Final answer:
Backward chaining is a technique in behavior analysis to teach multi-step tasks by starting with the last step and using prompts and prompt fading to build the complete sequence. It's part of operant conditioning and reinforces each step to increase the likelihood of the behavior being repeated.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question refers to backward chaining, a technique used in the context of behavior analysis and associative learning. This method is effective when teaching complex tasks by breaking them down into smaller components and teaching them in reverse order, starting with the last step. The process of backward chaining includes the use of prompting and prompt fading to assist and decrease assistance as the learner becomes more proficient, respectively. The technique is under the umbrella of operant conditioning, where behaviors are associated with their consequences.
For example, when teaching a child to brush their teeth, with backward chaining, you would start with the final step, perhaps rinsing their mouth, and assist them through the preceding steps to build the entire sequence of brushing teeth. As the child learns each step, the prompts are faded, so the child eventually performs the entire sequence independently. The key is to reinforce each step, ensuring it leads to a positive outcome, which increases the likelihood of the behavior being repeated.