what is a descriptive assessment In Aba ?
Descriptive assessment In Aba
No Manipulation: Unlike a Functional Analysis, the environment is not purposely arranged or manipulated by the observer; the goal is to capture what typically happens.6
Common Methods of Descriptive Assessment
The most common method used is the collection of A-B-C data:
| Term | Stands For | What the Observer Records | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Antecedent | Events, situations, or stimuli that occur immediately before the behavior. (e.g., a demand is placed, a toy is taken away, the person is alone). | Helps identify the triggers for the behavior. |
| B | Behavior | A clear, observable, and measurable description of the behavior itself. (e.g., "The client screamed for 15 seconds," "He hit his head with an open palm.") | Ensures the behavior is consistently defined and tracked. |
| C | Consequence | Events that occur immediately after the behavior. (e.g., the demand was removed, the person was given attention, the person was able to escape a task). | Helps identify the reinforcing event that maintains the behavior over time. |
Other descriptive assessment methods include:
Scatterplot Recording: Recording the time of day and/or activity during which the behavior occurs to identify temporal patterns.
Sequential Recording: A more rigorous method that analyzes the conditional probability of a specific consequence following the behavior.7
Purpose
The data collected during a descriptive assessment helps the behavior analyst formulate a hypothesis about the function of the behavior (the reason the person engages in it).8 The four most common hypothesized functions are:
Attention (social-positive reinforcement)
Escape (social-negative reinforcement)
Access to Tangibles/Activities (social-positive reinforcement)
Automatic/Sensory Reinforcement (reinforcement provided by the behavior itself)
Sample Answer
A descriptive assessment in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is a component of a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) that involves the direct observation and systematic recording of behavior as it naturally occurs in the client's typical environment (e.g., home, school, community).
The main goal of a descriptive assessment is to identify potential patterns and correlations between the challenging behavior and the environmental events that precede and follow it. This information is then used to form a hypothesis about the function (or purpose) of the behavior.
Key Characteristics
Direct Observation: The key element is that an objective observer is present and watches the individual in real-time as the behavior occurs.
Natural Environment: Observations take place in the everyday settings where the behavior naturally occurs, which enhances the ecological validity of the data.