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What is the star method?

A STAR analysis is a helpful way of assessing what happens before, during and after an episode of unacceptable behaviour, and is similar to an ABC chart.

The STAR framework was set up by the National Autistic Society to reduce the behavioural problems that so many parents of children with an autistic spectrum disorder face. The STAR approach focuses on those with an autistic spectrum disorder rather than children with general behavioural difficulties, although it can still be helpful for this group.

The basis of the STAR approach is that all episodes of problem behaviour need to be seen as actions with a purpose to receive a specific response.

STAR stands for:

• Setting
• Trigger
• Action
• Result/ Response

Setting

These are the contexts in which the unacceptable behaviour takes place. 

The setting could be environmental or personal and can include:

• the physical environment: how busy/noisy was it? what about lighting levels or sensory sensitivities?
• social interactions and relationships within the environment: was there a perceived lack of control, fear of uncertainty or any conflict?
• the activities that the child was doing
• the child’s physical state: hunger, thirst, tiredness, illness, communication difficulties, anxiety…
• the child’s thoughts and mood, self-esteem, boredom …
• any life events (loss, change, trauma …)

Trigger

These are the signals or stimuli that ‘set off’ a specific action, occurring immediately before the episode of unacceptable behaviour.

Reasons that trigger sets of the behaviour may include:

• Expressing a need
• Expressing something the child does not want
• Emotional overload

Action

The action is the behaviour that actually happens.

Result/ Response

These are the events that follow an action, and are often the part of the process that can be controlled. Response to an action can indicate the appropriateness of an action and influence the likelihood that the child will do the same thing at some point in the future.

The result/ response may include:

• social result
• occupational result
• sensory result