RBT Knowledge Check: Skill Acquisition (Naturalistic Teaching, Task Analysis, Chaining, Shaping, Prompting, & Stimulus Control Transfer

What is Naturalistic Teaching?

A teaching procedure used to teach behaviors in environments where they would naturally occur with stimuli that would typically be used and/or utilized strategies that mimic natural scenarios as closely as possible.

What are the types of Naturalistic Teaching Procedures?

• Naturalistic Environment Teaching (NET)

• Incidental Teaching

• Pivotal Response Teaching (PRT)

What is Naturalistic Environment Teaching (NET)?

Is implementation ABA teaching procedures in environments where the client would naturally use those skills.

What is Incidential Teaching?

A strategy to implement teaching procedures in a natural environment, specifically incorporating client’s individual interests and natural motivations.

What is Pivotal Response Training (PRT)?

Teaching foundational (Pivotal) developmental behaviors through play.

What are the seven effective strategies of Pivotal Response Training (PRT)?

1. Client Attention

2. Maintenance Tasks

3. Client Choice/Shared Control

4. Responsiveness to Multiple Cues

5. Contingent Reinforcement

6. Reinforcing Attempts

7. Direct, Natural Reinforcement

What is Client Attention (PRT)?

Using play to increase duration of attention. We do this by engaging clients in play and redirecting to play when attention is lost.

What are Maintenance Tasks (PRT)?

Using play to facilitate retention of learned skills at a Mastery Level.

• Skills need to be Mastered in order to do Maintenance Tasks

What is Client Choice/Shared Control?

Using play to teach children flexibility, sharing, and participation. We do this by taking turns, giving limited choices, and more.

What is Responsiveness to Multiple Cues? (PRT)

Using varied, natural sD (Discriminative Stimuli) during play to cue the same behavioral response.

What is Contingent Reinforcement (PRT)?

Using play to teach a client that a task must be completed before reinforcement will be given. We can do this by incorporating first/then statements in play.

What is Reinforcing Attempts (PRT)?

During play, reinforcing clients for trying, even if they are not exactly correct or successful. This encourages independence and reduces the chances of developing aversion to failure.

What is Direct, Natural Reinforcement (PRT)?

During play, reinforce with natural stimuli that would occur as a natural consequence to their actions instead of utilizing tangibles or reinforcement that may not be naturally obtained.

This helps set up realistic expectations for future reinforcement as children grow into adults.

The RBT and client are riding bikes. When they approach a stop sign, the RBT and client stop, look both ways then continue.

This is an example of what type of Naturalistic Teaching?

Incidental Teaching

A client is learning to ask kids to play. The RBT runs this program at the park.

This is an example of what type of Naturalistic Teaching?

Naturalistic Environmental Teaching (NET)

A client and the RBT are practicing waiting with the client’s family at the train station.

This is an example of what type of Naturalistic Teaching?

Incidental Teaching

A client’s social group goes to the farmer’s market. The RBT has the client pay for their ice cream, and runs a “please and thank you” program.

This is an example of what type of Naturalistic Teaching?

Incidental Teaching

The RBT says it’s time for building and asks the client if they want to build a pillow fort or a Lego tower.

This is an example of what type of Naturalistic Teaching?

Pivotal Response Training (PRT)

Client Choice/Shared Control

The RBT gives their client a high five after the client scores a goal playing soccer.

This is an example of what type of Naturalistic Teaching?

Pivotal Response Training (PRT)

Direct, Natural Reinforcement

A RBT implements the “Use a fork” program with a client during lunchtime at the table.

This is an example of what type of Naturalistic Teaching?

Naturalistic Environmental Teaching (NET)

The RBT and client are running around a track. Whenever they see something red, they stop for 5 seconds. Whoever is last wins.

This is an example of what type of Naturalistic Teaching?

Pivotal Response Training (PRT)

Responsiveness to Multiple Cues

What is Task Analysis?

Taking a complex routine and breaking it up into smaller, easier, teachable steps.

True or False: Chaining and Task Analysis are the same thing.

False

Chaining is how we teach a Task Analysis

What is Chaining?

Is teaching a task analysis. First we teach each step in the task analysis (Can be First step or Last step). Once the step is mastered, the client must do the mastered step and learn the next step. This continues until the full routine is mastered (done independently).

What is Backwards Chaining?

Teaching a task analysis beginning with the Final Step in the task, then the second to last step, etc.

What is Forward Chaining?

Teaching a task analysis beginning with the First Step in the task, then the second to step, etc.

How would you use Backward chaining to teach Jenny’s phone number below?

867-5309

• Have a visual for the client of the phone number that the client reads: 867-5309

• Cover the 9. Have the client read 867-530. Reinforce saying 9 independently\

• Cover the 0 & 9. Have the client read 867-30. Reinforce saying 0 9 independently

• And so on until all the numbers are covered & reinforce the client saying the full phone number independently

How would you use Forward Chaining to Teach the hang up shirt task analysis below?

Get hanger

Pick up shirt

Put left sleeve on hanger

Put right sleeve on hanger

Let go of shirt put hanger with shirt in closet

• Prompt client through all the steps

• Reinforce the client independently doing step 1, prompt 2-6

• Reinforce the client independently doing steps 1 & 2, prompt 3-6

• Reinforce the client independently doing steps 1, 2, 3 prompt 4-6

• Reinforce the client independently doing steps 1, 2, 3, 4 prompt 5 & 6

• Reinforce the client independently doing steps 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 prompt 6

• Reinforce the client independently completing all above tasks independetly

What is a Task Analysis Strip?

A visual prompt showing all the steps in a Task

True or False: When teaching a Task Analysis, you always use a Task Analysis Strip.

False

How would you use Backward chaining to teach unlocking a door task below?

Go to door

Get keys

Find key for the door

Put key in keyhole

Turn key

Open door

• Prompt client through all steps

• Prompt steps 1-5, reinforce the client independently doing step 6

• Prompt steps 1-4 reinforce the client independently doing steps 5 & 6

• Prompt steps 1-3 reinforce the client independently doing steps 4, 5 & 6

• Prompt steps 1-2 reinforce the client independently doing steps 3, 4, 5 & 6

• Prompt steps 1 reinforce the client independently doing steps 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6

• Reinforce client independently completing all above tasks independently

What is Shaping?

Reinforcing successive approximations towards a desired behavior.

True or False: Chaining & Shaping are the same thing?

False

Chaining is a teaching procedure to teach Task Analysis

Shaping is a procedure used to refine/improve a skill

How would you shape the “Rubbing hands together” step of handwashing?

Reinforce the client for rubbing palms together independently, prompt them to get between fingers and the backs of each hand.

Next time, reinforce if the client rubs palms together and gets between the fingers independently, then prompt them to get the back of their hands. If they only rub palms together, do not reinforce and prompt them to get between fingers and back of hands.

What is a Stimulus Control Transfer?

Transitioning the control of a behavior from one stimulus to another stimulus.

How is a Stimulus Control Transfer Procedure implemented?

Pair the original stimulus with the new stimulus, then fade out the original stimulus.

How is a Stimulus fade implemented?

Systematically decrease the size, opacity, or proximity of the original stimulus until it is no longer present.

Describe a stimulus control transfer procedure to teach a client to write the letter K

• Have client track a thick letter K

• Once mastered, have the client trace a normal thickness K

• Once mastered, have the client track a dashed line K

• Once mastered, have the client trace a dotted line K

• Once mastered, have the client write a K independently

How can a BCBA transfer their instructional control of a client to a new RBT on the case?

• BCBA goes with RBT to session

• BCBA pairs themself with the RBT, stating, “this is RBT’s name. They are going to hang out with us today! I think they’re awesome!”.

• BCBA & RBT run games and programs together

• BCBA starts having RBT run more programs and games independently

• By the end of session, the RBT and the client are working together and the BCBA is not immediately present

How can an RBT transition control of client’s “Stopping” behavior from the RBT saying “Stop” to a red light visual?

How can an RBT transition a client to a “Big kid” toothbrush from a “Little kid” toothbrush?

What is Prompting?

A form of assistance give to clients to encourage a desired response.

It reduces frustration and is a form of Antecedent Intervention.

Define Prompt Hierarchy

An order of prompts from Most Intrusive (Most control over the client’s behavior) to Least Intrusive (least control over the client’s behavior).

List the Prompting Hierarchy from Least Intrusive to Most Intrusive.

Positional/Visual/Material, Model, Gesture, Vocal, Physical

True or False: Each level of the prompting hierarchy can vary on intrusiveness from “Heavy” or “Full” prompts being higher than “Light” or “partial” prompts.

True

What is a Physical Prompt?

Physically touching the client

A full physical prompt is touching your client and helping them do exactly what is expected (Ex: Hand over hand helping them use scissors)

A Partial physical prompt us touching your client, but not helping them do the full task (Ex: touching a client’s hand and helping them initially open the scissors, but not to cut).

What is a Verbal Prompt?

Making noises, or saying words to prompt the client or increase response from the client.

Full verbal Prompt is stating the full response expected or repeating instructions in full (Ex: saying “Excuse me” to prompt the client to say “Excuse me”).

Partial verbal Prompt is making a noise or saying part of the expected response or instructions )Ex: Clearing your throat or saying “Excuuuuu” to prompt the client to say “Excuse me”).

What is a Gestural Prompt?

Moving your body to prompt the client or alert them

Heaving Gesture prompting is making large, exaggerated motions (EX: waving your arms and pointing to the door for the client to line up).

Light Gesture prompting is making smaller motions (Ex: Tilting your head slightly towards the door to get the client to line up).

What is a Model Prompt?

Doing exactly what the client is expected to do.

Full Model prompt: doing the entire task

Partial Model Prompt: doing part of the task

What is a Visual Prompt?

Present in the environment before the sD is given

Some Examples: Schedules, lines in a parking lot, store open/close sign, stop signs

What is a Positional Prompt?

Putting a stimulus closer in proximity to the client to increase a response

What is a Material Prompt?

Often interchangeable with visual prompts

What is Prompt Fading?

The act of gradually adding or removing prompts to assist the client.

Why would a RBT use Least to Most prompting?

To facilitate independence

Why would an RBT use Most to Least prompting?

To ensure a procedure is done correctly and safely (Like in Errorless Learning) and to reduce maladaptive behaviors.

What is Prompt Dependence?

When prompts are overused and now a client requires prompting to complete the task.

True or False: Prompting is only used in Skill Acquisition Plans

False

True or False: When using Most to Least prompting. It is important to fade out prompts as quickly as possible to prevent prompt dependence.

True

What is Inadvertent Prompting?

Prompting on accident

True or False: Delivering instruction is an example of Verbal prompt.

(EX: RBT says, “Touch blue” at the beginning of a trial).

False

True or False: Repeating instruction is an example of a Verbal Prompt.

(EX: RBT says, “Touch blue” at the beginning of a trial, then when the client does not touch blue, says “Touch blue” again without ending the trial).

True

A RBT lays out two flashcards when running a program with their client. They do not line up their flashcards side by side so they are equally distant fro the client. The RBT says “Touch the happy face”. The RBT then adjusts the cards to be equally distant from the client. Client touches the happy face and the RBT reinforces them and records the response as “Independent”.

Is the RBT running the program correctly? Why or Why not?

No

The RBT Inadvertently used a Positional prompt. Then the RBT inadvertently did a gesture prompt.

The RBT should not have reinforced, as a client did not respond independently.

The RBT should have recoded that positional and gestural prompts were used, even though it was accidental.

The RBT tells client to line up at the door, then goes to throw away their tissue in the bin next to the exit.

The client lines up at the door. The RBT records a gestural prompt.

Is this correct?

Yes

Even though it was accidental, the RBT moving their body towards the door could have prompted the client to line up.