What is the purpose of prompting hierarchies in ABA?

Prompting hierarchies are designed to systematically fade prompts in order to promote independence in skill acquisition. The purpose is to help individuals learn to perform tasks or skills without relying on support or prompts. By initially using more intrusive prompts, such as verbal or physical guidance, practitioners can make sure clients understand what is expected. As the individual begins to demonstrate competence, the level of prompting is gradually decreased, allowing the client to engage more independently in the behavior or skill. This gradual fading process encourages the generalization of skills to different contexts while fostering confidence and self-sufficiency in the individual.

The focus on independence is crucial in applied behavior analysis, as it ultimately leads to improved outcomes and autonomy for those receiving support.