Functional behavioral assessment (FBA) is defined as a range of behavior assessment procedures that are used to identify or clarify functional relationships between behavior and environmental events. A variety of methods and instruments are used within a FBA (e.g., record reviews, interviews, rating scales, direct observations, experimental analysis conditions) and the increased awareness of this methodology has created interest in properly investigating the psychometric properties (e.g., reliability, validity) of the measures. Preliminary convergent validity has been demonstrated across some of the measures used to identify functional relationships; however, further evaluation is needed to establish the psychometric properties as well as the utility of functional assessment measures. The primary purpose of the current research was to evaluate psychometric properties of a newly developed informant record (e.g., Functional Assessment Informant Record for Parents-Checklist; FAIR-P-CL). Specifically, the reliability of the measure (i.e., test-retest and inter-scorer reliability), validity of the measures (i.e., convergence with the Functional Assessment Screening Tool-Revised; FAST-R and convergence across phases of FBA), and socially validity (i.e., use of acceptability rating scales) were assessed. Results of the study suggested appropriate test-retest reliability of the FAIR-P-CL. Convergent validity was obtained across all phases of FBA with the majority of participants. The FAIR-P-CL identified the target behavior noncompliance as a multiple function behavior for 4 out of 5 participants suggesting the use of a treatment package in contrast to a specific function-based intervention. Appropriate social validity was obtained across the FAIR-P-CL, assessment and intervention phases of the study. Overall results of the study provided preliminary support for the psychometric properties of the FAIR-P-CL and extended the utility of functional assessment instruments to typically developing children in a clinic-based setting.

The trial-based functional analysis (TBFA) has recently emerged for practitioners as a method to determine the function(s) of challenging behavior in natural contexts such as the classroom or residential settings. Comparisons between TBFA and other functional analyses (FA) results have shown high correspondence when identifying the function(s) of challenging behavior. Currently, the TBFA has mainly been conducted in classroom settings with teachers or paraprofessionals. Although important in educational contexts, it is unknown if the TBFA would identify the same function(s) of challenging behavior across different settings, thus possibly limiting its utility. The purpose of the current study was to compare the results of a parent-conducted TBFA in the child’s home and at a university-based autism clinic. TBFA results found minimal differences regardless of the setting, suggesting that the TBFA procedures can be conducted in clinics or at home while producing similar findings. Social validity results for two of the three families were identical across settings, suggesting they had no preference for where to conduct the TBFA or any of the conditions. However, one caregiver preferred the escape and tangible conditions over the attention condition. The same caregiver also preferred the home TBFA over the clinic TBFA. High procedural integrity was reported on the author’s ability to facilitate the TBFA procedures with the families. Taken together, these data will help to guide and inform future treatment recommendations for families.

This thesis examines the effect that functional heads have on the interpretation of arguments. It focuses on the functional head Agr, which is implicated in predicate-argument agreement relations; the import that other functional heads have on interpretation is a subsidiary concern. The argument of the thesis goes as follows: firstly, reference must be made to both an independently projecting functional head Agr and to a level of discourse representation in order to adequately analyse the phenomenon of predicate argument agreement. This theory sheds light on an unusual complementarity between agreement and overt arguments in Celtic because it provides a natural constraint on morphological feature checking mechanisms. The thesis shows that functional heads are therefore implicated in the interpretation of arguments.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / November 04-07, 1991 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / NASA’s reaction to requirements for the Space Station Freedom era’s telemetry data systems has been the continuing effort to combine a modular design approach with stateof-the-art VLSI technology for developing telemetry data processing systems. As part of this effort, NASA’s Data Systems Technology Division, in cooperation with Clemson University, is developing a Macintosh II based Telemetry and Command (MacTAC) system. This system performs telemetry data processing functions including frame synchronization, Reed-Solomon decoding, and packet reassembly at moderate data rates of 5 Mbps (20 Mbps burst). The MacTAC is a low-cost, transportable, easy to use, compact system designed to meet requirements specified by the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) while remaining flexible enough to support a wide variety of other user specific telemetry processing requirements (e.g., TDM data). In addition, the MacTAC can accept or generate forward data (such as spacecraft commands), calculate and append a Polynomial Check Code (PCC), and output this data to NASCOM to provide full Telemetry and Command (TAC) capability. Semi-custom VLSI gate arrays perform the return link functions of NASCOM deblocking, correlation, and frame synchronization. Reed-Solomon decoding (for error detection) and packet reassembly are also performed by modern microprocessor and semi-custom VLSI components. The local user interface is a standard Macintosh application with the wellknown look and feel of the Macintosh environment. A remote interface is possible via Ethernet which allows the system to be completely controlled from any location capable of generating the required remote operating commands. Return link data may be viewed in real time on the local or remote user interface screen in a variety of formats along with system status information. In addition, data may also be archived on SCSI disks for later retrieval and analysis as needed. This paper describes the general architecture and functionality of this MacTAC system including the particular custom telemetry cards, the various input/output interfaces, and the icon driven user interface.

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published_or_final_version / Mathematics / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

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