title: A procedure for identifying precursors to problem behavior.
abstract: We describe a procedure for differentiating among potential precursor responses for use in a functional analysis. Conditional probability analysis of descriptive assessment data identified three potential precursors. Results from the indirect assessment corresponded with those obtained from the descriptive assessment. The top-ranked response identified as a precursor according to the indirect assessment had the strongest relation according to the probability analysis. When contingencies were arranged for the precursor in a functional analysis, the same function was identified as for target behavior, supporting the utility of indirect and descriptive methods to identify precursor behavior empirically.
authors.affiliation: New England Center for Children, Southborough, Massachusetts 01772, USA.
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Herscovitch
authors.forename: Eileen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Roscoe
authors.forename: Myrna E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Libby
authors.forename: Jason C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bourret
authors.forename: William H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Ahearn
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011336:Probability; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D012951:Socialization; D019956:Stereotypic Movement Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*