PSY7712
Functional Assessment Report
PSY7712: Behavior Analytic Assessments
Capella University
Functional Assessment Report
Introduction
A functional assessment is an important step to make once considering if the
challenging behavior should be changed. According to Cooper et. Al. (2020), a functional
assessment and intervention model is built on a core set of assumptions concerning the
development and maintenance of both appropriate and challenging behaviors. The goal of a
functional assessment “is to anticipate and prevent the development and occurrence of
challenging behavior rather than reacting to challenging behavior after it occurs” (Carr et al.,
2002). This functional assessment that was reported is regarding a girl named Casi.
Case Summary
Casi is a fourth-grade student with autism. She receives occupational therapy two times
a week and is currently in a regular classroom with 26 other students. Casi also receives in class
support from the special education teacher, teaching support, and peer tutors. Her teacher stated
that she is happy to have Casi as a student in the classroom. Casi comes to class happy and
ready to participate. But, her behaviors have increased during the day such as screaming,
refusing to participate, does not attend to instructions, and can become aggressive against peers.
When the teacher Mr. Quelle attempts to guide participation from Casi, she often shuts down by
rolling her body into a ball while lying on the floor or putting her head on her desk and crying.
Mr.Quelle is concerned that Casi will have to be placed into a segregated classroom away from
her peers. This can affect Casi because she will be taken away from her typical peers.
In order to determine the function of Casi’s classroom behaviors, the direct
observations and ABC data was gathered in order to analyze the antecedents, behaviors, and
