Response prompts
Prompts that act on the learner's response, such as verbal instructions, gestures, modeling and physical guidance.
Response prompts are behaviors of the teacher that help the learner make the correct response. They are delivered by the RBT rather than built into the materials. The types most often used in ABA programs are:
- Verbal prompt: words, hints or instructions, such as saying the first sound of the answer.
- Gestural prompt: pointing, nodding or motioning toward the correct response.
- Modeling prompt: demonstrating the correct response for the learner to imitate.
- Physical prompt: touching or guiding the learner's body, from a light tap to full hand-over-hand guidance.
Response prompts differ in how much help and how much intrusion they involve, which is why plans arrange them into a prompt hierarchy. They are faded with procedures such as most-to-least prompting, least-to-most prompting, graduated guidance and time delay.
Because response prompts come from a person, they can be hard to fade, and learners can become dependent on them. RBTs should give the prompt the plan specifies and avoid accidental prompts such as glancing at the correct item, tone of voice cues or hovering a hand near the materials.
Example and non-example
| Example | When the client hesitates during a coin-counting task, the RBT points to the next coin, as the plan specifies. The point is a gestural response prompt. |
|---|---|
| Non-example | The plan has the RBT place the correct coin a little closer to the client than the other coins. Changing the materials is a stimulus prompt. |
Don't confuse it with
| Stimulus prompts | Stimulus prompts change the materials or SD itself; response prompts are the teacher's added verbal, gestural, modeling or physical help. |
|---|
Test yourself
-
Question 1The RBT holds up a red block and says "What color?" The client does not answer, so the RBT says "Red." In this trial, the RBT saying "Red" is:
Show answer
C: A response prompt in the form of a vocal model. Saying the answer for the client to repeat is a vocal model prompt, a type of response prompt added after the SD to help the client respond correctly. It is faded as the plan directs.
- A: The SD is the block with the question "What color?"; "Red" was added help.
- B: The client had not yet responded, so this is not a consequence.
- D: A stimulus prompt changes the materials themselves; this was a spoken model.
Task C.3 · 40-hour curriculum section E
-
Question 2An RBT says "Touch the triangle" and points to the triangle card. What type of prompt is the pointing?
Show answer
A: Gestural prompt. A gestural prompt is a movement such as pointing, nodding or reaching toward the correct choice. It is a response prompt because it acts on the learner's response, not on the materials.
- B: A model prompt shows the learner the response to imitate; pointing shows where to respond.
- C: A physical prompt involves touching or guiding the learner's body; pointing does not.
- D: A verbal prompt is spoken help; pointing is a movement.
Task C.7 · 40-hour curriculum section E
-
Question 3An RBT teaches a teen to wipe a table. After saying "Wipe the table," the RBT wipes a small part of the table while the teen watches, then hands over the cloth. What type of prompt is the RBT's demonstration?
Show answer
D: Model prompt. A model prompt is a demonstration of all or part of the response for the learner to imitate. It can be live, as here, or on video.
- A: A gestural prompt points to or signals the response; here the RBT actually performs it.
- B: A partial physical prompt involves touching the learner, such as a tap on the arm; the RBT does not touch the teen.
- C: A visual prompt is a picture, written cue or similar display; a live demonstration is a model.
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.