Skill Acquisition Programming Flashcards
7 cards from real ABAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Skill Acquisition Programming flashcards as text
In backward chaining, the learner first learns:
Answer: The last step of the task analysis
Backward chaining teaches the final step first so the learner always ends the chain by earning the terminal reinforcer, then earlier steps are added in reverse order.
A task analysis is best described as:
Answer: A breakdown of a complex skill into a sequence of smaller component steps
Task analysis involves breaking a multi-step skill into discrete, teachable steps that can be taught individually or as a chain.
In forward chaining, once the learner masters the first step, the trainer:
Answer: Adds the second step while still completing remaining steps for the learner
Forward chaining introduces steps sequentially from the first; the trainer continues to complete subsequent steps until each is added to the learner's training.
The primary advantage of total task presentation over forward or backward chaining is:
Answer: The learner practices every step of the chain during every session
Total task presentation provides practice on all steps in every session, which can increase fluency and shorten overall acquisition time for learners with sufficient prerequisite skills.
When developing a task analysis, which method provides the most accurate and complete step sequence?
Answer: Observing a competent performer complete the task
Observing a skilled individual perform the task ensures the steps reflect real-world performance and captures nuances that may be missed by other methods.
In a behavioral chain, each intermediate step functions as:
Answer: A conditioned reinforcer for the preceding response and an SD for the next response
Through stimulus-stimulus pairing with the terminal reinforcer, each link in the chain becomes a conditioned reinforcer while also serving as the SD for the subsequent response.
Which is the most appropriate reason to select backward chaining over forward chaining?
Answer: The terminal reinforcer is most impactful at the end of the task
Backward chaining is advantageous when ensuring the learner consistently contacts the terminal reinforcer is important, because mastery of the last step always leads directly to that reinforcer.