Prompt hierarchy
An ordered list of the prompts used in a program, arranged from most to least assistance (or the reverse), that guides how prompts are given and faded.
A prompt hierarchy tells the RBT which prompts to use for a target and in what order. A hierarchy for a motor task might be: full physical, partial physical, model, gesture, independent. In most-to-least prompting the RBT moves down the hierarchy toward independence as the learner succeeds; in least-to-most prompting the RBT starts at independent and moves up only as far as needed on each trial.
There is no single correct order for every learner and skill. Which prompts are included, and whether verbal prompts come above or below gestures, depends on the skill and the learner and is decided by the supervisor. For a vocal response, for example, a physical prompt cannot help, so the hierarchy might use full and partial echoic models.
Recording the prompt level for each trial is one of the main reasons for having a hierarchy. Data that show the learner moving from full physical to gestural prompts over weeks show progress even before independent responses appear, and help the supervisor decide when to change the fading steps.
The RBT should know the hierarchy for each program they run and follow it exactly. Skipping levels, or using prompts that are not on the list, makes the data inaccurate.
Example and non-example
| Example | A client's toothbrushing plan lists: hand-over-hand, light touch at the wrist, model, point, independent. The RBT records "point" for a step the client completed after the RBT pointed to the toothpaste. |
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| Non-example | A list of the targets in a receptive labeling program (cup, ball, shoe) is a target list, not a prompt hierarchy. |
Don't confuse it with
| Prompt fading | Prompt fading is the process of removing prompts; the hierarchy is the ordered list of prompt levels used in that process. |
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Test yourself
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Question 1An RBT places their hands over a child's hands and guides the child through the whole motion of zipping a jacket. What type of prompt is this?
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B: Full physical prompt. Guiding the learner through the entire response with hand-over-hand help is a full physical prompt, usually the most intrusive level of a prompt hierarchy.
- A: A partial physical prompt gives only some physical help, such as a light touch to start the motion; here the RBT guides the whole motion.
- C: A model prompt shows the response for the learner to imitate, without touching the learner.
- D: A gestural prompt is a movement such as pointing, with no physical contact.
Task C.7 · 40-hour curriculum section E
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Question 2A plan says: give the instruction and wait 5 seconds; if the client does not respond correctly, give a verbal prompt; if still incorrect, a model; then, if needed, physical guidance. Which prompting procedure is this?
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C: Least-to-most prompting. Least-to-most prompting gives the learner a chance to respond independently, then adds more help one level at a time on that trial until the response occurs.
- A: Most-to-least prompting starts with the most help and reduces it across trials or sessions.
- B: Graduated guidance adjusts physical help moment to moment during the response.
- D: Progressive time delay gradually lengthens the wait before a single prompt; it does not step through several prompt types.
Task C.7 · 40-hour curriculum section E
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Question 3A plan's least-to-most hierarchy is: independent, verbal, gestural, model, full physical. On one trial, the client does not respond correctly after the gestural prompt. What should the RBT give next?
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B: A model prompt. In least-to-most prompting, the RBT moves to the next level of the plan's hierarchy each time the learner does not respond correctly. In this plan, a model follows the gestural prompt.
- A: The verbal prompt was already given at the level before the gestural prompt.
- C: Full physical is the last level; the model prompt comes first in this hierarchy.
- D: Least-to-most prompting moves up the hierarchy after an incorrect response rather than starting over.
Task C.7 · 40-hour curriculum section E
Answer every question to see your score.
On the RBT exam
This term belongs to task C.7 Prompting and prompt fading in content area C, Behavior Acquisition, which is 19 of the 75 scored questions.