What are the key components of a functional assessment?

The key components of a functional assessment focus significantly on the identification of behaviors and the context in which those behaviors occur. This approach is essential for understanding the reasons behind a person's actions and how various factors in their environment influence behavior. By examining behaviors in conjunction with the context—such as environmental triggers, social situations, and specific events that precede or follow the behavior—professional practitioners can develop a clearer picture of the individual's needs.

This process allows for identifying patterns that can lead to more effective intervention strategies. For example, if a specific behavior is consistently triggered by a certain context, interventions can be tailored to modify the environment or teach coping strategies to the individual. This understanding underpins the development of targeted goals and approaches in therapy, making option B a fundamental aspect of functional assessments. Other options, while they may provide useful information, do not concentrate as directly on behaviors and the specific contexts that contribute to them, hence they do not capture the primary focus of a functional assessment.