Agreement Between Concurrent Operants Assessments and Indirect Measures of Behavior Functions in School Settings

Abstract

Concurrent Operants (CO) Assessments are choice procedures where children's choices correspond to preferred forms of reinforcement (e.g., adult attention, escape from task demands). There is limited research on the use of CO assessments with typically developing children in school-based settings. The current study investigated consistencies of functional data derived from CO Assessments and traditional Functional Behavior Assessment methods (e.g., interviews, questionnaires) for six students referred to the school psychologist because of challenging behavior. The study found CO assessments yielded the same function as the indirect measures when students' behaviors were potentially maintained by positive reinforcement. The study also found that CO assessments did not match the functions determined by indirect measures when participants' behaviors were likely maintained by negative and automatic reinforcement. Study implications, limitations of the research, and directions for future research are discussed.