C.3 · Behavior Acquisition

Discrete-trial teaching

Follow worked examples from the instruction through the response, consequence and reset before the next trial. Review how the written plan guides prompting, error correction and accurate recording.

Task C.3: Apply discrete-trial teaching procedures

Useful foundations: C.1: Positive and negative reinforcement

The rule

A discrete trial has a clear instruction or cue, an opportunity to respond, a planned consequence, and a boundary before the next trial.

Follow the specified response window, prompting and error-correction steps. Repeating instructions or adding hints can change both teaching and the meaning of the data.

Key terms
Discrete trial
A bounded teaching opportunity with a cue, response opportunity and consequence.
Intertrial interval
The gap between the end of one trial and the start of the next.

What to look for

DistinctionLook forHow to decide
Trial sequenceCue → response opportunity → consequenceKeep the order and timing specified in the plan.
Response-dependent consequenceCorrect, incorrect or prompted responseUse the consequence assigned to that response category.
Intertrial boundaryOne trial ends before the next beginsRecord the response and reset as instructed.

Worked examples

Correct response

Follow one complete trial

The plan says to present a cup and spoon, say “Touch cup,” wait up to three seconds, and give brief praise and a token for an independent correct touch. Maya touches the cup after two seconds. The plan then calls for recording and a short reset.

Relevant facts

  • The touch occurs before the response window ends.
  • No prompt was given.

Deliver the specified consequence, record independent correct, and reset.

Cue → independent cup touch → praise and token → record/reset

The reset separates this trial from the next. Giving another instruction before recording could make it unclear which response belongs to which opportunity.

Error correction

Record the initial response and the correction

On the next trial Maya touches the spoon. The written procedure specifies a model prompt and a repeated opportunity after this error. Following the model, Maya touches the cup.

Relevant facts

  • The first response is incorrect.
  • The later correct touch follows a model.

Follow the error-correction sequence and record both categories as instructed.

Incorrect touch → planned model → prompted correct touch

Retain the initial error in the record and score the corrected response according to the plan. Use the specified correction method.

What changes the answer?

Change only whether the correct cup touch follows a model.

  • The learner touches the requested cup.

The touch occurs before any prompt, within the window.

Independent correct.

The cue alone occasioned the recorded response.

The touch occurs after the model.

Prompted correct.

The model is part of the event sequence.

The final movement is the same; the teaching history within the trial changes its classification.

Remember

  • Keep cue, response, consequence and reset distinct.
  • Record the response that occurred, including help and errors.
Sources for this topic

Reviewed 2026-09-30 · C.3 version 3.