Four students (ages 10-14) with moderate mental retardation learned chained tasks with constant time delay and with the system of least prompts. Both strategies produced criterion-level performance; however, constant time delay was more efficient than least prompts in terms of number of sessions, percent of errors, and direct instructional time to…

The study with four adults with moderate and severe mental handicaps found that both backward and concurrent chaining training strategies were equally effective in teaching use of a fast food restaurant and a supermarket. (Author/DB)

Sequence errors may be reduced by allowing students to perform a chained task in any functional order. This study, involving four elementary-aged students with moderate intellectual disabilities, found that tasks taught with functional procedures were acquired in fewer sessions, in less time, and with fewer errors than tasks taught in a specific…

In a study which taught four high school students with severe handicaps to use a commercial washing machine and laundry soap dispenser, a concurrent chaining strategy was found more efficient than forward chaining in facilitating skill acquisition. Concurrent chaining also resulted in better maintenance at four- and eight-week follow-up…

The study with four pairs of developmentally delayed preschoolers found a slight but discernible advantage of using the time delay procedure rather than the increasing assistance procedure to teach complex, chained-response self-help skills. Considerable learning also resulted solely from the observation of instruction. (Author/DB)

Three adolescents with moderate mental handicaps were taught bedmaking skills through a technique which involved dividing the entire chain into sections, teaching the first section in a total cycle fashion, and adding instruction on subsequent sections in a forward chaining manner. The technique promoted skill acquisition and substantial…

The effectiveness of simultaneous prompting, an instructional procedure which involves presenting the task direction and immediately providing the controlling prompt, was evaluated with four young adults with severe intellectual disabilities. Daily probe sessions assessed acquisition of the target behavior. Results indicated the procedure was…

Three children (ages 10-13) with moderate mental retardation were taught, in a triad, to perform chained snack preparation tasks, with each student being directly taught one task and the other two observing. Results indicated that each student learned the skill taught directly and nearly all of the steps of the chains observed. (Author/JDD)

By inserting a typical instructional trial into an ongoing sequence of behaviors, three students, aged six-seven, with severe disabilities were taught to request items or events within interrupted behavior chain contexts. The strategy was effective in establishing initial communicative responses in the three learners. Responses generalized to…

Task analysis and backward chaining were used to teach four young adults with moderate mental disabilities basic first aid skills for simulated cuts, burns, and insect bites. Following training, students were able to apply skills to a nonhandicapped peer. Maintenance probes at 1 to 18 weeks posttraining indicated mixed results. Social validation…

A review of 20 research studies on the use of constant time delay in teaching chained tasks is analyzed in regard to demographic variables (participants, settings), procedural variables (probe format, delay sessions), outcome measures (effectiveness, generalization), and methodological adequacy (dependent and independent variable reliability). (DB)

Whole task training and graduated guidance were used to teach independent dressing skills to two developmentally disabled 4-year-olds. After the boys acquired basic dressing skills, additional practice (fluency training) elevated their performance to socially validated rates. Follow-up showed that the skills were maintained and generalized to…