ABA glossary
Backward chaining
Definition
Teaching the last step of a chain first, then adding steps in reverse order, so the learner completes the chain and contacts the terminal reinforcer on every trial.
In plain words
In backward chaining the teacher does all the steps except the last one, the learner does the last step, and the learner gets the reinforcer that naturally ends the task. Once the last step is independent, the learner does the last two steps, and so on, until the learner does the whole chain. The appeal is that every trial ends with the learner finishing the task and immediately contacting reinforcement.
Example from a session
For zipping a jacket, the RBT puts the zipper together and pulls it almost to the top. Owen pulls the final inch, and the RBT says, "You zipped it! Let's go outside." When Owen meets the plan's mastery criterion for that step, the RBT, following the plan, pulls the zipper only halfway so Owen pulls the rest, and later Owen also connects the zipper ends. The RBT records each step on the task analysis.
For BCBA candidates and supervisors
Backward chaining is often useful when the terminal reinforcer is strong and immediate and when the learner's earlier steps are weak. Backward chaining with leaps ahead lets the learner skip steps already mastered, saving time. Analysts compare it with forward and total-task chaining based on the learner's skills and data; research does not show one method as best for everyone. In every method, each completed step's stimulus change is meant to work as both a conditioned reinforcer for that step and an SD for the next.
Often confused with forward chaining, total-task chaining
Backward chaining teaches the last step first; forward chaining teaches the first step first and the teacher finishes the rest; total-task chaining has the learner attempt every step on every trial with prompts as needed. Backward chaining is the method that guarantees every trial ends with the learner's own independent response producing the terminal reinforcer.
Exam tip
Ask which step the learner does independently first. Last step means backward chaining; first step means forward chaining; all steps every time means total task. "The learner's own response on the last step produces the terminal reinforcer every trial" points to backward chaining.
Can you spot backward chaining in a scenario?
Practice RBT C.5 with exam-style questions and instant feedback.