Step 3 Monitoring Progress
In this step, the caregiver or service provider regularly monitors toddler behavior(s) to determine the effectiveness of the FBA intervention.
Step 3.1 Develop a system to regularly monitor the effectiveness of the intervention
In the monitoring progress step for FBA, caregivers or service providers focus on developing comprehensive intervention plans that increase toddler’s use of more appropriate behaviors and reduce the occurrence of interfering behaviors. As a result, toddlers will have a larger repertoire of appropriate, adaptive behaviors.
Caregivers or service providers conduct an FBA as a first step in trying to understand why a toddler with ASD may be exhibiting interfering behaviors. As the function of the behavior becomes apparent, caregivers or service providers develop interventions to reduce the occurrence of the interfering behavior in question. Specific evidence-based practices such as functional communication training (FCT), differential reinforcement, response interruption/redirection, extinction, and antecedent based interventions to decrease the occurrence of the interfering behavior and increase the use of more appropriate replacement behaviors should be considered. Additionally, visual supports and prompting are used frequently to deliver these evidence-based practices.
When developing intervention plans, caregivers or service providers should refer to the specific briefs for these practices to access the steps for implementation and implementation checklist. Before an intervention plan is developed, caregivers or service providers identify an appropriate evidence-based practice that can be used to address the function of the interfering behavior.
The caregiver or service provider develops a system to monitor the effectiveness of the intervention that outlines when, where, by whom, and how data are collected.
- When: once a week, daily, on Tuesdays and Thursdays
- Where: during snack, on the playground, when transitioning between activities
- By Whom: caregiver, speech therapist, developmental therapist, parents
- How: checklist, anecdotal notes (e.g., running records, informal observation notes)
Step 3.2 Collect data
The caregiver or service provider collects data that focus on:
- the frequency of the interfering behavior: how often the behavior occurs (e.g., time sampling, event sampling);
- the frequency of use of replacement behavior(s): how often the toddler with ASD uses the replacement behavior(s); and
- how long the interfering behavior lasts when it occurs.
Example data collection sheet that allows caregivers or service providers to monitor the target behavior:
- The FBA team collects data both in the setting where the behavior occurs and in other settings.
- The FBA team collects data at least once a week in the setting in which the behavior occurs to monitor the incidence of the interfering behavior(s) as well as the replacement behavior(s).
As the interfering behavior diminishes, team members can collect progress monitoring data less frequently. However, data should be collected for an extended period of time in order to demonstrate maintenance of skills and the success of the intervention plan.
Step 3.3 Analyze and summarize the data
The FBA team compares intervention data to baseline data to determine the effectiveness of the intervention.
Assessment effectiveness of the intervention is essential. Team members can assess the intervention effectiveness by comparing data gathered prior to the intervention to data gathered after the intervention. The data gathered prior to intervention acts as a standard in judging whether behaviors have changed since the intervention was started.
This process should be done every 2-3 days for continuous evaluation of effectiveness of intervention. Team members should work with families on simple, effective ways to gather this information. When an interfering behavior is resistant to change after intervention has been consistently implemented for a period of time, the team needs to revisit the BIP to determine whether the purpose of the interfering behaviors is accurate and modify intervention strategies as needed.
The FBA team summarizes the data to make decisions about future planning.
The team summarizes all data gathered in the FBA process, intervention implemented, and behavior changes observed. This process allows the team to succinctly document the behaviors and effective intervention strategies which can be shared with other service providers to aid future planning of educational and behavior services for the toddler.
Practice Scenarios: Monitoring FBA
Select either home-based or center-based scenario below. We recommend that you follow the same scenario throughout the module.When you have finished the practice scenario, close the file and return to the module to take the Knowledge Check.
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