Successive discriminations require the patient to tell the difference between two or more stimuli that are not present at the same time.
IN CONTEXT
Consider the following situation. The behavior technician asks the patient to wave their hand, and the patient waves.
Then, the behavior technician asks them to put their arms up, and they do so.
When the behavior technician presents the first instruction, there is only one instruction present at the time, and there are no other stimuli from which the patient can choose; they merely respond directly to the instruction.
A moment later, when the instruction is different, the patient does something different. But the patient is not choosing in any given moment between putting their arms up and touching their belly; they merely do what is asked in the moment.
Successive discrimination training has no field of stimuli; rather, there is a question, statement, or cue in the environment. In successive discrimination training, SD examples include “Stand up and turn around,” a person waves and the patient waves back, and “What is your name?”
There are three steps and two steps in this training. The reason there are fewer steps is that there are no distracter items within this training.
Just as with simultaneous discrimination training, there are different procedures when there are “no known” targets and “known” targets. Let’s take a closer look at the first three steps for “no known” targets.
The three steps process is used when there are “no known” targets.
This means that the patient does not have any mastered skills or targets within this skill set. This process is only used when introducing programs that have no targets that are mastered or known.
At this time, we are going to introduce two targets at the same time.
Step | Description | Example |
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1 |
MT Target 1 Alone Target 1 is "What do you read with?" This will always be the first step in every discrimination training. We must mass trial alone first to teach them what the target is. Remember, there are no distracters in successive discrimination training. |
|
2 |
MT Target 2 Alone Target 2 is "What do you sleep in?" Now that we have done everything we can with Target 1, let’s bring in Target 2. We mass trial alone first to teach them what the target is. |
|
3 |
RR Target 1 vs. Target 2 What is always the last step in discrimination trainings? Random rotations! |
[MUSIC PLAYING] Sit criss-cross applesauce. OK. Here we go. What's this? Say skirt.
Skirt.
Oh. Super job, mister. What's this? Say skirt.
Skirt.
Whoo. That was so smart. Ready. What's this?
Turk.
Good job. Skirt.
Skirt.
That right. What's this? Say sk--
T. Skirt.
Oh, good for you. You did it. OK Sit up. Sit up so we can finish. Ready. What's this?
Dress.
That was a good try. What's this? Skir--
Skirt.
Perfect job. What's this? Sk--
Skirt.
Wow. You did it. One more. Turn around. What's this?
Skirt.
Oh! Yay. Hey, come here. Come here, you. Come here, you. You did it. You did it. You did it. You did it. You did it. That was so good. That was so good. That was so good.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Here we go. What is it? Say hot dog.
Hot dog.
Oh my goodness. That was so good. What is it? Say hot dog.
Hot dog.
Good job, my friend. Good job, my friend. What is it? Say
Hot dog.
Good job, mister. Give me five.
Hot dog.
Yeah, give me five. Awesome. What is it?
Hot dog.
Wow. You got it. That's right. You're such a goose.
Do it again.
Do it again?
Do again. You're so smart, mister.
Do again.
OK. We'll do it again, in a sec. Sit up. Go ahead and sit up big in your chair.
Got to chew.
OK. Finish chewing. You ready? OK here we go. What is it? Oh, try again.
Hot dog.
Yeah. Let's do it better, OK? What is it?
Hot dog.
Yay. Ready. Say, "Do it again."
Do again. Do.
Do again. Go faster.
Go faster? You're silly. OK. Sit up in your chair. Ready. Try again. What's this?
[INAUDIBLE]
Nope. Try again. What's this?
Hot dog.
There you go, mister. What's this?
Hot dog.
Hot dog. Good job. Give me five. OK. One more. What's this?
Faster.
Oh, try again. What's this?
Hot dog.
Hot dog. You are so smart.
I'm faster.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
OK. What is it?
[INAUDIBLE].
Yeah, let's do it better. You ready? Say it better. Here we go. Look right here. What is it?
Hot dog.
Hot dog. You want shakes? You want shakes? Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake. Here we go. What is it?
Dress.
No. What is it?
[INAUDIBLE].
No. What is it? Skirt.
Skirt.
That's right. What is it?
Skirt.
Skirt Good job. You want shakes? Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake. Here we go. What is it?
[INAUDIBLE].
Skirt.
Skirt.
That's right, mister.
I want to do it again.
OK. What is it?
Shirt.
Skirt
Skirt.
Good job. What is it?
Skirt.
Super. Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake. Shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, shake. What is it?
Skirt.
Oh, my goodness, That was right. Here we go. What is it?
Hot dog.
Hot dog. You are so smart. OK, do you want to go play with the Legos?
[MUSIC PLAYING]
Here is a summary of the three steps:
Successive Discrimination Training |
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First two targets: |
1. MT Target 1 in isolation, 2 x 80% |
2. MT Target 2 in isolation, 2 x 80% |
3. RR Target 1 and Target 2, 2 x 80% |
It’s that easy!
The two steps process is used when there are “known” targets, meaning that the patient has some mastered targets within the skill set.
It is used to teach all remaining targets in the program.
At this time, we are going to introduce one target. For this example, Target 3 is "What do you eat with?"
Step | Description | Example |
---|---|---|
1 |
MT Target 3 Alone Target 3: What do you eat with? We mass trial alone first to teach them what the target is. |
|
2 |
RR Target 3 vs. Previously Mastered Targets Once Target 3 meets mastery criteria of two times at 80% or better in random rotation, it is considered “mastered” or “learned.” |
Summary of the two steps:
Successive Discrimination Training |
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First two targets: |
1. MT Target 3 in isolation, 2 x 80-100% |
2. RR Target 3 with previously mastered targets, 2 x 80% |