Full functional analysis

Sample Answer

A Full Functional Analysis (FFA), often simply referred to as a Functional Analysis (FA), is an intensive, systematic, and empirical process used in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to determine the function (or purpose) of a person's challenging behavior.

Unlike less rigorous methods, a full functional analysis involves deliberately and systematically manipulating environmental variables to test specific hypotheses about why the behavior occurs. It is considered the gold standard for identifying the cause-and-effect relationship between the environment and the behavior.

The Goal and Core Components of FFA

The primary goal of a Functional Analysis is to identify the specific reinforcer (consequence) that is maintaining the behavior. This reinforcer is known as the function of the behavior.

The Four Main Functions of Behavior (EATS)

Behavior is generally maintained by one or more of these four functions:

Escape/Avoidance (3$\text{E}$): The person engages in the behavior to terminate or postpone an undesired task, situation, or interaction (e.g., screaming to avoid homework).4

Attention (5$\text{A}$): The person engages in the behavior to gain social interaction, praise, scolding, or any reaction from others (e.g., throwing a toy to get a parent to look at them).6

Tangibles (7$\text{T}$): The person engages in the behavior to gain access to a preferred item, activity, or food (e.g., hitting a sibling to get a tablet).8

Sensory/Automatic (9$\text{S}$): The behavior itself produces an internal sensory consequence that is reinforcing, independent of external social mediation (e.g., hand flapping, rocking, or humming because it feels good or regulates arousal).10

🧪 How a Full Functional Analysis is Conducted

A full functional analysis involves setting up several controlled analogue conditions (or test conditions) that mimic the natural environment but isolate a single suspected function. The challenging behavior is measured (usually by frequency or rate) under each condition.11

The Five Standard Conditions

The typical FFA includes one control condition and four test conditions, each designed to test a specific function.