Behaviour Assessment

Behavioral assessment is used to observe, describe, explain and predict behavior. This lesson explains
the process and application of behavioral assessment and tests your understanding with a brief quiz.

Behavioral Assessment

Behavioral assessment is a method used in the field of psychology to observe, describe, explain, predict
and sometimes correct behavior. Behavioral assessment can be useful in clinical, educational and
corporate settings.

For example, Sara is five-year-old girl who has started getting into trouble at school. She has been sent to
the office three times in one week and is now crying and refusing to go to school. What could be going
on with Sara? A behavioral assessment might be the next step toward answering this question.

Assessing Behavior

There are many different tools that are useful in behavioral assessment and allow for a deeper
understanding of why a behavior is occurring.

Observation allows those performing the assessment to see the behavior in action; it can take many
forms and be done virtually anywhere. The most basic form of observation is to simply watch someone.
Through observation, specific details about the behavior can be gathered. Let's say during a classroom
observation it is noted that Sara has trouble following directions during spelling lessons, squints and rubs
her eyes, speaks out of turn and gets up from her desk without permission.

Another good way to observe behavior is through the use of a questionnaire. This method of
observation usually focuses on behaviors that have already occurred. For example, Sara's parents or the
teacher may be able to use a questionnaire to provide more information about the behavior. Both
observation and questionnaires allow behavioral analysts to describe behaviors, move us closer to
understanding why they are occurring and what purpose they are serving.

Behavioural assessment or behavioral assessment involves the identification and measurement of

particular behaviors response units and the variables affecting their occurence.

In educational, clinical and organizational settings accurate assessment is key to developing effective
programs of behavior modification or behavior therapy

Direct assessment involves observing and recording situational factors surrounding a problem behaviour
(e.g., antecedent and consequent events). So, for example, a member of a IEP team may observe
disruptive behaviour in the setting that it is likely to occur, and record the data.
The observer may use a matrix or scatter plot to chart the relationship between specific instructional
variables and student responses. These techniques also will be useful in identifying possible
environmental factors (e.g., seating arrangements), activities (e.g., independent work), or temporal
factors (e.g., mornings) that may influence the behaviour. These tools can be developed specifically to
address the type of variable in question, and can be customized to analyze specific behaviours and
situations (e.g., increments of 5 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, or even a few days). Regardless of the tool,
observations that occur consistently across time and situations, and that reflect both quantitative and
qualitative measures of the behaviour in question, are recommended.

Functional analysis is a particular, rigourous approach to behavioural assessment