1. Prompting Chase Callard

2. What is a prompt? A prompt is a supplemental stimulus that raises the probability of a correct response Prompts are used when the procedure materials or directions fail to evoke the desired response The prompt is not the discriminative stimulus (SD)

3. Why do we prompt? Used to bring about the desired response Works much faster than shaping Designed to help bring the desired behavior under the control of the SD

4. Prompt vs. SD The prompt is not an SD, though sometimes it may look similar to one E.g. the SD for imitation is a model of the desired response Clapping your hands so the child claps their hands But the SD for follow directions is a verbal statement Saying “clap hands” so the child claps their hands While the prompt is a model of clapping hands This is important to understand because procedures are meant to train different skills and the SDs and prompts are designed to promote those particular skills

5. Prompt vs. SD Follow Directions The SD, ‘clap hands,’ signals the availability of the reinforcer Only after hearing ‘clap hands’ will clapping hands result in a reinforcer The prompt helps the student respond correctly The child didn’t respond to the verbal SD So the tutor provides the model prompt of clapping hands and repeats the SD, ‘clap hands’ Which the child imitates

6. Reinforcing prompted responses Prompted responses should be reinforced! Especially for new or difficult procedures Behavior only increases if it is followed by a reinforcing outcome Otherwise prompting serves no purpose

7. Types of prompts There are several different types of prompts: Physical/manual E.g. full and partial physical prompts Gestural E.g. tapping the correct sample stimulus Model E.g. performing the desired action Verbal E.g. telling your child to say, “Hi Kelly”

8. Types of prompts cont’d Many KAC procedures use multiple prompting strategies Especially gestural and physical E.g. Matching Or model and physical E.g. Follow directions

9. Prompting at KAC First look at the procedure! What does the procedure call for? It is very important to follow the prompting strategies provided by the procedure If you do not understand what the procedure calls for in terms of prompting, ask a supervisor! Most KAC procedures use least-to-most prompts I.e. the prompts become more and more intrusive E.g. matching uses a gestural, then partial physical, then full physical prompt

10. Prompting at KAC Cont’d. Gestural prompts: Involve pointing to or tapping the correct sample stimulus Physical prompts: Partial: Involves physically guiding the student’s body in an approximation of the response Usually done from the elbow Full: Involves physically guiding the student’s body through the entire response Usually done hand-over-hand

11. Prompting at KAC Cont’d. Model prompts: Involve the tutor modeling the desired response Verbal prompts: Involve some verbal stimulus presented by the tutor E.g. in a tacting procedure the SD is “What’s this?” and the verbal prompt is saying the correct answer

12. Prompt dependence Sometimes a child will begin to ‘rely’ on prompts Since reinforcement is contingent on even prompted responses Therefore it is important to look out for prompt dependence And start using prompt fading as soon as possible

13. Prompt fading Prompt fading serves two main purposes: To prevent the child from becoming prompt dependent And to bring the response under the control of the SD alone We may reduce how much assistance we give Delay the start of the prompt Or make independent responding more reinforcing than prompted responding

14. Questions? Comments?