PECT Behavioral Supports and Interventions 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)?
- A systematic process to identify the function or purpose behind a student's challenging behavior (Correct answer)
- A standardized test of behavioral skills
- A punishment system for misbehaving students
- A teacher observation form completed annually
Correct answer: A systematic process to identify the function or purpose behind a student's challenging behavior
An FBA uses direct observation, interviews, and data collection to determine the antecedents, behaviors, and consequences that maintain a problem behavior, identifying whether the behavior functions to gain attention, escape tasks, access items, or serve sensory needs.
Question 2: What is a Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP)?
- A proactive plan based on FBA data that teaches replacement behaviors and modifies the environment to prevent problem behaviors (Correct answer)
- A list of punishments for each behavior
- A contract between the student and parents only
- A medical treatment plan for behavioral disorders
Correct answer: A proactive plan based on FBA data that teaches replacement behaviors and modifies the environment to prevent problem behaviors
A BIP, developed from FBA results, includes proactive environmental modifications, teaching of functionally equivalent replacement behaviors, reinforcement strategies, and crisis intervention procedures.
Question 3: What is positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS)?
- A framework using evidence-based practices to teach and reinforce expected behaviors school-wide (Correct answer)
- A reward system used only in special education classrooms
- A program that focuses solely on disciplinary consequences
- A one-time behavioral training for teachers
Correct answer: A framework using evidence-based practices to teach and reinforce expected behaviors school-wide
PBIS is a multi-tiered framework (universal, targeted, intensive) that explicitly teaches behavioral expectations, reinforces positive behavior, uses data for decision-making, and provides increasingly individualized support for students with significant behavioral needs.
Question 4: What are the four common functions of behavior in applied behavior analysis?
- Attention, escape/avoidance, access to tangibles, and sensory stimulation (Correct answer)
- Hunger, fatigue, boredom, and anger
- Learning, playing, socializing, and resting
- Communication, movement, cognition, and emotion
Correct answer: Attention, escape/avoidance, access to tangibles, and sensory stimulation
Applied behavior analysis identifies four functions that maintain behavior: gaining attention from others, escaping or avoiding non-preferred tasks or situations, accessing desired tangible items or activities, and obtaining sensory stimulation.
Question 5: What is the difference between positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement?
- Positive adds something desirable to increase behavior; negative removes something aversive to increase behavior (Correct answer)
- Positive reinforcement is good; negative reinforcement is bad
- They are the same concept with different names
- Positive reinforcement is for good students; negative for challenging students
Correct answer: Positive adds something desirable to increase behavior; negative removes something aversive to increase behavior
Both increase the likelihood of behavior: positive reinforcement adds a desired stimulus (praise, rewards) after the behavior, while negative reinforcement removes an aversive stimulus (ending a difficult task) after the behavior.
Question 6: What is a social story and how is it used in special education?
- A short narrative describing a social situation and appropriate responses, used primarily for students with autism (Correct answer)
- A fictional story read during English class
- A behavior contract between student and teacher
- A group therapy technique for all students
Correct answer: A short narrative describing a social situation and appropriate responses, used primarily for students with autism
Developed by Carol Gray, social stories are individualized short narratives that describe social situations from the student's perspective, explain social cues and expectations, and suggest appropriate responses, particularly effective for students with autism spectrum disorder.
PECT Behavioral Supports and Interventions 1
What is a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)?