What is a behavioural chain?
Complex behaviour comprised of several component behaviours that occur together in a certain order.
What is a stimulus-response chain?
A synonym to a behaviour chain, because each behaviour produces a stimulus that acts as an S(D) for the next behaviour.
S(D)1 -> R1/S(D)2 -> R2 and so on…
What is task analysis?
Identifying all antecedent stimuli and responses in the sequence that comprises a behaviour chain.
What are the three ways in which task analysis can be conducted?
- Observe someone else who is competent at the task, while behaviour analyst records all S(D)s and responses
- Recruit an expert who describes all S(D)s and responses, recorded by behaviour analyst
- Behaviour change agent performs the task themselves, recording all S(D)s and responses
Data sheet is created after analysis and individual’s progress is documented.
What is total task presentation?
Individual attempts all links in the chain from beginning to end. Prompting is provided for each link as required. Natural reinforcement S(R) is given only after the last link.
S(D)1 -> R1/S(D)2 -> R2/S(D)3 -> R3 -> S(R)
What are the applications and pros & cons of total task presentation?
-(Y) Suitable for tasks that are not overly long or complex
-(X) NOT appropriate for people with developmental disabilities; often requires graduated guidance which is challenging to implement
What is backward chaining?
Prompting and fading are used to teach a complex behaviour starting with the final link.
What are the pros & cons of backward chaining?
-(Y) Typically used with learners who have limited abilities (developmental); they will “complete” the chain every time (by performing the final link, then always receiving natural reinforcement)
-(X) Requires additional preparation by behaviour analyst
What is forward chaining?
- Prompting and fading are used to teach a complex behaviour starting with the first link.
- Natural reinforcer is delivered only when most recently mastered link is completed
- Next unmastered link in the chain is added
- Conditioned reinforcer is delivered between links of the chain
Note: Conditioned reinforcer is administered after each small step
What are the pros & cons of forward chaining?
-(Y) Retains sequential order of behavioural chain
-(X) Requires additional preparation by behaviour analyst
What are self-prompting methods?
Where the person prompts themself in order to learn the chain; does not require much supervision.
What is written task analysis (textual prompts)?
Learner uses a list of instructions that comprises the behavioural chain.
E.g., recipe in a cookbook
What are self-instructions?
Where the learner recites a series of verbal prompts overtly or covertly (mentally) to guide their behaviours through the chain.
E.g., repeating a shopping list to yourself
What are picture prompts?
Learner uses photos or pictures of the product of each behaviour in the chain, or photos of a person performing each link in the chain.
E.g., pictures of how to assemble a cheeseburger
What is video modeling?
Learner watches a video of a model performing a link in the behavioural chain before attempting it, or watches entire video all the way before attempting the whole chain.
What factors affect the performance of a behavioural chain?
- Completeness of the task analysis (elements comprising the chain must be sequenced appropriately, corresponding S(D)s for each response must be identified)
- Length or complexity of the chain (longer/complex chains require more training time)
- Schedule of reinforcement (not all responses in a chain are affected equally by the reinforcer)
- Stimulus variation (all possible variations of S(D)s likely to be encountered should be in training regimen)
- Response variation (variations in S(D)s often require some change in response)
- Further training may be required
What are examples of gradual change procedures?
Shaping, fading, and chaining. Processes which gradually produce a new behaviour.
What is shaping as a gradual change procedure?
- Shaping steps reinforce successive approximations of the target behaviour
- Training environment: unstructured situation in which learner may emit a variety of behaviours
- Applies reinforcement and extinction
What is fading as a gradual change procedure?
- Steps gradually transfer stimulus control from prompts to the S(D)
- Training environment: structured situation that allows precise control of stimuli (e.g., the S(D))
- Applies reinforcement
What is chaining as a gradual change procedure?
- Steps reinforce stimulus-response links that comprises a sequence of behaviours
- Training environment: structured situation that allows stimuli and responses to be sequenced precisely
- Applies reinforcement and prompting with fading (and/or shaping)
How to use chaining procedures?
- Determine whether chaining is appropriate (not appropriate when chaining is not produced due to noncompliance)
- Perform task analysis to determine behavioural chain
- Measure performance baseline, assessing each link of the entire behavioural chain
- Select chaining procedure, depending on learner’s ability level
- Apply behaviour treatment program
- Ensure behaviour is maintained (intermittently reinforce after final link)
How can we select the correct chaining procedure?
- Ensure links are simple enough for the person to learn quickly
- Consider use of self-prompting techniques
- Learners w/ severe disability may require picture prompts or video modeling
- If natural reinforcement only occurs when complete chain is performed, use total task presentation instead of forward or backward chaining
How can we properly apply the behaviour treatment program?
- Deliver additional conditioned or unconditioned reinforcers as required
-Eventually fade prompts by the end of training - Gradually reduce the amount and/or frequency of additional reinforcement (thinning the schedule of programmed reinforcement)
