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1 Indirect Assessment Morgan E. Garrett Capella University PSY7712 Behavior Analytic Assessments Dr. Amanda Kazee October 29th, 2023

Indirect Assessment This paper will utilize two indirect assessment methods: the Questions About Behavioral Functions indirect assessment and the Open-Ended Functional Assessment Interview method. This paper will then discuss the advantages and limitations of utilizing these methods as well as provide rationale for why each method was selected. This aper will then evaluate the findings of each method pertaining to a high priority behavior: Physical Aggression. Lastly, this paper will include the completed checklist and interview at the end of the paper. Behavior analyst must utilize indirect assessments when conducting functional behavior assessments to identify the behavior(s) of concern as well as the possible function of the behavior. Selecting an Indirect Assessment Method/Tool Indirect assessments include rating scales, questionnaires, or interviews with the client and/or their family members and other stakeholders. Behavior interviews ask “what” and “when” questions and do not focus on “why” questions as these tend to evoke a mentalistic explanation that are of little value in understanding the challenging behavior. It is important to note that indirect assessments contain no direct observation of the behavior (Hanley, 2012). Before implementing interventions, it is important to conduct a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA), to understand the function of the behavior and what reinforces it. Indirect assessments are a typical first step when conducting a functional behavior assessment. The indirect assessment should be utilized with direct observations such as descriptive assessments and/or functional analysis (Hanley, 2012). Before conducting an indirect assessment, it is important to obtain consent from the client, parents, and relevant stakeholders. By obtaining consent the behavior analyst is providing compassionate care, professionality, and confidentiality with all relevant parties (Capella University, 2021). For this paper the behavior analyst utilized two indirect assessment tools: The Open-Ended Functional Assessment Interview by Hanley and the Questions About 2

Behavioral Functions (QABF). The Open-Ended Interview was created by Dr. Greg Hanley, Ph. D., BCBA-D. This interview has peer reviewed research which has shown that this assessment is quick, safe, and reliable means to understanding why a problem behavior is occurring. This assessment promotes essential skills such as, functional communication, delay and denial toleration, and contextually appropriate behaviors. The Open-Ended Interview provides a three-part mission, identifying and defining most severe problem behavior and associated non-dangerous behaviors, identifying Eos that are most challenging and convenient to replicate, and identifying reinforcers and precise forms of delivery. The Open-Ended Interview was utilized to identify any contingencies that could be maintaining or influencing the challenging behavior. The interview is designed to be individualized for the specific client (Hanley et al., 2014). The interview can be conducted in approximately 30-45 minutes. The interviewer asks the interviewee questions about the child’s abilities, challenging behaviors, the contingencies surrounding the behavior, where and when the challenging behaviors occur, etc. (Hanley et al., 2014). The questions from this interview assist the behavior analyst in identifying when the challenging behavior may potentially occur and where. It also allows the behavior analyst to build rapport with the family and stakeholders while also understanding the behavior more. The Questions About Behavioral Functions, also referred to as QABF, is a check list indirect assessment tool. This checklist can be used alone or in combination with interviews to identify potential target behaviors (Matson & Volmer, 1995). The QABF consists of twenty-five questions that includes a rating scale and scoring guide. This questionnaire uses a rating scale to rate specific behavioral functions and identify any maintaining variables. The rating scale consists of X= doesn’t apply, 0= never, 1= rarely, 2=some, and 3=often (Singh et al., 2009). There are five corresponding questions for each behavioral function, which attempt to identify how often the behavior is occurring within each context (Singh et al., 2009). For this paper Sallys teacher was asked to rate each question, using the rating scale, based upon the frequency of the behavior. 3

Advantages and Limitations Behavior analyst should analyze the advantages and limitations for each type of indirect assessment method before selecting and implementing the assessment. Each assessment has its own strengths and weaknesses and may not be applicable for certain scenarios. The Questions About Behavioral Functions checklist has been studied and been found to contain reliability, interrater agreement, and stability (Paclawskyj, 1998). Researchers have found that this assessment is often able to determine a clear behavior function (Smith et al., 2012). An advantage of this indirect assessment is it is one of the few rating scales that is empirically derived and psychometrically sound (Paclawskyj, 1998). Though several studies have shown the QABF to be reliable, the reliability is below what is generally accepted in the scientific field (Paclawskyj, 1998). In one study the QABF was compared to the Motivation Assessment Scare and found that the QABF assessment contains a higher accuracy rate when compared to the results of the functional analysis (Smith et al., 2012). However, the rate of accuracy was 69.2%, which is below the standard accepted rate of 80% for reliability and accuracy. Another study found that the QABF accuracy rate was higher at 84% (Singh et al., 2009). One possible reason the for the accuracy rate greatly differing could be due to professionals having bias and believing they already know the function of the behavior and rating those questions in favor of the perceived function. Hanley’s Open-Ended Interview has several advantages including being able to discuss contextual factors that could potentially be influencing the individuals behavior and having the ability to ask probing questions or follow-up questions at the end of the 4

assessment (Saini et al., 2019). Having the ability to ask follow-up questions can be useful in identifying the protentional function of the behavior. For example, mom may identify that Sally engages in aggression when doing homework but when asked follow- up questions, mom reveals that during homework time Sally’s sibling are receiving all of the mom’s attention. A rating scale could misidentify the function to be escape when the function is attention. A limitation of the Open-Ended Interview is that concurrent validity the interview with functional analysis was 50% (Saini et al., 2019). Therefore, it can be assumed that open-ended interviews lack validity and accuracy. Many behavior analyst utilize open-ended interviews as it build rapport with the client, parents, and other stakeholders (Sani et al., 2019). Building rapport with the client and stakeholders is vital in creating a strong care team for the client and especially when working with other professionals. Rationale for the Selection & Compassionate/Cultural Variables The QABF was selected because of the research and support for reliability and utility (Chandler & Dahlquist, 2015). Studies have found that the results from the checklist are accurate compared to the functional analysis and is the foundation for an intervention which can help improve the quality of life for the client (Chandler & Dahlquist, 2015). This assessment was chosen because of its easy accessibility and ease to administer (Smith et al., 2012). It is important for behavior analyst to consider the cost of services, time constraints and how the behavioral intervention will improve the individual’s quality of life (Chandler & Dahlquist 2015). The Open-Ended interview was chosen to build rapport with the client, stakeholders, and other important persons in the client’s life. Behavior analyst must consider how to identify challenging behaviors and the function of the behavior, but also how to show compassionate care towards the client and all stakeholders. Providing compassionate care can be accomplished by taking the time to actively listen to the client 5

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