Introduction to Discrimination Training - Discrimination Training Procedures

17 important questions on Introduction to Discrimination Training - Discrimination Training Procedures

What are two common discrimination training procedures?

1) Mass Trial Discrimination Training
2) Conditional Discrimination Training

What are some variations to discrimination training procedures that may be used for some learners?

- Expanded Trials
- Graduated Random Rotation

What is Mass Trial Discrimination Training?

Mass Trial Discrimination Training is a procedure which utilizes the Mass Trial to introduce new skills/responses. Skills are initially introduced one at a time through repeated presentation of a specific SD. Acquisition targets are gradually eased into RR with other skills until mastery.
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What are two types of Mass Trial Discrimination Training (dependent on the type of skill being taught)?

1) Simultaneous Discrimination
2) Successive Discrimination

What is Simultaneous Discrimination Training?

Simultaneous Discrimination Training is a procedure used when stimuli are presented at the same time and the individual is asked to select the appropriate stimulus according to the specific SD/instruction being given. It is a process where the individual is slowly and gradually introduced to new targets in a very systematic way.

What does the 7 step procedure for Simultaneous Discrimination Training look like (used only when teaching the first two targets of a learning concept)?

First two targets:
1) MT target 1 in isolation, 2 x 80% accuracy
2) MT target 1 versus distractor items, 2 x 80% accuracy
3) MT target 2 in isolation, 2 x 80% accuracy
4) MT target 2 versus distractor items, 2 x 80% accuracy
5) MT target 1 versus target 2 distractor, 2 x 80% accuracy
6) MT target 2 versus target 1 distracter, 2 x 80% accuracy
7) RR target 1 and target 2, 2 x 80% accuracy

What does the 4 step procedure of Simultaneous Discrimination Training look like (after the first two targets are mastered)?

1) MT target 3 in isolation, 2 x 80% accuracy
2) MT target 3 versus unknown distractors, 2 x 80% accuracy
3) MT target 3 versus known distractors, 2 x 80% accuracy
4) RR target 3 with mastered targets, 2x 80%

What is Successive Discrimination Training?

Successive Discrimination Training is a procedure used when there are no materials in a field that are presented to the learner.

What does the 3 step procedure of Successive Discrimination Training look like (when introducing the first 2 targets of a learning concept)?

1) MT target 1 in isolation, 2 x 80% accuracy
2)  MT target 2 in isolation, 2 x 80% accuracy
3) RR target 1 and target 2, 2 x 80% accuracy

What are some Mass Trial Discrimination Training guidelines?

- Use errorless learning to promote success during discrimination training
- Most-to-least prompting
- Prompt fading procedures
- Prompt delay

How are error correction procedures to be implemented once prompts have been faded?

- Least-to-most prompting
- No-no-prompt-repeat procedure
- Make sure to avoid inadvertent prompts or patterns during discrimination training
- Random placement of items every trial
- Avoid putting down the target item first
- Make sure to clear the stimuli from the learning area after every trial
- Make sure RR of SDs is truly random
- Avoid rotating SDs in a predictable manner
- Use differential reinforcement for skills being taught within discrimination training
- Give more reinforcement for independent responses than for prompted responses

What is Conditional Discrimination Training?

Within Conditional Discrimination Training target responses are taught in a random fashion within a particular set of stimuli. The target response changes every trial, depending on the specific SD provided. Therefore, the target response is conditional depending on the SD given for that particular trial.
- Conditional Discrimination Training does not utilize the mass trial to introduce new skills
- Responses are targeted randomly within a specific set of stimuli all at once

What are some Conditional Discrimination Training guidelines?

- No mass trial to introduce new skills
- Purpose: to immediately teach the learner to discriminate between target stimuli and other stimuli
- Each trial presents a different targeted SD and response
- Multiple responses with the stimulus are targeted simultaneously 
- Every trail should contain at least 3 different stimuli
- Each targeted response should occur in random order
- There should be an equal number of SDs presented for each of the targeted responses in the set
- Ensure random placement of the stimuli during every trial
- Does use errorless learning

What do the Expanded Trial (ET) and Graduated Random Rotation (GRR) do?

These variation options of discrimination training help ease the learner into the final step of RR.

What is the Expanded Trail?

The Expanded Trial is a procedure used to systematically increase the time between presentations of the target SD to aid in retention. It gradually increases the number of distractor trials between trials of the target and assists the learner in retaining a skill over increasing periods of time.

What is Graduated Random Rotation?

Graduated Random Rotation is a procedure that systematically introduces mastered targets one at a time into RR with the target SD. The target skill is first randomly rotated with one other mastered target, then two, three, four, etc. It eases transition into RR and is useful for learners who have a harder time discriminating between things they just learned and things they already know.

To summarize, what is Graduated Random Rotation, Expanded Trial, and Conditional Discrimination Training?

- Graduated Random Rotation involves gradually increasing the number of mastered targets randomly rotated with the acquisition target
- Expanded Trial involves increasing time between target SDs by systematically inserting distractor trials
- Conditional Discrimination Training involves introducing multiple responses at once in a random presentation

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