What is a critical characteristic of effective behavioral prompting?

Effective behavioral prompting is characterized by the appropriate fading of prompts over time. This process allows learners to progressively gain independence in their skills. Fading prompts is essential because it helps to ensure that the individual does not become overly reliant on any specific prompt and can eventually perform the desired behavior independently. By gradually reducing the assistance provided through prompts, practitioners can encourage the development of self-sufficiency and confidence in the learner's abilities.

In contrast, simply making sure prompts are rarely used may not support the learner's current needs for assistance or understanding, as some individuals may require prompts to initiate or complete tasks. Using prompts only at the end of a session does not adhere to effective prompting techniques, which typically involve interspersing prompts throughout the session as needed to support learning. Providing prompts consistently without variation can lead to prompt dependency and hinder the learner's ability to generalize skills across different contexts. Therefore, appropriate fading is critical in promoting long-term success and skill retention.