1) The process of testing hypotheses about the functional relations among antecedents, target behavior, and consequences.

2) An analysis in terms of behavioural functions (i.e., what effects responses have); alternatively, an analysis in terms of functional relations, (e.g., the production of pupillary constriction by light might be discussed as a pupillary reflex, but a functional analysis deals with the phenomenon as a transition from one point to another on a continuous mathematical function retaking pupillary diameter to light intensity).

3) An analysis of the contingencies responsible for behavioural problems.