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Functional Analysis of Behavior in a Juvenile Detention Facility

NCJ Number
106867
Journal
Journal of Offender Counseling Services and Rehabilitation Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (Spring 1982) Pages: 21-41
Author(s)
V J Carbone; R Lynch
Date Published
1983
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This report describes a set of procedures designed to analyze the causal relationships between staff and resident behavior; the data resulting from the observational procedure point up behavior change strategies; in addition, the observational procedure is adaptable for most settings.
Abstract
An empirical analysis of human behavior has demonstrated a functional relationship between behavior and its environmental consequences. In residential care settings the consequences for resident behavior are arranged by the staff. This set of circumstances may result in the adventitious strengthening of inappropriate resident behavior and a concomitant reduction of appropriate behavior. Moreover, only precise and systematic observations can discover these program flaws. (Author abstract)