What is ABC Analysis?

An ABC analysis is somewhat like a controlled diary. A challenging behavior triggers a diary entry. Once the behavior is entered, the educator immediately records the consequence and antecedent event(s) associated with the behavior. An ABC Analysis assists the interventionist in obtaining information regarding the frequency with which the behavior occurs during a particular time period or activity, antecedents associated with the challenging behavior, and consequences associated with the challenging behavior. The ABC is a qualitative diary. Diary entries are triggered by a challenging behavior. ABC analyses have the potential to provide rich qualitative data for identifying antecedents and consequences associated with challenging behavior, as well as some quantitative information. The challenge is in trying to summarize and organize information that has been obtained in a diary format. Below is a strategy that we have found useful in obtaining and summarizing ABC data.

Summarizing an ABC Analysis

The information collected during an ABC analysis should then be used to try to identify patterns of behavior that may suggest a social function that is maintaining the challenging behavior. The following categorization strategy may be helpful is discerning those patterns and/or identifying situations that may warrant further investigation. It is a strategy similar to that suggested by Carr, Levin, McConnachie, Carlson, Kemp, & Smith (1994). 1. Cut apart each row of the ABC form such that each strip of paper contains a description of one particular instance of challenging behavior. If several entries relate to the same episode, keep them together. 2. Identify two individuals who are familiar with the child that will independently complete the sorting task. 3. Have each individual sort the strips of paper from the ABC form into one of four categories based upon the perceived function of the challenging behavior:

escape obtain access to item/activity gain/maintain attention don't know

To place an episode in one of the categories, the adult should have confidence in his/her estimation of the behavior's function. Episodes for which the adult is not confident should be placed in the "I don't know" group. In some instances, the prospective interventionist will be sufficiently confident in the results of the ABC analysis to being focusing on intervention strategies to address the functions which were identified. In other instance, the interventionist may decide that more direct observation or an environmental manipulation is needed.

ABC ANALYSIS
Name: Description of behavior(s) of interest: Date Time/ Activity Antecedent Behavior Consequence Comments Teacher: Observer: