RBT Discrete Trial Teaching Methods 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A supervisor tells an RBT to use 'distributed practice' during DTT sessions. This means the RBT should:
- Cluster all trials at the beginning of the session
- Space trials of the target skill across different activities and times (Correct answer)
- Present only one trial per day
- Alternate between two different learners
Correct answer: Space trials of the target skill across different activities and times
Distributed practice involves spreading trials across the session or day rather than massing them all together, which can improve retention.
Question 2: When fading prompts in DTT, which hierarchy moves from most intrusive to least intrusive?
- Verbal → gestural → physical
- Physical → gestural → verbal (Correct answer)
- Gestural → physical → verbal
- Verbal → physical → gestural
Correct answer: Physical → gestural → verbal
The most-to-least prompt hierarchy starts with the most intrusive prompt (physical) and systematically fades toward less intrusive prompts (gestural, then verbal).
Question 3: A learner responds correctly on 9 out of 10 trials for three consecutive sessions. What does this typically indicate?
- The learner needs more massed practice
- Mastery criterion has been met and the skill may be advanced (Correct answer)
- Prompting should be increased
- The SD should be changed
Correct answer: Mastery criterion has been met and the skill may be advanced
Reaching a predetermined mastery criterion (e.g., 90% correct across 3 sessions) signals the skill is acquired and the program can progress.
Question 4: In DTT, 'transfer trials' are used to:
- Assess generalization to novel environments
- Shift control from a prompted response to an unprompted correct response (Correct answer)
- Move a skill from maintenance to acquisition
- Introduce a new SD after mastery
Correct answer: Shift control from a prompted response to an unprompted correct response
Transfer trials pair a prompted correct response immediately followed by an unprompted opportunity, transferring stimulus control to the SD.
Question 5: Which of the following is a key difference between DTT and naturalistic teaching?
- DTT uses reinforcement; naturalistic teaching does not
- DTT is therapist-initiated and highly structured; naturalistic teaching follows the learner's interest (Correct answer)
- DTT targets communication only; naturalistic teaching targets motor skills
- DTT occurs in natural environments; naturalistic teaching occurs at a table
Correct answer: DTT is therapist-initiated and highly structured; naturalistic teaching follows the learner's interest
DTT is characterized by therapist-controlled, structured trials, while naturalistic teaching is child-initiated and embedded in everyday activities.
Question 6: A learner gives no response within the response window after the SD is presented. The RBT should:
- Repeat the SD multiple times until the learner responds
- Deliver reinforcement to encourage future responding
- Implement error correction or provide a prompt according to the program (Correct answer)
- Record as correct and move to the next trial
Correct answer: Implement error correction or provide a prompt according to the program
A no-response (NR) within the allotted time is treated as an incorrect response, and the RBT follows the error correction or prompting procedure outlined in the program.
Question 7: What is 'stimulus control' in the context of DTT?
- Using physical prompts to guide the learner's response
- The SD reliably evokes the target response without additional prompts (Correct answer)
- Controlling how many trials are delivered per session
- Arranging the environment to prevent problem behavior
Correct answer: The SD reliably evokes the target response without additional prompts
Stimulus control is achieved when the SD alone—without prompts—consistently evokes the correct response.
RBT Discrete Trial Teaching Methods 4
A supervisor tells an RBT to use 'distributed practice' during DTT sessions.
This means the RBT should: