Competency Assessment

Continuous measurement

records every single instance of a target behavior during an observation period to give exact, detailed data.

• frequency (count)

• duration (how long it lasts)

• latency (start time after a cue)

• interresponse time

Frequency (continuous)

number of times a behavior occurs within a given time period (tally is time frame data sheet)

• most common

• beginning and end

Example of Frequency (Continuous)

The total number of times WV engaged in aggressive behavior including hitting, kicking, or biting

Duration (continuous measurement)

length of time an instance of behavior occurs for or total time

• stop watch

• increase or decrease length of time client engages in behavior

• minutes and seconds

Example Duration (continuous)

The total time WV engaged in a tantrum that included crying or dropping to the floor start to end

Latency (continuous)

how long it took to start after a prompt or request

Latency Example (continuous)

Measuring the amount of time it took for WV to put toys into a bin after being asked to “clean up toys”

Interresponse Time (IRT) continuous

time between responses

IRT Example

How long it take WV to respond to “do this” touches nose and “do this” touches head

• or measuring how long it takes WV to grab a towel after turning off the water

discontinuous measurement

record the occurrence vs non-occurrence of a behavior at a certain moment in time or across an interval of time

records only a sample of the behavior during specific time blocks or moments

• partial interval (any part of the chunk)

• whole interval (the whole chunk)

• momentary time sampling (at the very end of a chunk)

Partial interval (discontinouous)

behavior recorded if it occurs at any point within interval (not amount just if it happened)

Example Partial interval (discontinouous)

check yes in WV touched his nose at any point in a 30-second interval

whole interval (discontinouous)

recorded if occurs during entire length of the interval

example whole interval (discontinouous)

checking yes in within an entire 1 minute block WV reached for an item when told to wait

momentary time sampling(discontinouous)

recorded at end of each interval

example momentary time sampling(discontinouous)

I check yes only if after a two minute timer end I look up and WV is standing away from his chair when told to sit in the chair. Last second recording

Permanent Product Recording

measuring the target response generates an observable product left behind after behavior occurs

• looked at and scored at a later time

Example of Permanent Product Recording

Counting the number of accurately drawn lines on WV paper after he completed it

Data and Graphs

Entering raw behavioral data into a software program or tracking sheet and plotting it on a line graph to identify trends

• 5 instances of aggression today, typing "5" into an Excel spreadsheet, and ensuring the line graph automatically updates to show if aggression is going up or down over the week

Preference Assessment

Systematically presenting items or activities to a client to determine what they like best, which can then be used as reinforcers

• free operant

• paired choice

free operant

Letting a child wander a room full of toys for 10 minutes and timing how long they spend playing with each toy

Paired choice

• Holding up a toy car and a juice box, asking "Pick one," and recording which item they grab.

ABC Data Collection

• Recording the environmental events that happen immediately before a behavior (Antecedent)

• the exact behavior itself (Behavior)

• and what happens immediately after (Consequence).

ABC Data Example

• A: Prompt WV to pull down his pants for toileting

• B: WV plays with door knob to avoid task

• C: I block door knob allowing WV to avoid touching it and focus on pulling down pants

DTT

• breaks skills down into small, repetitive trials. Each trial has a clear beginning, middle, and end.

DTT Example

WV do this touch nose, do this touch head, do this 2-step?

• RBT sits across from a child, places three color cards down, says "Touch blue" (SD),

• the child touches blue (Response),

• and the RBT says "Great job!" and hands them a skittle (Consequence/Reinforcement)

Naturalistic Teaching Procedures (NET)

instructional method that is completely child-led and takes place in the natural environment, utilizing the client's current motivation

Example

WV is attempting to open his strawberries, he hands the strawberries to me, I say “you can ask for help” I only reach once he asked for help on his device

Task Analyses

Breaking a complex, multi-step skill down into small, teachable steps (Task Analysis), and teaching them sequentially (Chaining).

Forward Chaining

Teaching a child to turn on the water sink faucet independently, then prompting them through the rest of the handwashing steps.

backward chaining

i do every step of completing a pussle until the last piece I let WV place it and give praise ad follow this chain backwards and onlt praise the step we are on until he cna indpendently complete puzzle

Total task presentation

Prompting a child through the entire sequence of sitting on toilet from start to finish, providing help only on the steps they struggle with.

Prompting and Prompt fading

Providing a temporary hint or assistance to help a client perform a skill (Prompting), and gradually removing that help as they become independent (Fading).

Example of prompts

• physical - hand over hand to open a sensory bin

• fade physcial - touch elbow to open sensory bin

• positional - put the correct item closest

• fade - put correct item in line with others

Token economies

A behavior modification system where a client earns generalized tokens (stickers, points, tokens) for target behaviors, which they later trade in for a backup reinforcer.

• WV earns one token for ever completed program that he does not engage in behaviors such as hitting or touching materials when asked to wait, he recieves preferred toy if completed

Antedecent modificaiton

Changing the environment or conditions before a behavior occurs to prevent challenging behavior from happening in the first place.

• i always stand against the cabinets in the bathroom to prevent WV from touching them so he can listen to my directions in the bathroom

• visual schedule for SW to transiton to services before it is time to do so

Differential Rienforcment

Reinforcing a specific, desirable behavior while withholding reinforcement for the problem behavior

DR alternative behavior

giving WV clapping when he completes 2 step imitation and giving blank stare when he follows only 1 out of the two steps

DR other behavior

giving will a high five for every 2 minutes he waits without touching materials regardless of whatever else he might be doing during that time

extinction

Completely discontinuing the reinforcement that was previously maintaining a problem behavior, causing the behavior to decrease or stop.

• ignoring WV when he spams all done bitton instead of saying we are not all done and only giving attentoin when he stops hitting button

session notes

Writing objective, factual, and measurable clinical notes at the end of every session that describe what occurred, avoiding subjective opinions

Client dignity and professional boundaries

Maintaining a strict professional relationship with clients and families (avoiding dual relationships) while treating the client with respect and privacy.

• respecting no outside play and not accepting money from parents