ABSTRACT
As discussed in Point 5, functional assessment requires a detailed understanding of the sequence of antecedent events that prompted the behavior of interest, the actual form of the behavior, and the consequences that followed the behavior. A good functional assessment requires the client to describe this sequence in detail, so the clinician may come as close as possible to observing the actual sequence. It requires an appreciation of subtle functional distinctions and the creativity, in the moment, to develop questions to ask to the client that will help the clinician make these distinctions.
