Comparison of backward and forward chaining in the acquisition of play and vocational skills

Abstract

Three studies are presented comparing forward and backward chaining techniques. In the Experiment 1, an 8-step Lego® play construct was taught. In one condition, a construct was taught using forward chaining techniques and in the other condition a construct was taught using backward chaining techniques in an alternating treatments design. In the Experiment 2, a 12-step Lego® construct was taught using the same procedures outlined above. Finally, in Experiment 3, a pre-vocational task, building chess pieces, was taught. Efficiency of both chaining procedures was measured by number of trials to acquisition and number of error rates across conditions and participants. Results show that both chaining procedures were equally effective, all participants acquired the behavior chains with both chaining procedures and there was little difference in acquisition time and error rate between the two procedures.