Backward chaining with and without a brief auditory stimulus : a systematic replication

Document Type

Thesis

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Psychology

Degree

M.S. Applied Behavior Analysis

Date Completed

2018

First Committee Member

Gould, Daniel

Second Committee Member

Karsina, Allen

Third Committee Member

Karsten, Amanda

Abstract

"Multi-step tasks are often taught using chaining procedures, such as backward chaining, which involve breaking up complex tasks into a sequence of smaller steps known as a task analysis. Backward chaining begins training at the final step in the chain. Once mastered, the previous step becomes the training step and so on until the entire chain is mastered. Reinforcement is typically delivered only when the entire chain is completed. Steps further from the terminal reinforcer may be more difficult to establish. A brief auditory stimulus (BAS) may bridge the delay from response to reinforcer when delivered following correct completion of a training step, and therefore may facilitate acquisition of the chain. The present study used an adapted alternating treatments design to evaluate acquisition of an 8-step chain when BAS versus no BAS followed correct training-step responses. Pre- and post-training reinforcer assessments evaluated the reinforcing function of BAS. Results showed that chains in the BAS condition were acquired in fewer sessions in 5 of 6 comparisons. Reinforcer assessment results were inconsistent across participants."

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