Bridging the Research to Practice Gap in Educational Settings Through
Function-Based Thinking.
Advanced Behavior Collaborations builds on the ABC’s of behavior science-Antecedents, Behavior, and Consequences. This means examining what happens before and after behavior to determine why the behavior may be occurring (the function) and structuring the environment in the future to encourage prosocial behaviors that are likely to lead to positive outcomes. Advanced Behavioral Collaborations does not “reinvent the wheel” but rather provides practical, easily understandable and accessible information and resources in partnership with other practitioners, organizations and researchers to work smarter and not harder to bridge the “research to practice gap” putting function-based thinking into action at all tiers of behavioral support. Advanced Behavioral Collaborations is NOT another “train the trainer” model but rather helps educational systems enhance the programs they have already invested in to make them more efficient and effective. The ultimate goal is to build capacity within the system rather than long-term dependence on my services.
Function-Based Thinking
Function-based thinking empowers all individuals, not just “specialists”, to respond to challenging behavior more efficiently and effectively by considering what function(s) the behavior serves and responding accordingly rather than relying on traditional reactive, punitive approaches. (Hershfelot, et al, 2010). Instead of categorizing “functional behavioral assessment” as a tier-three intervention, function-based thinking is an integral component of a multi-tiered system of behavioral support, used to help determine the systems and courses of action that are most likely to lead to the desired outcome-less maladaptive, disruptive and unsafe behavior (Scott & Kamps, 2007).
“It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit.”