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G.12: Select and implement chaining procedures.

Free practice questions for this part of the BCBA, with an explanation for every option.

To teach putting on a jacket, a therapist completes every step except zipping the zipper. The learner zips the jacket and receives praise and outdoor play. Once this is mastered, the learner completes the last two steps, and so on. Which procedure is this?
  1. A. Total-task chaining
    In total-task chaining, the learner is taught every step on every trial.
  2. B. Backward chaining
    Correct. In backward chaining, the trainer completes all earlier steps. The learner learns the last step first and contacts the terminal reinforcer every time.
  3. C. Backward chaining with leap-aheads
    Leap-aheads involve probing and skipping ahead through already-known steps. That is not described here.
  4. D. Forward chaining
    Forward chaining begins with the first step of the sequence.
A task analysis of making toast shows the learner already performs 7 of the 10 steps independently but needs help on 3 scattered steps. Which chaining method is most efficient?
  1. A. Teaching each of the 10 steps in isolation before linking them
    Isolated step training takes the steps out of the chain context and is inefficient here.
  2. B. Backward chaining, starting with step 10
    Backward chaining would spend time training steps the learner already performs.
  3. C. Total-task chaining, prompting only on the steps the learner cannot yet do
    Correct. Total-task chaining practices the whole sequence each trial and works well when the learner already has many component steps.
  4. D. Forward chaining, starting with step 1
    Forward chaining would also delay practice on later steps that need help.
A teacher is teaching a 6-year-old to write his name, SAM. She first teaches him to write S independently, then S and A, and then all three letters. She gives reinforcement each time he completes the letter currently being taught. Which procedure is this?
  1. A. Forward chaining
    Correct. In forward chaining, the first step is taught to criterion, then the next step is added, moving through the chain in its natural order.
  2. B. Total-task chaining
    Total-task chaining gives training on every step in each session. She taught the steps one at a time, adding one after another.
  3. C. Backward chaining
    Backward chaining teaches the last step first. The teacher started with the first letter.
  4. D. Backward chaining with leap-aheads
    Leap-aheads are a variation of backward chaining that skips some steps. This sequence starts at the first step.

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