Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) Teaching Strategies
Exam Study Questions Answered Correctly
Prompts - Answer Cues or assistance to encourage the student to provide the desired response. Can be:
Direct ("Put your books on the shelf in the locker") or indirect ("Where do books need to go?");
Verbal, physical, or visual (gestures or pictures);
Brief (to get the student started on a task) or intensive (step-by-step through the task).
Modelling - Answer A visual example of what is expected in a task by having students see the task being
performed.
Reinforcement - Answer Provided after the target behaviour to increase the likelihood that the
behaviour will reoccur. Can be:
Tangible (such as stickers);
Activity-based (the student is able to participate in preferred activity);
Social (praise or thumbs up sign).
Task analysis - Answer Breaking tasks down into smaller, teachable steps
Forward Chaining - Answer Focus instruction to teach the first step or subtask that the student has not
mastered, and then assist the student with the rest of the task. Once the student masters the first
subtask, then focus instruction on the next step that the student has not mastered, continuing until the
student can complete all of the subtasks.
Backward Chaining - Answer The last step or subtask that a student has not mastered that is focused on
first. This provides the student with immediate reinforcement through successful completion of the task.
Once this skill is mastered, the focus moves to the next-to-last subtask.
Discrete Trial Training (DTT) - Answer Involves analysing skills and breaking large tasks into steps or
subtasks (or discrete skills). Consists of four steps:
, Step 1: The student is given a brief instruction or question (stimulus) that is designed to produce a
specific response. If necessary, the instruction is followed by a prompt.
Step 2: The student responds.
Step 3: If the response is as expected, the student receives reinforcement such as praise.
If the response is not as expected, the response is ignored or corrected or the student is prompted to
provide the expected response.
Step 4: Data are recorded. Subsequent trials or instructions are then given.
Shaping - Answer Involves the use of reinforcements to change behaviour gradually and systematically.
Here, approximations of the desired behaviour are reinforced until the target behaviour is achieved.
Step 1: Reinforcement for standing near the group.
Step 2: Reinforcement for standing closer to the group.
Step 3: Reinforcement for standing in the group.
Step 4: Reinforcement for sitting in the group.
Pivotal Response Therapy - Answer Builds on naturalistic teaching, yet it provides a bit more structure.
While still student-directed, this method focuses specifically on improving core skills such as motivation,
being able to respond to more than one cue, induction into social structures, self regulation, and other
critical development areas.
Token Economy - Answer Motivate learners and selectively promote or discourage specific behaviors.
Tokens, also known as conditioned reinforcers, are usually rewarded or taken away for predefined
behaviors, and they're similar to how money functions in the real world.
Exam Study Questions Answered Correctly
Prompts - Answer Cues or assistance to encourage the student to provide the desired response. Can be:
Direct ("Put your books on the shelf in the locker") or indirect ("Where do books need to go?");
Verbal, physical, or visual (gestures or pictures);
Brief (to get the student started on a task) or intensive (step-by-step through the task).
Modelling - Answer A visual example of what is expected in a task by having students see the task being
performed.
Reinforcement - Answer Provided after the target behaviour to increase the likelihood that the
behaviour will reoccur. Can be:
Tangible (such as stickers);
Activity-based (the student is able to participate in preferred activity);
Social (praise or thumbs up sign).
Task analysis - Answer Breaking tasks down into smaller, teachable steps
Forward Chaining - Answer Focus instruction to teach the first step or subtask that the student has not
mastered, and then assist the student with the rest of the task. Once the student masters the first
subtask, then focus instruction on the next step that the student has not mastered, continuing until the
student can complete all of the subtasks.
Backward Chaining - Answer The last step or subtask that a student has not mastered that is focused on
first. This provides the student with immediate reinforcement through successful completion of the task.
Once this skill is mastered, the focus moves to the next-to-last subtask.
Discrete Trial Training (DTT) - Answer Involves analysing skills and breaking large tasks into steps or
subtasks (or discrete skills). Consists of four steps:
, Step 1: The student is given a brief instruction or question (stimulus) that is designed to produce a
specific response. If necessary, the instruction is followed by a prompt.
Step 2: The student responds.
Step 3: If the response is as expected, the student receives reinforcement such as praise.
If the response is not as expected, the response is ignored or corrected or the student is prompted to
provide the expected response.
Step 4: Data are recorded. Subsequent trials or instructions are then given.
Shaping - Answer Involves the use of reinforcements to change behaviour gradually and systematically.
Here, approximations of the desired behaviour are reinforced until the target behaviour is achieved.
Step 1: Reinforcement for standing near the group.
Step 2: Reinforcement for standing closer to the group.
Step 3: Reinforcement for standing in the group.
Step 4: Reinforcement for sitting in the group.
Pivotal Response Therapy - Answer Builds on naturalistic teaching, yet it provides a bit more structure.
While still student-directed, this method focuses specifically on improving core skills such as motivation,
being able to respond to more than one cue, induction into social structures, self regulation, and other
critical development areas.
Token Economy - Answer Motivate learners and selectively promote or discourage specific behaviors.
Tokens, also known as conditioned reinforcers, are usually rewarded or taken away for predefined
behaviors, and they're similar to how money functions in the real world.
