What is the primary purpose of a functional analysis?

• A. To identify the baseline level of behavior
• B. To determine which reinforcement schedule to use
• C. To experimentally identify the function of a behavior
• D. To train the client in new skills

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is to identify what function is maintaining a behavior by testing it under controlled conditions. A functional analysis uses deliberate, systematic manipulation of the environment to see how the behavior changes when attention, demands, access to tangibles, or sensory stimulation are provided or withheld. By observing which condition reliably increases or maintains the behavior, we determine the function—for example, attention, escape from demands, access to a tangible item, or automatic reinforcement. This explicit evidence about the function guides how to intervene effectively, such as teaching an appropriate way to get attention or altering the demand context. It isn’t about measuring a baseline level, choosing a reinforcement schedule, or teaching new skills; it’s about experimentally revealing the function that maintains the behavior.