Sample interview questions: Can you describe your experience in conducting functional behavioral assessments for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?
Sample answer:
As a highly experienced school psychologist with extensive expertise in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), I have conducted numerous functional behavioral assessments (FBAs) for students with ASD throughout my career. These assessments involve a systematic and data-driven process to identify the underlying causes of challenging behaviors, develop targeted interventions, and improve students’ academic and social outcomes.
During an FBA, I engage in a comprehensive evaluation that includes:
-
Interviews: Conducting interviews with the student, parents, teachers, and other relevant individuals to gather information about the student’s developmental history, academic performance, social interactions, and challenging behaviors.
-
Observations: Conducting direct observations of the student in various settings (e.g., classroom, playground, cafeteria) to identify patterns of behavior, antecedent events that trigger challenging behaviors, and potential reinforcers that maintain these behaviors.
-
Data collection: Using a variety of data collection methods, including behavior frequency counts, duration recording, and ABC (antecedent-behavior-consequence) recording, to document the frequency, intensity, and duration of challenging behaviors, as well as the environmental factors that influence these behaviors.
-
Functional analysis: Analyzing the collected data to determine the function of the challenging behaviors, such as whether they are motivated by attention-seeking, sensory needs, avoidance, or escape from demands.
-
Intervention development: Collaborating with the student’s team to develop individualized behavior intervention plans (BIPs) that address the identified function of the ch… Read full answer