A simplified methodology for identifying the function of elopement.

Area of Science:

• Behavior Analysis
• Developmental Disabilities
• Applied Behavior Analysis

Background:

• Functional analyses of elopement are crucial for developing effective interventions.
• Traditional methods require multiple rooms and can be impractical, potentially confounding results.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the viability of conducting a functional analysis (FA) of elopement within a single room.
• To compare single-room FA results with traditional multi-room FA methods.

Main Methods:

• The study involved 2 children and 2 adults with developmental disabilities who exhibited elopement.
• A single-room functional analysis was conducted, and results were compared to a traditional multi-room FA.
• Function-based treatments were then implemented for each participant.

Main Results:

• The single-room functional analysis successfully identified the function of elopement for all participants.
• Results from the single-room FA were comparable to those from the traditional multi-room FA.
• Function-based treatments derived from the assessments were implemented.

Conclusions:

• A single-room functional analysis is a viable and practical alternative for assessing elopement behavior.
• This method can help overcome the logistical challenges of traditional multi-room assessments.
• It facilitates the development of function-based treatments for elopement in individuals with developmental disabilities.