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A procedure for identifying precursors to problem behavior
Brandon Herscovitch1, Eileen M Roscoe, Myrna E Libby
1New England Center for Children, Southborough, Massachusetts 01772, USA.
Abstract:
We describe a procedure for differentiating among potential precursor responses for use in a functional analysis. Conditional probability analysis of descriptive assessment data identified three potential precursors. Results from the indirect assessment corresponded with those obtained from the descriptive assessment. The top-ranked response identified as a precursor according to the indirect assessment had the strongest relation according to the probability analysis. When contingencies were arranged for the precursor in a functional analysis, the same function was identified as for target behavior, supporting the utility of indirect and descriptive methods to identify precursor behavior empirically.
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