Date of Award
12-1-2011
Degree Name
Master of Science in Education
Department
Special Education
First Advisor
May, Michael
Abstract
This study examined the reliability of the Questions About Behavioral Function (QABF) scale. The QABF was completed by two special education teachers and three paraprofessionals on fourteen students exhibiting problem behaviors. The elementary through high school age students in the study attended an alternative school for students with emotional and/or behavioral disorders (EBD). Teacher and paraprofessional test-retest reliability and inter-rater reliability were calculated for each of the students. Test-retest reliability was moderate to strong, but inter-rater reliability was low. Teacher test-retest reliability was higher than paraprofessionals. The results suggest the QABF may be a feasible behavioral assessment tool to develop a hypothesis of behavioral function or to guide further assessment for special education teachers with training in functional behavioral assessment procedures to use with students with EBD.
Access
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