Date/Time/ Initials Antecedent
What happened directly before behavior
Behavior
What does the behavior look like?
Consequence
What was done immediately after behavior?
Response
What did the student do in response to the consequence?
         
         
         
         
         
         

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What is an ABC Data Sheet?

This ABC data collection form is used to gather important information about a behavior by recording the events that occur before and after the behavior. This is typically used for challenging behaviors, but also can be used to find what contexts an adaptive behavior is occurring in.

What Does ABC Stand For?

ABC stands for Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence, which make the three components of the form:

  • Antecedent: The events, actions, or circumstances that happen immediately before the behavior
  • Behavior: A clear, specific, and objective description of the behavior
  • Consequence: The action or response that occurred immediately after the behavior

An example might be:

  • Antecedent: Grandma told Axel to clean up the Cheerios he threw on the floor.
  • Behavior: Axel picked up and threw 5 Cheerios at Grandma, then dropped to the floor and cried for 6 minutes.
  • Consequence: Grandma picked up the rest of the Cheerios and put them in the garbage, and picked up Axel from the floor and sang him a song.

 

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