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The Motivation Assessment Scale (MAS) is a rating scale that assesses functions of problem behavior in individuals with developmental disabilities through informant responses. It includes 16 questions and is comprised of four subscales that each represents a possible function of the behavior: attention, escape, sensory, and tangible. Each question has six response options (0 = never, 1 = almost never, 2 = seldom, 3 = half the time, 4 = usually, 5 = almost always, and 6 = always). Scores are calculated by summing the item ratings within a particular subscale/function and calculating the mean rating for that subscale. High scores for one or more of the subscales suggest that those functions may be maintaining the individual’s problem behavior (Durand & Crimmins, 1988), although the authors of the instrument do not specify what constitutes a high score. An example item on the MAS is “Does this behavior occur when you are talking to other persons in the room?”...
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References and Readings
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Ray-Subramanian, C. (2013). Motivation Assessment Scale. In: Volkmar, F.R. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_1680
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1698-3_1680
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