Multiple baseline across participants is done by having multiple participants in the study and staggering when the intervention is applied.  At first baseline data is taken on all participants, and then participants are given treatment over time.

Alternating treatments design switches treatments back and forth, one at a time.  The treatments are “turned on / off” and compared on a graph over time.

Withdrawal / Reversal Design starts without the intervention for baseline, adds the intervention and then removes it.  The intervention should theoretically return to the baseline condition.

Changing Criterion design either gradually increases or decreases the behavior goals by continually over time changing the goal.

Errorless learning is based on the idea that if a student is successful and has more opportunities to be successful and receive reinforcement, they are more likely to exhibit correct behaviors in the future.  Skinner said “Errors are not necessary for learning to occur.”

Effective self-management programs utilize the individuals ability to set criteria for reinforcement.  This is in Chapter 27 of Cooper.  Going public with one’s desire to change (to recruit support) and the ability to evaluate and redesign the original program if self-monitoring data indicates an adjustment is needed are important components to a successful program.  It is of note that punishment is typically not utilized in self-management interventions.

3 characteristics of a good behavioral definition are:

1. Objective – referring only to observable characteristics
2. Clear – unambiguous
3. Complete – setting boundaries, what is to be included and what is to be excluded

A task analysis is an intervention which links a series of behaviors to create a more complex behavior chain.  Constructing the intervention chain must be done BEFORE the intervention begins.  One should also use the client’s repertoire for selecting appropriate interventions.  An evaluation of the client’s verbal repertoire and pre-attending skills are done before the intervention.

3 ways of validating the task analysis:

1. Observing a competent individual performing the sequence of behaviors
2. Consulting with an expert or person highly skilled in the particular tasks to be taught
3. Performing the entire sequence yourself

Forward chaining is when the first step (prompted or unprompted) is reinforced upon completion.  Then the first and second steps are completed before reinforcement (or a token) is provided.  This is continued until completion of all steps is required before reinforcement is offered.  After the known step is complete, one waits until the next session to reinforce the subsequent step.

Backward chaining starts with assistance with all the steps except for the last step.  At the last known step, that step is reinforced when correct.  The reinforcement is backed up through the chain at each session, reinforcing the end of the sequence of known steps.

Total task chaining is completing the entire sequence and receiving reinforcement at the end of the completed task chain.  This is most appropriate when the learner has the prerequisite skills to complete the tasks in the chain and would not require many trials to criterion based on past learned knowledge.

Behavior Chain Interruption Strategy (BCIS) is used to confirm that the subject can emit appropriate alternative behavior when one of the steps in the chaining is interrupted.  An example would be Sally taught her brother Sam to make the bed by doing a behavior chain. Before he is finished, she hides the pillow cases.  She waits for him to ask where the pillowcases are, or to look for them, or to go to the closet to get new ones, etc.

Behavior Chain with Limited Hold is when a person has to complete the required task within a limited time in order to produce reinforcement.  For example, the burger makers at McDonald’s must complete a burger within a certain amount of time or the customer is angry.