ABA
Prompts and criteria
Set up ABA prompt hierarchies and mastery criteria templates, including the built-in ones every clinic can use, for programs to copy and adjust.
Prompt hierarchies and criteria templates are starting points for programs. A program copies the levels or rules you pick and then keeps its own copy, so editing a hierarchy or template changes only the programs that pick it afterward. Removing one leaves existing programs untouched.
Managing your clinic's hierarchies and templates needs permission to manage the ABA library; see Roles and permissions.
Prompt hierarchies#
A prompt hierarchy is an ordered list of prompt levels, from the most help to the least (Most to least) or the other way round (Least to most). Mastery rules that move a target to the next or previous prompt level follow this order.
Each level has:
- A name, up to 60 characters and unique in the hierarchy.
- A key: a short code of lowercase letters, digits and underscores, such as
partial_physical, unique in the hierarchy. - A color, used to tell the levels apart on screen.
- Whether it counts as independent. At most one level does.
A hierarchy holds up to 20 levels. Drag levels to reorder them.
Built-in hierarchies#
Every clinic can pick these two hierarchies. They are read only; to change one, create your own with the levels you want.
| Most to least | Least to most |
|---|---|
| Full physical | Independent (counts as independent) |
| Partial physical | Verbal |
| Model | Gestural |
| Gestural | Model |
| Verbal | Partial physical |
| Independent (counts as independent) | Full physical |
A new program uses Most to least until you pick another.
Criteria templates#
A criteria template is a named set of up to 10 mastery rules with an optional description. Each rule names the phase it applies to, a comparison, a value, a frame with its N and the outcome, and can be limited to one setting, person or material for generalization.
Built-in templates#
Every clinic can pick these templates. They are read only; create your own to change them.
Standard skill mastery: move through the phases at 80 percent or better; three misses in generalization or maintenance return the target to intervention.
| Phase | Rule | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Baseline | At least 80 for 2 consecutive sessions | Mark mastered |
| Intervention | At least 80 for 3 consecutive sessions | Move to the next phase |
| Generalization | At least 80 for 3 consecutive days with data | Move to the next phase |
| Maintenance | At least 80 on average over the last 3 points | Mark mastered |
| Generalization | 3 consecutive sessions below 80 (consecutive errors) | Return to intervention |
| Maintenance | 3 consecutive sessions below 80 (consecutive errors) | Return to intervention |
Prompt fading: fade a prompt level at 80 percent over two sessions; step back after three low sessions.
| Phase | Rule | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention | At least 80 for 2 consecutive sessions | Move to the next prompt level |
| Intervention | 3 consecutive sessions below 50 (consecutive errors) | Move back a prompt level |
Behavior reduction: hold for review when the behavior stays at or under the goal.
| Phase | Rule | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Intervention | At most 1 for 5 consecutive days with data | Hold for review |
A Hold for review outcome keeps the target where it is and asks a person to look; it is never applied automatically. See the mastery queue.