ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on measuring behavior (broadly defined as academic and social behavior) using a behavior analytic perspective. Specifically, the chapter addresses limitations to current behavioral assessment methods by presenting direct behavioral observation approaches that have been applied in school settings. These approaches have high standards regarding measurement accuracy, reliability, and validity. The chapter examines how measurement is conceptualized within a school context using an Applied behavior analysis (ABA) framework. Measurement involves three equally important components: accuracy, validity, and reliability, with each of these components contributing to the measurement instrument's value as a tool. School psychologists frequently assess student behavior as part of a more comprehensive assessment. From a behavior analytic perspective, direct behavioral assessment makes several important assumptions about the measurement of behavior. The selection of target behaviors is placed within the context of understanding antecedents and consequences.
