What is the outcome when prompts are successfully faded?

When prompts are successfully faded, the desired behavior occurs in the absence of the prompts. This process involves gradually reducing the assistance provided during the learning phase, allowing the learner to engage in the behavior independently. This independence is a fundamental goal of teaching strategies that utilize prompting, as it demonstrates that the learner has acquired the skill and is able to perform it without additional external support.

Successful fading indicates that the learner has internalized the behavior and is capable of executing it in various contexts, which is crucial for generalization and maintenance of skills over time. This outcome reflects effective teaching practices in applied behavior analysis, reinforcing the student's ability to apply learned behaviors in real-world situations without ongoing reliance on prompts or cues.