What is the first aspect to collect data on when beginning a behavioral assessment?

The first aspect to collect data on when beginning a behavioral assessment is establishing a baseline. Baseline data provides a crucial reference point for understanding the current frequency, intensity, and context of the behavior in question before any intervention is implemented. By documenting the behavior in its natural setting over a specific period, practitioners can assess how often and under what circumstances the behavior occurs. This data is essential for identifying patterns and determining whether the subsequent interventions lead to meaningful changes in the behavior.

Collecting baseline data allows practitioners to make comparisons with future data collected after interventions have been introduced, facilitating an understanding of the effectiveness of these interventions. Without baseline data, it would be difficult to gauge whether observed behavior changes are due to the intervention or if they are simply part of natural variability in the behavior over time.