Behavioral assessment of problem behaviors in elderly residents of a personal care home

Abstract

Brief functional analysis procedures (Phases 1-3) were conducted to identify the controlling variables of different problem behaviors in 3 elderly residents in a personal care home. Hypotheses generated from results obtained in Phase 1 (i.e., structured interview and descriptive analysis) were compared with those from Phase 3 (i.e., brief functional analysis) to determine if they identified the same controlling variables. Data for descriptive and functional analyses were graphed and analyzed via visual inspection. Results indicated that Phase 1 identified more controlling variables than Phase 3. Hypotheses formed from descriptive and functional analyses were similar, but functional analysis narrowed the controlling variables for the problem behavior. A brief functional analysis appeared sufficient in determining controlling variables of the problem behaviors. The interview identified some, but not all controlling variables identified in descriptive and functional analyses.