What is a primary purpose of behavioral observations?

Behavioral observations primarily focus on identifying and detailing specific behaviors that are relevant for intervention planning. By systematically observing a client’s behaviors in various contexts, practitioners can accurately define which behaviors are problematic or require modification. This detailed description of behaviors assists in creating targeted and effective intervention strategies.

While other options like measuring cognitive abilities or assessing emotional responses may have their own relevance in practice, they are not the central focus of behavioral observations. Instead, the aim is to gather objective data on observable behaviors to inform treatment and intervention planning. This makes defining targeted behaviors for intervention a key function of behavioral observations.