Deck 11: Getting a New Sequence of Behaviors to Occur With Behavior Chaining

Question 1

What is an adventitious chain?

Answer 1

An adventitious chain is a chain that has subcomponents that are functional in producing the reinforcer, and at least one component (called a superstitious component)that is not functional in producing the reinforcer.

Question 2

Give an example of an adventitious chain that is not from this chapter. Clearly identify the superstitious component.

Answer 2

For example, a pitcher in baseball might consistently engage in the following sequence: watch the catcher for the signal; tug on his belt buckle; wind up, and throw the pitch.Tugging on his belt buckle would not be necessary for the reinforcer of throwing a strike.Any appropriate example is acceptable.

Question 3

Briefly describe the total-task presentation chaining method.

Answer 3

Total task presentation: the client is required to attempt each of the steps in the chain from the beginning to the end on each trial, and to continue with total task trials until all steps are mastered.

Question 4

Briefly describe the forward-chaining method.

Question 5

Why do you suppose a behavior chain is called a chain?

Question 6

Briefly describe the chaining procedure used to teach Steve to perform a consistent preputt routine.

Question 7

In a chain, a given stimulus is both an S^D and a conditioned reinforcer.How can this be? Explain with an example.

Question 8

Briefly describe three strategies to help individuals use prompts independently to guide the mastery of a chain of behaviors.

Question 9

Describe or define behavior chain, and give an example other than those in this chapter.

Question 10

Describe how each of the three major chaining methods could be used to teach bed making.

Question 11

Give an example of a behavior sequence (that is not in this chapter)that is not a chain, and explain why it is not one.

Question 12

Suppose that you want to teach someone to change a tire on a car.Would you use shaping or chaining? Justify your choice.

Question 13

Explain how the theory that the stimuli in a behavior chain are conditioned reinforcers for the preceding responses and SDs for the subsequent responses is an oversimplification.

Question 14

Which of the major chaining methods do the authors recommend for teaching persons with developmental disabilities, and for what four reasons?

Question 15

Distinguish among the types of target behavior typically established by shaping, fading, and chaining.

Question 16

What is meant by the term task analysis? Describe a plausible task analysis appropriate for teaching a 3-year-old child the chain of tying a knot in a shoelace.

Question 17

Distinguish between a behavior sequence that is a chain and one that is not a chain.

Question 18

Give an example of an Unaware-Misapplication Pitfall of chaining other than an adventitious chain. Explain how this pitfall could be avoided.

Question 19

Briefly describe the backward-chaining method.