Functional Analysis of targeted situations identifies what two categories are needed to perform tasks?

• A. Motivation and Cues
• B. Knowledge and Memory
• C. Skills and Modalities
• D. Tools and Equipment

Answer: (C)

Focus on what a task requires in terms two things: the abilities to perform the actions (skills) and the means through which those actions are carried out (modalities). Skills are the actual capabilities like coordinating movements, gripping, timing, planning steps, and problem-solving steps needed to complete the task. Modalities refer to how the task is executed—the channels and systems involved, such as gross or fine motor control, tactile and proprioceptive feedback, vision, hearing, and cognitive processing strategies used to guide the action. Knowing both what the person must do (skills) and how they must do it (modalities) lets you see where participation may fail and what supports, adaptations, or practice could help them perform the task.

Motivation or cues alone don’t capture the full picture of what’s required to complete a task; knowledge and memory focus on cognitive content but not the actual movement and sensory-maladaptive processes involved. Tools and equipment are aids, not the underlying categories of task demands themselves.