Functional analysis: what have we learned in 85 years?

Area of Science:

• Behavioral science
• Psychology
• Applied behavior analysis

Background:

• Functional analysis (FA) is a foundational methodology in behavior analysis.
• FA has significantly advanced the study of challenging behaviors over the last four decades.
• The concept of FA has roots in early basic behavior analysis research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the history and research of experimental functional analysis (FA).
• To summarize the contributions of FA to the field of behavior analysis.
• To explore the evolution and application of FA methodologies.

Main Methods:

• Review of historical literature on functional analysis.
• Analysis of research on experimental functional analysis (FA).
• Examination of contemporary approaches like interview-informed synthesized contingency analysis (IISCA).

Main Results:

• FA is considered a gold standard for functional assessment.
• Limitations of FA include time constraints, risks of severe behavior, and control over environmental conditions.
• Refinements have improved FA's methodology and real-world applicability.

Conclusions:

• Interview-informed synthesized contingency analysis (IISCA) is a practical approach for assessing and treating problem behaviors.
• IISCA demonstrates empirical support for sustainable behavior reduction.
• Further research is needed on IISCA's procedural variations, utility, and social validity.