Functional Analysis: A Practitioner's Guide to Implementation and Training (Critical Specialties in Treating Autism and other Behavioral Challenges)

Functional Analysis: A Practitioner’s Guide to Implementation and Training provides practitioners with the most updated information about applying the wide span of current functional analysis (FA) methodologies geared specifically to applied service settings. The book serves as a self-instructional implementation to a broad-base of trainees and care-providers within schools, clinics, centers and human services organizations.

Adopting a Behavioral Skills Training and competency-based training outcomes approach, the learning materials and activities featured in the book include suggested slideshow presentations, role-play exercises, pre- and post-training quizzes, natural setting evaluation methods, data recording forms, instructional scripts and reproducible handouts.

• Covers an historical overview and the ethical considerations of functional analysis
• Examines FA methodology, measurement methods and experimental designs
• Teaches how to independently design, conduct and interpret FAs
• Explains how to formulate FA-informed intervention plans
• Presents an agile curriculum that can be customized for different providers

Jim Chok, Ph.D., BCBA – D is a licensed psychologist, neuropsychologist, and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Dr. Chok received his doctoral degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and completed a one year internship and two year postdoctoral fellowship in neuropsychology at McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School. Dr. Chok previously served as the Senior Director of Clinical Services for the Residential Treatment Facility at Melmark Pennsylvania, which specializes in the treatment of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability, and severe challenging behavior. He now maintains a private practice in West Chester, PA, specializing in diagnostic assessments and the treatment of OCD, Panic Disorder, and other anxiety disorders. Dr. Chok previously served as the Vice President of the New Hampshire chapter of the International OCD Foundation and is currently President of the Pennsylvania Association of Behavior Analysis.

Jill M. Harper, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and licensed behavior analyst. She is the Director of Professional Development, Clinical Training, and Research at Melmark New England and holds an adjunct faculty position with Endicott College. Her research interests include the assessment and treatment of severe behavior disorders, mechanisms responsible for behavior change, and organizational behavior management. Dr. Harper has published her work in several peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis and the Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, and regularly presents at regional and national conferences.

Mary Jane Weiss, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA is a licensed clinical psychologist, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and a licensed behavior analyst. She is the Director of Programs in Applied Behavior Analysis at Endicott College, where she oversees the Ph.D. in ABA and the master’s programs in ABA and in Autism and ABA. At Melmark, she is a Senior Director of Research.
Dr. Weiss is a regular presenter at national conferences and publishes frequently on ABA and its application to individuals with ASD. She is on the Board of Association for Science in Autism Treatment, is an advisor to the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies, serves on the Scientific Council of the Organization for Autism Research, is on the Professional Advisory Board of Autism New Jersey, and is a regular contributor to the ABA Ethics Hotline.

Frank Bird serves as Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer for Melmark. He oversees clinical services at our service divisions in New England, Pennsylvania and the Carolinas. Mr. Bird is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA) with over 35years of experience in developing behavioral programming for challenging behaviors for children and adults with the diagnosis of autism, mental retardation and developmental disabilities, acquired brain injury and mental illness. He has developed over 50 programs of treatment in support of individuals with disabilities over the course of his career. His research focusing on the evidence-based practices of Applied Behavior Analysis has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, impacting systems of care not only at Melmark, but at providers around the world. Mr. Bird, with Ms. Rita Gardner and Mr. Peter Troy, was instrumental in the establishment of Melmark New England in 1998.

James K. Luiselli, EdD, ABPP, BCBA-D, is a clinical psychologist, behavior analyst, and Director of Clinical Development and Research at Melmark New England, Andover, MA. His practice and research interests include intervention for challenging behavior, performance and health psychology, professional development, and organizational behavior management.