The Questions about Behavioral Function (QABF) is a measure designed for the functional assessment of behavior problems in persons with developmental disabilities. Parents/caretakers familiar with the individual rates each item. The instrument yields five categories reflecting the behavioral functions of Attention, Escape, Physical, Tangible, and Nonsocial. The QABF is an indirect assessment of behavioral function that consists of 25 items. Each question is scored along a four point likert-type scale anchored with frequency descriptors of Never, Rarely, Some, and Often. Sample items include: ' Engages in the behavior to get attention'; 'Engages in the behavior to get access to items such as preferred toys, food, or beverages'; 'Engages in the behavior when there is nothing else to do'; 'Engages in the behavior to escape work or learning situations'; and 'Engages in the behavior more frequently when he/she is ill'.

Also available in Spanish and Turkish.

References:

Applegate, H., Matson, J. L., & Cherry, K. E. (1999). An evaluation of functional variables affecting severe problem behaviors in adults with mental retardation by using the Questions about Behavioral Function Scale (QABF). Research in Developmental Disabilities, 20(3), 229-237.

Dawson, J. E., Matson, J. L., & Cherry, K. E. (1998). An analysis of maladaptive behaviors in persons with autism, PDD-NOS, and mental retardation. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 19(5), 439-448.

Freeman, K. A., Walker, M., & Kaufman, J. (2007). Psychometric properties of the Questions About Behavioral Function Scale in a child sample. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 112(2), 122-129.

Matson, J. L., Bamburg, J. W., Cherry, K. E., & Paclawskyj, T. R. (1999). A validity study on the Questions About Behavioral Function (QABF) scale: Predicting treatment success for self-injury, aggression, and stereotypies. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 20(2), 163-175.

Matson, J. L., & Boisjoli, J. A. (2007). Multiple versus single maintaining factors of challenging behaviours as assessed by the QABF for adults with intellectual disabilities.Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 32(1), 39-44.

Matson, J. L., & Mayville, E. A. (2001). The relationship of functional variables and psychopathology to aggressive behavior in persons with severe and profound mental retardation. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 23(1), 3-9.

Matson, J. L., Mayville, E. A., & Lott, J. D. (2002). The relationship between behaviour motivation and social functioning in persons with intellectual impairment. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 41(2), 175-184.

Matson, J. L., Mayville, S. B., Kuhn, D. E., Sturmey, P., Laud, R., & Cooper, C. (2005). The behavioral function of feeding problems as assessed by the questions about behavioral function (QABF). Research in Developmental Disabilities, 26(4), 399-408.

Matson, J. L., & Minshawi, N. F. (2007). Functional assessment of challenging behavior: Toward a strategy for applied settings. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 28(4), 353-361.

Nicholson, J., Konstantinidi, E., & Furniss, F. (2006). On some psychometric properties of the questions about behavioral function (QABF) scale. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 27(3), 337-352.

Paclawskyj, T. R., Matson, J. L., Rush, K. S., Smalls, Y., & Vollmer, T. R. (2000). Questions About Behavioral Function (QABF): A behavioral checklist for functional assessment of aberrant behavior. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 21(3), 223-229.

Paclawskyj, T. R., Matson, J. L., Rush, K. S., Smalls, Y., & Vollmer, T. R. (2001). Assessment of the convergent validity of the Questions About Behavioral Function scale with analogue functional analysis and the Motivation Assessment Scale. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 45(6), 484-494.

Shogren, K. A., & Rojahn, J. (2003). Convergent reliability and validity of the Questions About Behavioral Function and the Motivation Assessment Scale: A replication study. Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities, 15(4), 367-375.

Swender, S. L., Matson, J. L., Mayville, S. B., Gonzalez, M. L., & McDowell, D. (2006). A functional assessment of handmouthing among persons with severe and profound intellectual disability. Journal of Intellectual & Developmental Disability, 31(2), 95-100.