behavioral chain
complex behavior comprised of several component behaviors that occur together in certain order
stimulus-response chain
also known as behavioral chain
- each behavior produces stimulus that acts as an S^D for next behavior
what is the final response followed by?
reinforcement
- praise is often given for successful completion of link in chain
not all sequences of behavior are ______ ______
behavioral chains
task analysis
identifying all antecedent stimuli and responses in sequence that comprises a behavioral chain
how can task analysis be done?
- observe someone else who is competent at task, while behavior analyst records all S^Ds and responses
- recruit an expert who describes all S^Ds and responses, recorded by behavior analyst
- behavior analyst performs task themselves, recording all S^Ds and responses
what happens after analysis?
data sheet is created
individuals progress is documented
count how many links the individual completes and blacken the number
creates a “graph” on data sheet itself
what does chaining procedures apply?
specific prompting and fading strategies to each stimulus-response component in chain
total task presentation
- individual attempts all links the chain from beginning to end
- prompting is provided for each link as required
- natural reinforcement is given only after last link
- task must not be too long or complex
- ability of learner and teacher must be considered
graduated guidance
physical prompting and fading
- hand-over-hand guidance
- shadowing
pros and cons of total task presentation
pros: suitable for tasks that are not overly long or complex
cons: not appropriate for people with developmental disabilities, often requires graduated guidance- challenging to implement
backward chaining
- prompting and fading are used to teach complex behavior starting with final link
- natural reinforcer given after last link in chain is completed
- link is repeated until learner has mastered it- all prompts faded
- second link is added with prompts
- conditioned reinforcer given after second-last link is completed
- process is continued with each preceding link in chain
pros and cons of backward chaining
pros: typically used with learners who have limited abilities- complete chain every time
cons: requires additional preparation by behavior analyst
forward chaining
- prompting and fading used to teach complex behavior starting with first link
- natural reinforcer is delivered only when last mastered link is completed
- next mastered link in chain is added
- conditional (artificial) reinforcer is delivered between link of chain
pros and cons of forward chaining
pros: retains sequential order of chain
cons: requires additional preparation by analyst
self-prompting methods
- person prompts self in order to learn chain- not much supervision
- written task analysis
- self-instructions
- picture prompts
- video modelling
written task analysis
- textual prompts
- uses list of instructions that comprise behavior chain
- effective if learner can read, understand and execute
- following recipe in cookbook
Cuvo
written task analyses
- textual prompts
- clean household appliances
- list of steps to guide and received praise
self-instructions
learner recites series of verbal prompts overtly or covertly to guide behaviors through chain
picture prompts
learner uses photos or pictures of product of each behavior in chain or photos of person performing each link in chain
video modeling
learner watches vid of model performing link in chain before attempting it or watches entire video all the way through before attempting whole chain
what factors affect performance of behavioral chain?
- completeness of task analysis (consistency)
- length or complexity of chain (longer = more training)
- schedule of reinforcement
- stimulus variation (all variations of S^D included in training)
- response variation (variations in S^Ds require some changed to produce same effect)
what are the gradual changes procedures?
shaping
chaining
fading
shaping
- steps reinforce successive approximation of target behavior
- training enviro: unstructured situation in which learner may emit variety of behaviors
- applied reinforcement and extinction
