This study evaluated the utility of structured descriptive assessment (SDA) to generate a hypothesis regarding the operant function of problem behavior when the analogue functional analysis (FA) failed to evoke problem behavior for an adult with developmental disabilities. The effectiveness of interventions based on that hypothesis was evaluated in the natural environment. The SDA succeeded in producing a relatively controlled baseline of problem behavior where the FA and direct observation could not. However, the extent to which treatment procedures affected problem behavior could not be determined due to confounding variables outside the control of the experimenter. The results provide cautionary evidence highlighting both the potential utility of SDA and challenges that may be encountered when conducting SDA and evaluating treatments in natural environments.

Most toddlers with Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) and Autism are non-compliant, have language delays and immature play; however, some have intact information processing ability, while others do not. Play data from two treatment outcome studies of children with PDD and Autism, and one normative longitudinal study were analysed to (1) compare play of normally developing children to delayed children with intact versus impaired processing; (2) investigate differential impact of a parent-implemented cognitive-behavioural treatment on children with intact versus impaired processing; and (3) investigate the use of information processing, and non-verbal play measures, including sustained attention, for use with children with delays. Both children with intact and those with impaired processing, but particularly children with impaired processing, displayed immature play relative to normally developing children. With treatment, sophistication of play improved substantially for children with intact processing and less for children with impaired processing confirming the usefulness of both information processing and play as alternative assessment procedures for children who are non-verbal and non-compliant.

This study evaluated the utility of a structured descriptive assessment (SDA) as an alternative method of functional assessment. Initially, an analogue functional analysis, conducted to assess the problem behavior of two adults with developmental disabilities, produced inconclusive results. Subsequently, SDAs was conducted in the individuals' natural environment with the direct-contact caregivers acting as therapists. This assessment manipulated antecedent variables similarly to the analogue functional analysis but allowed for consequences to occur naturally. The results from SDAs suggested that problem behaviors, for both participants, were occasioned by removal of personal items and maintained by their return. Treatments based on the results of SDAs were implemented in a reversal design and resulted in a notable reduction in the occurrences of problem behavior for both participants. These outcomes suggest that SDA procedures may be useful when results from the analogue functional analysis are inconclusive.

No description available.