# Session Interpretation taxonomy — TRACE v1 # The controlled vocabulary the Task 2 generator draws from. Self-contained. # # Citations for underlying concepts: see taxonomy-v1.md. task: id: session_interpretation name: Behavioral Session Interpretation citation: > Multi-session interpretation framework is TRACE's operationalization. Underlying concepts grounded in CHH (2020) Ch. 6–7 (analyzing behavior change), Iwata 1982/1994 (functional analysis), Hanley-Iwata-McCord 2003 (FBA review), Bijou-Peterson-Ault 1968 (ABC recording), Michael 1993 (MOs). # 12 session patterns (each drives trajectory + interpretation) patterns: - id: mastery_progression name: Mastery progression description: "Steady improvement toward mastery criteria." trend: ascending concern_level: none default_escalation: 1 citation: "CHH Ch. 6." - id: regression name: Regression description: "Decline in performance after previous mastery or near-mastery." trend: descending concern_level: high default_escalation: 3 citation: "CHH Ch. 26 (maintenance)." - id: plateau name: Plateau description: "Accuracy stable but below mastery criteria for extended period." trend: flat concern_level: moderate default_escalation: 2 citation: "CHH Ch. 7." - id: frustration_pattern name: Frustration pattern description: "Declining accuracy accompanied by behavioral indicators of frustration and escape-maintained responding." trend: descending concern_level: high default_escalation: 3 citation: "Iwata 1994 (escape function); CHH Ch. 27." - id: variable_performance name: Variable performance description: "Inconsistent accuracy across sessions with no clear trend." trend: variable concern_level: moderate default_escalation: 2 citation: "CHH Ch. 5 (measurement reliability)." - id: prompt_dependency name: Prompt dependency description: "High accuracy with prompts but failure at independent level." trend: flat_high_prompted concern_level: moderate default_escalation: 2 citation: "Touchette & Howard 1984 JABA (time delay)." - id: rapid_acquisition name: Rapid acquisition description: "Quick skill acquisition exceeding expected timeline." trend: sharply_ascending concern_level: none default_escalation: 1 citation: "CHH Ch. 6." - id: generalization_failure name: Generalization failure description: "Strong performance in training but failure to generalize to novel conditions." trend: context_dependent concern_level: moderate default_escalation: 2 citation: "Stokes & Baer 1977 JABA; CHH Ch. 26." - id: extinction_burst name: Extinction burst description: "Temporary increase in problem behavior during behavior reduction." trend: temporary_spike concern_level: expected default_escalation: 2 citation: "CHH Ch. 24." - id: skill_loss_after_break name: Skill loss after break description: "Performance decline following extended absence or break, with recovery." trend: drop_then_recovery concern_level: moderate default_escalation: 2 citation: "CHH Ch. 26 (maintenance)." - id: motivating_operation_shift name: Motivating operation shift description: "Responding drops when MO changes (e.g., satiation); recovers when MO restored." trend: mo_dip concern_level: moderate default_escalation: 2 citation: "Michael 1993 JEAB; CHH Ch. 16." - id: setting_event_trigger name: Setting event trigger description: "Accuracy or behavior changes correlated with an external setting event (illness, sleep, schedule change)." trend: setting_event concern_level: moderate default_escalation: 2 citation: "Smith & Iwata 1997 JABA; Bijou & Baer 1961." # Behavior functions functions: - id: escape name: escape reinforcer: "Termination or avoidance of an aversive stimulus (demand, task, interaction)." typical_antecedents: [demand presentation, difficult task, non-preferred activity, transition to work] typical_consequences: [task removed, demand withdrawn, redirected to preferred activity] - id: attention name: attention reinforcer: "Attention from others (adult or peer)." typical_antecedents: [adult attention diverted, peer interaction, low-attention period] typical_consequences: [adult attends, reprimand delivered, peer interaction initiated] - id: tangible name: tangible reinforcer: "Access to an item or activity." typical_antecedents: [preferred item removed, restricted access, another peer has item] typical_consequences: [item returned, access granted, activity restored] - id: automatic name: automatic reinforcer: "Self-produced reinforcement (sensory, proprioceptive)." typical_antecedents: [low-stimulation period, alone time, waiting] typical_consequences: [no social mediation; behavior self-terminates or continues] - id: unknown name: unknown reinforcer: "Insufficient data to determine function." # Target behaviors (deceleration targets) # For full operational definitions + citations see taxonomy-v1.md. # Used when the generator samples 0–3 behaviors per log. target_behaviors: - id: tantrum name: Tantrum operational: "Co-occurring cluster of two or more of: crying/screaming, dropping to floor, kicking, hitting, throwing objects, lasting ≥ 3 s." plausible_functions: [escape, attention, tangible] typical_severity: moderate - id: aggression name: Aggression operational: "Attempted or completed forceful contact directed toward another person (hit, kick, bite, scratch, pinch, throw-at)." plausible_functions: [escape, tangible, attention] typical_severity: high - id: sib name: Self-injurious behavior (SIB) operational: "Any response that produces tissue damage or has potential to (head-hit, self-bite, face-slap, head-bang, skin-pick, self-pinch)." plausible_functions: [automatic, attention, escape] typical_severity: high - id: elopement name: Elopement operational: "Full body crossing a designated boundary without adult approval." plausible_functions: [escape, tangible, automatic] typical_severity: high - id: property_destruction name: Property destruction operational: "Hitting/kicking furniture or walls; throwing objects not meant to be thrown; tearing clothing, books, materials." plausible_functions: [escape, attention, tangible] typical_severity: moderate - id: motor_stereotypy name: Motor stereotypy operational: "Repetitive non-functional motor movements (hand-flap, body-rock, finger-flick, spin)." plausible_functions: [automatic] typical_severity: low - id: vocal_stereotypy name: Vocal stereotypy operational: "Non-contextual, non-communicative vocalizations outside appropriate conversational context." plausible_functions: [automatic] typical_severity: low - id: non_compliance name: Non-compliance operational: "Failure to initiate a requested response within 5 s of an instructional prompt, OR active refusal." plausible_functions: [escape] typical_severity: low - id: mouthing name: Mouthing operational: "Placing hand, fingers, or non-food object into the mouth outside scheduled meal/snack times." plausible_functions: [automatic] typical_severity: low - id: pica name: Pica operational: "Placement of any inedible item past the plane of the lips, including ingestion." plausible_functions: [automatic, attention] typical_severity: high - id: verbal_aggression name: Verbal aggression operational: "Yelling, cursing, name-calling, or verbal threats toward another person." plausible_functions: [attention, escape] typical_severity: moderate - id: fecal_smearing name: Fecal smearing (scatolia) operational: "Reaching into diaper, pull-up, or pants to retrieve feces and/or spreading feces onto skin, clothing, walls, furniture, or other surfaces." plausible_functions: [automatic, attention] typical_severity: high citation: "Piazza et al. 1996 JABA; Matson et al. 2008 (scatolia in ASD)." - id: toileting_accident name: Toileting accident (urine or bowel) operational: "Session toileting data tracks both successful voids in the toilet (urine and BM) and accidents (voiding outside the toilet onto self, clothing, furniture, or floor). The deceleration target is accident frequency; in-toilet voids are recorded as context for toileting progress. Medical rule-out required before treating accidents behaviorally." plausible_functions: [automatic, escape] typical_severity: moderate citation: "Azrin & Foxx 1971 JABA; Cicero & Pfadt 2002; LeBlanc et al. 2005." # Measurement types used in session logs measurement_types: - id: accuracy_pct short: "accuracy" description: "Trial-based percentage correct (X/N)." used_for: [skill acquisition] - id: frequency short: "freq" description: "Raw count per session." used_for: [discrete behaviors, target behaviors] - id: rate short: "rate" description: "Count per minute or hour." used_for: [target behaviors] - id: duration short: "duration" description: "Total elapsed time behavior occurred." used_for: [tantrum, on-task engagement] - id: latency short: "latency" description: "Time from SD to response initiation." used_for: [skill responsivity] - id: partial_interval short: "PIR" description: "Proportion of intervals in which behavior occurred at any point." used_for: [stereotypy, low-intensity behavior] - id: momentary_time_sampling short: "MTS" description: "Behavior sampled at end of each interval." used_for: [group observation] # Escalation levels (safety-critical structured label) escalation_levels: - id: 1 label: "Continue monitoring" description: "Current programming is effective; no changes." - id: 2 label: "Adjust next session" description: "Implement a specific programming change at the next session." - id: 3 label: "Supervisor review" description: "Elevate to supervising BCBA within 24–48 hours." - id: 4 label: "Safety immediate" description: "Stop program; contact supervisor / family; consider crisis-plan activation." # Confidence levels (calibration signal) confidence_levels: - id: high label: high description: "Pattern and recommendation well-supported by log data." - id: moderate label: moderate description: "Data supports the hypothesis but alternatives cannot be fully ruled out." - id: low label: low description: "Insufficient data to rule in a specific pattern; recommend data collection before programming changes." # Behavioral indicator phrases (pasted verbatim into session logs) # Organized by cluster; Task 2 generator samples from here. behavioral_indicators: frustration: - "Increased response latency (3–5× baseline)" - "Pushing materials away from the work area" - "Turning away from task or staff" - "Vocal refusal ('no', 'I don't want to')" - "Self-stimulatory behavior increase during demand periods" - "Crying during demand presentation" - "Elopement from the work area" - "Attempts at property destruction (throwing materials, swiping items off the surface)" - "Aggression attempt directed at staff (hit, kick, or scratch toward adult)" - "Peer aggression (hitting or pushing peers during group activities)" - "Self-injurious behavior onset during task difficulty (self-biting, hair-pulling, head-hitting)" engagement: - "Eye contact maintained throughout trials" - "Quick response latency (within 2–3 seconds)" - "Reaching for materials proactively" - "Smiling during reinforcement delivery" - "Requesting more trials verbally" - "Appropriate sitting posture maintained" disengagement: - "Looking away during SD presentation" - "Delayed responding (>5 seconds consistently)" - "Stereotypic behavior during inter-trial intervals" - "Leaving seat without permission" - "Playing with non-task materials" - "Echolalic responding (repeating SD rather than answering)" # Teaching method metadata (for referencing methods in log programs) teaching_methods: - id: dtt name: DTT default_structure: "structured discrete trials, massed" - id: net name: NET default_structure: "natural-environment embedded opportunities" - id: task_analysis name: Task Analysis default_structure: "multi-step chaining, {chain_type}" - id: fct name: FCT default_structure: "functional communication training, replacement response = {replacement}" - id: prt name: PRT default_structure: "pivotal response training, child-choice, attempt reinforcement" - id: bst name: BST default_structure: "staff-facing training program"