Free behavior note data sheet

Free Operant Observations are appropriate for all children, and are simple to do in a classroom. The opportunity is given to the child to choose from among many different items or activities. These are appropriate assessments for children who engage in challenging behavior when preferred toys are taken away. When conducting a Free Operant Observation, the observer may discover highly-preferred actions or activities that are not typically thought of, such as dancing to songs, and engaging in stereotypy. Free operant observation records the amount of time a client engages in a particular activity, then compares it to the amount of time engaged in other activities. The assumption of the free operant observation method is that the more time a client spends on a particular activity indicates more preference for that activity.

Free behavior observation is used for all children, it is easy to do in a classroom environment and the child is given the opportunity to choose from many different items or activities. These assessments are appropriate for children who engage in behavioral problems when their favorite games are prevented. Applying the observation of free behavior, the practitioner may discover very favorite items or activities in the child that are not usually considered, such as dancing to jingles, or playing with a stereotype. Observing free behavior records the amount of time a child engages in a particular activity, and then compares it to the amount of time engaged in other activities. And the more time a child spends on a particular activity, the more he prefers that activity.