = No plans include a hypothesis statement with all 3 components, or there are no Tier III support plans

1 = 1 or 2 plans include a hypothesis statement with all 3 components

2 = All plans include a hypothesis statement with all 3 components

Main Idea

An applicable hypothesis statement is a determining factor in intervention effectiveness.

Surface Level to meet criteria

• Do Tier III support plans include a hypothesis statement?
• If yes, does the hypothesis statement include:
  • An operational description of the problem behavior?
  • Identification of the context where the problem is most likely?
  • Identification of maintaining reinforcers?

Deeper Level for a stronger program

• • Rationale: