Which 16-item assessment uses a 0-6 Likert scale to rate contexts in which target behavior may or may not occur?

• A. FAST
• B. Rating Scale
• C. MAS
• D. ABC Data

Answer: (A)

This item describes a function-screening tool that asks a knowledgeable observer to rate how likely the target behavior is to occur across a set of common functional contexts. It uses 16 items and a 0–6 Likert scale to rate the contexts in which the behavior may or may not occur, which matches the Functional Assessment Screening Tool (FAST). By rating each context from 0 (not at all likely) to 6 (extremely likely), you identify which functions are most plausibly maintaining the behavior—such as attention, escape from demands, access to tangibles, or automatic reinforcement. Higher scores or a consistent pattern across contexts guide which functions to test more rigorously in a functional analysis, and the form is usually completed by someone who knows the individual well, like a caregiver or teacher. The other options describe different assessment approaches: the Motivation Assessment Scale has a different item structure and focus, ABC Data involves direct observation of antecedents, behaviors, and consequences rather than a rating across contexts, and Rating Scale is a general term that doesn’t specify the 16-item, 0–6 context rating format of the FAST.