Replication and extended analysis of behavior state, environmental events, and related variables among individuals...

Knowledge from previous studies pertaining to state behavior of individuals with profound and multiple disabilities and its relation to other environmental and physiological variables was replicated and extended. Behavior state and environmental data were collected over a 5-hour period for most of 66 students with profound disabilities from 21 educational settings. Results showed general consistency in state patterns and profile groupings with previous investigations, a strong relation between different state profiles and measures of development, and consistency of state patterns across CA levels. Transitional probabilities and z scores were used to confirm changes in state behavior of half of the subjects following primarily adult interactions. Results were discussed in relation to theoretical implications and intervention recommendations.