Which of the following is a step that comes before developing the hypothesis in the FBA process?

In the functional behavioral assessment (FBA) process, describing the problem behavior is an essential early step. This initial stage involves clearly identifying and documenting the specific behaviors that are causing concern. It is crucial to have a precise understanding of what the problem behavior looks like, its context, frequency, and intensity before proceeding to formulate a hypothesis.

Developing a hypothesis relies on the data and observations gathered during this initial description. Only once the problem behavior is adequately articulated can one evaluate the underlying reasons or functions of that behavior, leading to the formulation of a hypothesis about why it occurs.

This step sets the foundation for interpreting assessment results and understanding the environmental factors that may influence the behavior. Thus, before moving on to evaluate the assessment results or develop interventions, the initial step of accurately describing the problem behavior must take place first.