{"id":{"repo_id":"unt","oai_identifier":"info:ark/67531/metadc4853"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/unt/info:ark/67531/metadc4853","repository":{"repo_id":"unt","name":"University of North Texas","base_url":"https://digital.library.unt.edu/oai/"},"display":{"title":"Clarifying Variables associated with Problem Behaviors Using Structured Descriptive Assessment","abstract":"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.","abstract_html":"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.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["McAllister, Amanda Jo"],"institution":"University of North Texas","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Smith, Richard","Hyten, Cloyd","Ellis, Janet"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2005,"date_issued":"2005-08","date_published":"2005-08","updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:35:09Z","subjects":["People with disabilities -- Functional assessment.","Developmental disabilities -- Treatment.","Behavioral assessment.","caregivers","problem behaviors","functional assessment","treatment","variables"],"languages":["English"],"rights":["Public","Copyright","McAllister, Amanda Jo","Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved."],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["oclc: 68213212","https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4853/","ark: ark:/67531/metadc4853"],"render_values":[{"text":"oclc: 68213212","href":null,"code":true},{"text":"https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4853/","href":"https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4853/","code":true},{"text":"ark: ark:/67531/metadc4853","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://doi.org/10.12794/metadc4853","outbound_label":"DOI","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Smith, Richard","Hyten, Cloyd","Ellis, Janet"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["McAllister, Amanda Jo"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["2005-08"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["University of North Texas"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis or Dissertation"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["People with disabilities -- Functional assessment.","Developmental disabilities -- Treatment.","Behavioral assessment.","caregivers","problem behaviors","functional assessment","treatment","variables"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Public","Copyright","McAllister, Amanda Jo","Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved."]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["oclc: 68213212","doi: 10.12794/metadc4853","https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4853/","ark: ark:/67531/metadc4853"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["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."]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["Text"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Clarifying Variables associated with Problem Behaviors Using Structured Descriptive Assessment"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Smith, Richard","Hyten, Cloyd","Ellis, Janet"],"dc:creator":["McAllister, Amanda Jo"],"dc:date":["2005-08"],"dc:description":["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."],"dc:format":["Text"],"dc:identifier":["oclc: 68213212","doi: 10.12794/metadc4853","https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4853/","ark: ark:/67531/metadc4853"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:publisher":["University of North Texas"],"dc:rights":["Public","Copyright","McAllister, Amanda Jo","Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved."],"dc:subject":["People with disabilities -- Functional assessment.","Developmental disabilities -- Treatment.","Behavioral assessment.","caregivers","problem behaviors","functional assessment","treatment","variables"],"dc:title":["Clarifying Variables associated with Problem Behaviors Using Structured Descriptive Assessment"],"dc:type":["Thesis or Dissertation"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T05:35:09Z"}