Which prompting method involves starting with a high level of support and gradually reducing it?

The method that involves starting with a high level of support and gradually reducing that support is known as a most-to-least prompt hierarchy. This approach is often used in teaching and therapeutic settings to foster independence in individuals.

Initially, a significant amount of assistance is provided to help the individual understand or complete a task. This could involve physically guiding the individual or providing substantial verbal prompts. As the individual begins to grasp the task and shows improvement, the level of support is systematically reduced. This gradual fading of prompts encourages the individual to rely less on external assistance and builds their confidence and capability over time.

The most-to-least prompt hierarchy is particularly effective in teaching new skills because it allows learners to experience success at each stage of the learning process, which can be crucial for maintaining motivation and promoting further learning. It also helps develop skills that can be generalized to other contexts, as the individual learns to perform tasks with less dependence on prompts.

In contrast, other methods mentioned, such as natural environment teaching, focus on learning within a natural context without a structured prompt hierarchy, while model prompts involve demonstrating a task rather than the gradual reduction of assistance. Negative reinforcement, on the other hand, is related to behavior modification through removing unpleasant stimuli and does not directly address