Questions About Behavior Function

The Questions About Behavior Function (QABF) measure is a widely used indirect assessment tool designed to assist mental health practitioners in assessing the function of maladaptive behaviors in individuals diagnosed with a developmental disability. It was co-developed by Johnny Matson.[1] The measure a reporter-based instrument, which relies on information from raters who are familiar with the individual being assessed. As such, parents and caregivers are frequently asked to provide pertinent information. The measure consists of 25 items, each of which ask a question about an individual's behavior and require the rater to respond on a Likert-type rating scale. On the basis of the 25 items, the QABF produces scores in 5 distinct categories: Attention, Escape, Physical, Tangible, and Nonsocial.[2]

Empirical Support

The QABF is viewed to have good psychometric properties. Convergent validity between the QABF and the Motivation Assessment Scale (MAS) appears to be strongest, while convergent validity with analogue functional analyses appears to be lower than expected.[3][4]Research suggests that since many behaviors may be contingent on multiple factors,[5] measures such as the Functional Assessment for Multiple Causality may be better measures of behavioral function than the QABF.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Assessment of Anger in Persons with Cognitive Limitations : a Revision of the ADS-VII Archived December 7, 2015, at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ "Challenging Behaviors - QABF". Disability Consultants. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  3. ↑ Paclawskyj, T.R., Matson, J.L., Rush, K.S., Smalls, Y., and Vollmer, T.R. (2001). "Assessment of convergent validity of the Questions About Behavioral Function scale with analogue functional analysis and the Motivation Assessment Scale". Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. 45: 484-494.
  4. ↑ Shogren, K.A., and Rojahn, J. (2003). "Convergent Reliability and Validity of the Questions About Behavioral Function and the Motivation Assessment Scale: A Replication Study". Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities. 15: 367-375.
  5. ↑ Matson, J.L., and Boisjoli, J.A. (2007). "Multiple versus single maintaining factors of challenging behaviours as assessed by the QABF for adults with intellectual disabilities". Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability. 32: 39-44.
  6. ↑ Zaja, R.H., Moore, L., van Ingen, D.J., and Rojahn, J. (2011). "Psychometric Comparison of the Functional Assessment Instruments QABF, FACT and FAST for Self-Injurious, Stereotypic and Aggressive/Destructive Behaviour". Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities. 24: 18-28.
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