5. Test the hypothesis

Once the team reaches a consensus of what the probable cause of the behavior might be, the hypothesis must be tested to be sure they are right. If they take the short route and simply take this information and develop strategies, they may be basing them on inaccurate assumptions. In that case, the strategies are probably not going to work, valuable time will be lost, and the inappropriate behavior will continue or worsen.

Example:
For Jonathan, they tested their hypothesis by having Ms. Abraham approach Jonathan in a number of other settings during the day to see his reaction. He avoided contact with her throughout the day. Then, Ms. Abraham did not apply perfume and made certain there were no other strong odors in the room such as flowers or food. Ms. Abraham approached him on several occasions that day as well. He also avoided her presence at the beginning of this day (because he wouldn’t have been aware of the lack of odor), but as the day progressed and he grew confident that she was not going to offend his senses, he was noticeably more relaxed in her room and elsewhere. He did not need to be removed from the room that day. The team now knew they were on to something! The strategies were now quite simple to develop, and Jonathan prospered through the rest of the year with few outbursts.

Had this test not produced a difference in Jonathan’s behavior, they would have had to continue looking for another answer. The sign of a really dedicated team is one that is willing to utilize a variety of assessment instruments (see Reference section for more information) in conjunction with an FBA, or call in the help of an expert (an educational consultant specializing in behavior, for instance) when they remain at a loss for a viable answer.