A Systematic Review of Caregiver-Implemented Functional Analyses

Behav Anal Pract. 2020 Jan 6;13(3):698-713. doi: 10.1007/s40617-019-00404-y. eCollection 2020 Sep.

Abstract

The purpose of this systematic review was to systematically locate and analyze the research on caregiver-implemented functional analyses and subsequent function-based interventions. We included 36 studies and examined multiple features of the studies, including participant demographics, functional analysis characteristics, intervention characteristics, procedural fidelity, risks of bias, and social validity. Overall, the studies showed that caregivers were able to implement functional analyses that yielded differential responding, although few studies reported procedural fidelity data. Caregivers were also able to implement function-based interventions that led to socially significant changes in challenging behavior. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.

Keywords: Caregivers; Challenging behavior; Functional analysis; Functional behavior assessment; Parents.

Publication types

  • Review