Least is Most
Prompt Pitfalls & Procedures
Boundaries & Boundaries & Boundaries
The Same, But Different
Ball and Chain
200

This is the ultimate goal of any prompting hierarchy, where the learner completes the task with no cues or assistance at all.

What is Independence?

200

This problematic phenomenon occurs when a learner waits for a teacher's cue instead of responding to the natural instructional stimulus.

What is prompt dependency?

200

This term describes a situation where an RBT enters into a second relationship with a client or their family, such as babysitting, which is strictly prohibited.

What is a dual relationship (or multiple relationship)?

200

This term describes when a learner emits a mastered response in the presence of a stimulus that is similar to—but different from—the original instructional stimulus.

What is stimulus generalization

200

This term describes a specific sequence of discrete behaviors, where each response produces a stimulus change that serves as the Sd for the next step.

What is a behavior chain?

400

When using an LTM hierarchy, an instructor will move to a more intrusive prompt only after this specific event occurs.

What is an incorrect response (or a failure to respond/time delay)?

400

These types of prompts are added directly to the instructional materials themselves, such as making the correct flashcard bigger or a brighter color.

What are stimulus prompts (or within-stimulus prompts)

400

If an RBT suspects a child is experiencing abuse or neglect, this is their immediate legal and ethical obligation, which must also be reported to their supervisor.

What is mandated reporting (or filing a child abuse report)?

400

This specific type of antecedent stimulus signals that reinforcement is available for a particular behavior.

What is a discriminative stimulus (or \(S^{D}\))?

400

This procedure involves differentially reinforcing successive approximations of a target behavior until the terminal, desired behavior is achieved.

What is shaping?

600

This term describes the gradual removal of prompts as the learner begins to master the target skill.

What is Prompt Fading?

600

To prevent prompt dependency, practitioners use this reinforcement strategy, giving highly preferred items for independent answers and lesser rewards for prompted answers

What is differential reinforcement?

600

When an RBT encounters a clinical situation or behavior plan component they do not feel competent to perform, they must ethically take this immediate step.

What is requesting supervisor assistance (or asking for targeted training from the BCBA)?

600

To promote generalization, an instructor uses this strategy by deliberately teaching the skill across multiple settings, people, materials, and distinct times of day.

What is teaching loose (or training sufficient exemplars / programming common stimuli)?

600

When using this chaining method, the instructor completes all but the very last step of the sequence, allowing the learner to experience the natural reinforcer immediately upon completing that final step.

What is backward chaining?






800

This type of prompt involves pointing to, tapping, or nodding at the correct answer without physically touching the learner.

What is a gesture prompt?

800

This specific procedural modification involves waiting a predetermined number of seconds before delivering a prompt to allow the learner time to respond on their own

What is a time delay (or prompt delay)?

800

To maintain professional boundaries, an RBT must never accept these from clients or their families, even during holidays or graduation parties.

What are gifts (greater than $10)?

800

This process occurs when a learner responds to a specific antecedent stimulus but does not respond to other, similar stimuli that lack the same reinforcement history.

What is stimulus discrimination?

800

This is the process of breaking down a complex skill (like washing hands or tying shoes) into small, teachable, and sequential steps.

What is a task analysis?

1000

This type of prompt provides a partial hint, such as saying the first sound of a target word (e.g., "Mmm" for "Milk").

What is a partial verbal prompt?

1000

This error occurs when an instructor accidentally provides subtle cues—like shifting their eyes, leaning toward the correct choice, or smiling—before the learner responds.

What is inadvertent prompting?

1000

To protect client confidentiality under HIPAA and the BACB, an RBT must never post this type of information on their personal social media accounts.

What is Protected Health Information (PHI) (or client photos/identifying details)?

1000

This type of generalization occurs when a learner begins to perform untrained, novel behaviors that serve the exact same function as the trained behavior.

What is response generalization?

1000

In this specific chaining procedure, the instructor provides a prompt for every step of the task analysis during every single teaching trial.

What is total-task chaining?