Understanding Functional Assessment in Behavior Analysis

Explanation:

Functional Assessment is a type of assessment where the antecedents (triggers) and consequences of a behavior are examined to understand why the behavior occurs and what maintains it. This process allows behavior analysts to identify patterns and triggers that lead to elopement, which is the act of leaving a supervised area without permission.

By collecting data on the antecedents (such as what happened before the behavior) and consequences (what happened after the behavior), behavior analysts can develop interventions and strategies to address the challenging behavior of elopement. This type of assessment is crucial in behavior analysis as it helps in creating effective behavior plans tailored to the individual's needs.