Forward vs Backward Chaining with Naturally Reinforcing Tasks

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare forward and backward chaining across two food tasks, as well as between the food tasks and two phone calling tasks. The natural reinforcers for the tasks were to be used as reinforcement. Three participants were involved in the food tasks which were making a toasted sandwich and a milkshake. Participants were taught both tasks, with forward chaining used to teach one task while backward chaining was used to teach the other. Four participants were also taught to call two different phone numbers. Again one phone number was taught using forward chaining and the other taught using backward chaining. All participants mastered the food tasks and maintained the tasks at a high level at follow up. However neither chain was seen to be more effective for the tasks. Only one of the four participants who were taught the phone calling task mastered it. While the participant could only learn the task using a forward chain this needs to be repeated to be able to say that forward chaining is better than backward chaining for phone calling tasks. Because the participant who was able to maser the phone calling task was not taught the food task no comparison could be done between the different natural reinforcers for the two different tasks. Social validity data showed that both the phone calling and food task were generally thought to be good tasks for the participants to have learnt. Although the study cannot conclude that forward or backward chaining is more effective it does give direction for future research and suggest areas that can be looked into.