Behavior chain

• a sequence of behaviors leading to a reinforcer in which the

consequence for one behavior makes the consequence for the
next behavior possible
• intervening stimuli serve a dual function
• not all behavioral sequences are behavioral chains

ANTECEDENT BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE

1. Run into street Scolding added

Scolding 2. “You’re mean!” Treats added

 ANTECEDENT BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE

1. Study for exam

2. Write exam

3. Attend next class Exam Grade added

[N]ot all behavioral sequences are behavioral chains. Studying for

an exam, writing an exam, and attending the next class to get a
grade represent a sequence of behavior that a college student
performs. But this general sequence consists of…many breaks in
the action (studying, then sleeping, then going to class, etc.). It is
not made up of a consistent series of stimuli and responses that
occur closely in time and for which each stimulus (except the last)
is an SD for the next response. (page 140)
Task analysis
• process of breaking down a complex behavior into smaller
sequential component behaviors

Task Analysis of Bed-Making

1. put on bottom sheet & straighten it
2. tuck in bottom sheet
3. put on top sheet and straighten it
4. tuck in top sheet
5. put on bed spread & straighten it
6. pull back top of the spread for pillow
7. put pillow on bed
8. pull spread over pillow & smooth wrinkles
Put on top sheet
and straighten it
ANTECEDENT BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE

1. Put on bottom sheet & straighten

2. Tuck in bottom sheet

3. Put on top sheet & straighten

4. Tuck in top sheet

5. Put on spread & straighten

6. Pull back top of spread

7. Put pillow on top of spread

8. Pull spread over pillow

ANTECEDENT BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE

Unmade bed & request 1. Put on bottom sheet & straighten Bottom sheet straightened

Bottom sheet straightened 2. Tuck in bottom sheet Bottom sheet tucked in

Bottom sheet tucked in 3. Put on top sheet & straighten Top sheet straightened

Top sheet straightened 4. Tuck in top sheet Top sheet tucked in

Top sheet tucked in 5. Put on spread & straighten Spread straightened

Spread straightened 6. Pull back top of spread Top of spread pulled backed

Top of spread pulled backed 7. Put pillow on top of spread Pillow on top of spread

Pillow on top of spread 8. Pull spread over pillow Bed made

 Methods for teaching chaining
Total task presentation
• person required to go through all steps on every trial
• prompting and fading may be used as needed
• advantages?

Backward chaining
• last step taught first, then next-to last taught and linked to the
last step, then third from last step taught and linked to the last
two steps, and so on to the start of chain

Forward chaining
• initial step taught first, then first and second steps taught and
linked together, then first three steps, and so on to end of chain
Add prompts if needed Add descriptive praise
ANTECEDENT BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE

Unmade bed & request 1. Put on bottom sheet & straighten Bottom sheet straightened

Bottom sheet straightened 2. Tuck in bottom sheet Bottom sheet tucked in

Bottom sheet tucked in 3. Put on top sheet and straighten Top sheet straightened

Top sheet straightened 4. Tuck in top sheet Top sheet tucked in

Top sheet tucked in 5. Put on spread & straighten Spread straightened

Spread straightened 6. Pull back top of spread Top of spread pulled backed

Top of spread pulled backed 7. Put pillow on top of spread Pillow on top of spread

Pillow on top of spread 8. Pull spread over pillow Bed made + treat
ANTECEDENT BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE

Unmade bed & request 1. Put on bottom sheet & straighten Bottom sheet straightened

Bottom sheet straightened 2. Tuck in bottom sheet Bottom sheet tucked in

Bottom sheet tucked in 3. Put on top sheet and straighten Top sheet straightened

Top sheet straightened 4. Tuck in top sheet Top sheet tucked in

Top sheet tucked in 5. Put on spread & straighten Spread straightened

Spread straightened 6. Pull back top of spread Top of spread pulled backed

TopAdd
of spread pulled
prompts backed
& fade 7. Put pillow on top of spread Pillow on top of spread
Add descriptive praise

Pillow on top of spread 8. Pull spread over pillow Bed made + treat
ANTECEDENT BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE

Unmade bed & request 1. Put on bottom sheet & straighten Bottom sheet straightened

Bottom sheet straightened 2. Tuck in bottom sheet Bottom sheet tucked in

Bottom sheet tucked in 3. Put on top sheet and straighten Top sheet straightened

Top sheet straightened 4. Tuck in top sheet Top sheet tucked in

Top sheet tucked in 5. Put on spread & straighten Spread straightened

Spread straightened
Add prompts & fade 6. Pull back top of spread Top
Addofdescriptive
spread pulled backed
praise

Top of spread pulled backed 7. Put pillow on top of spread Pillow on top of spread

Pillow on top of spread 8. Pull spread over pillow Bed made + treat
ANTECEDENT BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE

Unmade bed & request 1. Put on bottom sheet & straighten Bottom sheet straightened

Bottom sheet straightened 2. Tuck in bottom sheet Bottom sheet tucked in

Bottom sheet tucked in 3. Put on top sheet and straighten Top sheet straightened

Top sheet straightened 4. Tuck in top sheet Top sheet tucked in

TopAdd
sheet tucked in& fade
prompts 5. Put on spread & straighten Spread straightened
Add descriptive praise

Spread straightened 6. Pull back top of spread Top of spread pulled backed

Top of spread pulled backed 7. Put pillow on top of spread Pillow on top of spread

Pillow on top of spread 8. Pull spread over pillow Bed made + treat
 Add prompts & fade
ANTECEDENT BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE
Add descriptive praise

Unmade bed & request 1. Put on bottom sheet & straighten Bottom sheet straightened

Bottom sheet straightened 2. Tuck in bottom sheet Bottom sheet tucked in

Bottom sheet tucked in 3. Put on top sheet and straighten Top sheet straightened

Top sheet straightened 4. Tuck in top sheet Top sheet tucked in

Top sheet tucked in 5. Put on spread & straighten Spread straightened

Spread straightened 6. Pull back top of spread Top of spread pulled backed

Top of spread pulled backed 7. Put pillow on top of spread Pillow on top of spread

Pillow on top of spread 8. Pull spread over pillow Bed made + treat
ANTECEDENT BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE

Bottom sheet straightened

Unmade bed & request 1. Put on bottom sheet & straighten
+ treat

Add sheet
Bottom prompts & fade
straightened 2. Tuck in bottom sheet Add descriptive
Bottom praise
sheet tucked in

Bottom sheet tucked in 3. Put on top sheet and straighten Top sheet straightened

Top sheet straightened 4. Tuck in top sheet Top sheet tucked in

Top sheet tucked in 5. Put on spread & straighten Spread straightened

Spread straightened 6. Pull back top of spread Top of spread pulled backed

Top of spread pulled backed 7. Put pillow on top of spread Pillow on top of spread

Pillow on top of spread 8. Pull spread over pillow Bed made + treat
ANTECEDENT BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE

Unmade bed & request 1. Put on bottom sheet & straighten Bottom sheet straightened

Bottom sheet tucked in

Bottom sheet straightened 2. Tuck in bottom sheet
+ treat

Add sheet
Bottom prompts & fade
tucked in 3. Put on top sheet and straighten Addsheet
Top descriptive praise
straightened

Top sheet straightened 4. Tuck in top sheet Top sheet tucked in

Top sheet tucked in 5. Put on spread & straighten Spread straightened

Spread straightened 6. Pull back top of spread Top of spread pulled backed

Top of spread pulled backed 7. Put pillow on top of spread Pillow on top of spread

Pillow on top of spread 8. Pull spread over pillow Bed made + treat
ANTECEDENT BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE

Unmade bed & request 1. Put on bottom sheet & straighten Bottom sheet straightened

Bottom sheet straightened 2. Tuck in bottom sheet Bottom sheet tucked in

Top sheet straightened

Bottom sheet tucked in 3. Put on top sheet and straighten
+ treat

TopAdd prompts
sheet & fade
straightened 4. Tuck in top sheet Addsheet
Top descriptive
tucked inpraise

Top sheet tucked in 5. Put on spread & straighten Spread straightened

Spread straightened 6. Pull back top of spread Top of spread pulled backed

Top of spread pulled backed 7. Put pillow on top of spread Pillow on top of spread

Pillow on top of spread 8. Pull spread over pillow Bed made + treat
ANTECEDENT BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE

Unmade bed & request 1. Put on bottom sheet & straighten Bottom sheet straightened

Bottom sheet straightened 2. Tuck in bottom sheet Bottom sheet tucked in

Bottom sheet tucked in 3. Put on top sheet and straighten Top sheet straightened

Top sheet straightened 4. Tuck in top sheet Top sheet tucked in

Top sheet tucked in 5. Put on spread & straighten Spread straightened

Spread straightened 6. Pull back top of spread Top of spread pulled backed

Top of spread pulled backed 7. Put pillow on top of spread Pillow on top of spread

Pillow on top of spread 8. Pull spread over pillow Bed made + treat

Add prompts & fade Add descriptive praise

Which of the major chaining methods do the authors recommend
for teaching persons with developmental disabilities and for what
reasons? (pages 142-143)

Total task presentation

• practical advantages for persons with developmental
disabilities

For relatively simple, short duration sequences (e.g.,

pre-put routine), use…

For more difficult sequences (e.g., pilot dive bombing,

musical task on a keyboard), use…
 Factors influencing effectiveness of
chaining
1. Appropriate task analysis
– responses simple enough to be learned without great
difficulty
ANTECEDENT BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE

Unmade bed & request 1. Put on bottom sheet & straighten Bottom sheet straightened

Bottom sheet straightened 2. Tuck in bottom sheet Bottom sheet tucked in

Bottom sheet tucked in 3. Put on top sheet & straighten Top sheet straightened

Top sheet straightened 4. Tuck in top sheet Top sheet tucked in

Top sheet tucked in 5. Put on spread & straighten Spread straightened

Spread straightened 6. Pull back top of spread Top of spread pulled backed

Top of spread pulled backed 7. Put pillow on top of spread Pillow on top of spread

Pillow on top of spread 8. Pull spread over pillow Bed made

 Factors influencing effectiveness of
chaining
1. Appropriate task analysis
– responses simple enough to be learned without great
difficulty
– clear-cut intervening stimuli
• supplement with prompts
 Supplement with prompts
ANTECEDENT BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE

Unmade bed & request 1. Put on bottom sheet & straighten Bottom sheet straightened

Bottom sheet straightened 2. Tuck in bottom sheet Bottom sheet tucked in

Bottom sheet tucked in 3. Put on top sheet & straighten Top sheet straightened

Top sheet straightened 4. Tuck in top sheet Top sheet tucked in

Top sheet tucked in 5. Put on spread & straighten Spread straightened

Spread straightened 6. Pull back top of spread Top of spread pulled backed

Top of spread pulled backed 7. Put pillow on top of spread Pillow on top of spread

Pillow on top of spread 8. Pull spread over pillow Bed made

 Factors influencing effectiveness of
chaining
2. Conduct preliminary modeling trial
– demonstrate entire chain while verbally describing each
step
– can speed up process and/or establish control by model
ANTECEDENT BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE

Unmade bed & request 1. Put on bottom sheet & straighten Bottom sheet straightened

Bottom sheet straightened 2. Tuck in bottom sheet Bottom sheet tucked in

Bottom sheet tucked in 3. Put on top sheet & straighten Top sheet straightened

Top sheet straightened 4. Tuck in top sheet Top sheet tucked in

Verbal description
Top sheet tucked in 5. Put on spread & straighten Spread straightened

Spread straightened 6. Pull back top of spread Top of spread pulled backed

Top of spread pulled backed 7. Put pillow on top of spread Pillow on top of spread

Pillow on top of spread 8. Pull spread over pillow Bed made

 Factors influencing effectiveness of
chaining
3. Use error correction
– pacing prompt (“What’s next?”)
– increasing assistance method of prompting
ANTECEDENT
Unmade bed & request
Bottom sheet straightened
Supplement with prompts
Bottom sheet tucked in
Top sheet straightened
Top sheet tucked in
Spread straightened
Top of spread pulled backed
Pillow on top of spread
BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE
1. Put on bottom sheet & straighten Bottom sheet straightened
2. Tuck in bottom sheet
“What’sBottom
next?”sheet tucked in
Point
3. Put on top sheet & straighten Top sheet straightened
Verbally describe
4. Tuck in top sheet Top sheet tucked in
Hand-over-hand
5. Put on spread & straighten Spread straightened
6. Pull back top of spread Top of spread pulled backed
7. Put pillow on top of spread Pillow on top of spread
8. Pull spread over pillow Bed made
 Factors influencing effectiveness of
chaining
4. Use ample social and other reinforcers
– praise follows successful completion of each step
– additional backup reinforcer for successfully completing
entire chain
– with mastery, phase out praise for intermediate steps,
ultimately putting chain as unit on intermittent schedule
 Supplement with praise
ANTECEDENT BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE

Unmade bed & request 1. Put on bottom sheet & straighten Bottom sheet straightened

Bottom sheet straightened 2. Tuck in bottom sheet Bottom sheet tucked in

Bottom sheet tucked in 3. Put on top sheet and straighten Top sheet straightened

Top sheet straightened 4. Tuck in top sheet Top sheet tucked in

Top sheet tucked in 5. Put on spread & straighten Spread straightened

Spread straightened 6. Pull back top of spread Top of spread pulled backed

Top of spread pulled backed 7. Put pillow on top of spread Pillow on top of spread

Pillow on top of spread 8. Pull spread over pillow Bed made + treat
 Factors influencing effectiveness of
chaining
5. Principle of weak early links
– implications for how praise is phased out for successful
completion of intermediate steps
– page 148
 Supplement with praise
ANTECEDENT BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE

Unmade bed & request 1. Put on bottom sheet & straighten Bottom sheet straightened

Bottom sheet straightened 2. Tuck in bottom sheet Bottom sheet tucked in

Bottom sheet tucked in 3. Put on top sheet and straighten Top sheet straightened

Top sheet straightened 4. Tuck in top sheet Top sheet tucked in

Top sheet tucked in 5. Put on spread & straighten Spread straightened

Spread straightened 6. Pull back top of spread Top of spread pulled backed

Top of spread pulled backed 7. Put pillow on top of spread Pillow on top of spread

Pillow on top of spread 8. Pull spread over pillow Bed made + treat
 ANTECEDENT BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE
Head titled back
Tilt head back
Hand over mouth (5
s)
Head titled back Open mouth wide Mouth opened wide

Mouth open wide Swallow air Response-produced

stimulation

Treatment
• if head tilt, researcher entered room and physically positioned her
hand to cover her mouth for 5 s, thus preventing air swallowing
• (she did not resist any attempt to cover her mouth)
Give an example of a pitfall of chaining. Explain how this pitfall
could be avoided.

ANTECEDENT BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE

1. Run into street Scolding added

Scolding 2. “You’re mean!” Treats added

Give an example of a pitfall of chaining. Explain how this pitfall
could be avoided.

ANTECEDENT BEHAVIOR CONSEQUENCE

“What’s this?” “Say cat” (prompt)
1. Turn away
+ cat picture added

“Say cat” (prompt) 2. “Cat” Treats added