C6 — Discrimination Training & C7 — Prompts & Fading

Discrimination Training

Teaching the learner to respond differently to different stimuli.

SD (Discriminative Stimulus)

A stimulus in whose presence a response is reinforced.

SΔ (S‑Delta)

A stimulus in whose presence a response is not reinforced.

Stimulus Control

When a behavior occurs more often in the presence of the SD than the SΔ.

Field of 2

A trial with two comparison stimuli presented.

Field of 3

A trial with three comparison stimuli presented.

Simple Discrimination

Discrimination with one SD and one SΔ.

Conditional Discrimination

Discrimination where the correct response depends on a sample stimulus (e.g.

Response Prompt

A prompt that helps the learner perform the correct response (gestural

Stimulus Prompt

A change to the SD or materials that makes the correct response more likely.

Most‑to‑Least Prompting

Starting with the most intrusive prompt and fading to less intrusive prompts.

Least‑to‑Most Prompting

Starting with no prompt and adding more intrusive prompts only if needed.

Errorless Learning

Using immediate prompts to prevent errors and fading them systematically.

Time Delay

Adding a delay between the SD and the prompt to allow independent responding.

Stimulus Fading

Gradually removing or altering a stimulus prompt so the natural SD controls the behavior.

Prompt Dependence

When the learner only responds correctly when a prompt is present.