The purpose of conducting a functional assessment includes which of the following?

Conducting a functional assessment primarily aims to identify the influences and patterns associated with specific behaviors. This process involves gathering information about the context in which behaviors occur, the triggers, and the consequences that maintain those behaviors. By understanding these factors, professionals can formulate effective intervention strategies that address not only the behaviors themselves but also the underlying reasons driving them.

Identifying the influences and patterns allows practitioners to make informed decisions about how to support the individual in a way that is tailored to their unique needs. This understanding is crucial for developing personalized behavior intervention plans that focus on promoting positive behavior change and enhancing the individual’s overall well-being.

In contrast, while documenting behaviors can serve legal purposes, discouraging behaviors or merely categorizing them does not contribute to a comprehensive understanding of their functions or contextual factors that the assessment seeks to illuminate.