What is Interview-Informed Synthesized Contingency Analysis (IISCA)?
The Interview-Informed Synthesized Contingency Analysis (IISCA) is a specific type of functional analysis, an integral part of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and Functional Analysis methodologies. The IISCA is designed to identify and understand the functions of challenging behaviors, which in turn informs the development of effective behavior intervention plans (source: Springer).
IISCA begins with an open-ended interview with relevant caregivers or individuals closely associated with the person exhibiting the behavior. This interview provides valuable insights into the antecedents and consequences related to the behavior in question. The information gathered from the interview is then used to design a synthetic contingency analysis, which combines multiple contingencies into a single test condition. It alternates a single test and a single control condition, both comprehensively informed by the open-ended interview (source: Practical Functional Assessment).
The IISCA allows for a quicker, safer, and usually more revealing analysis than traditional functional analysis methods, as it synthesizes each component of the three-term contingency: antecedents (what happens before a behavior occurs), behaviors (response topographies), and consequences (what happens after the behavior) (source: Wiley Online Library).
IISCA has been shown to be efficacious, effective, and efficient while producing meaningful outcomes (source: NCBI). It provides a comprehensive understanding of the functions of a person's behavior, which is crucial in developing targeted strategies for positive behavioral change.
In conclusion, IISCA is a critical component in the toolbox of functional analysis methodologies, contributing significantly to the field of Applied Behavior Analysis. By providing a more in-depth understanding of the functions of behavior, it allows for the development of more effective and individualized behavior intervention strategies.
Practical functional assessment: https://practicalfunctionalassessment.com/
Wiley online library: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/jaba.384