Which teaching procedure is therapist directed, structured, and uses contrived reinforcers?

The selected answer, which is Discrete Trial Training, aligns well with the characteristics described in the question. Discrete Trial Training (DTT) is a highly structured teaching approach often used in the field of applied behavior analysis, particularly for individuals with autism.

In DTT, the therapist directs the session, clearly defining and introducing teaching opportunities or "trials." Each trial consists of a clear instruction or prompt, followed by the client's response, and immediately concludes with feedback, which may include a contrived reinforcer such as tokens, praise, or preferred items. This structured sequence allows for clear measurement of the learner's response and facilitates the use of systematic data collection to track progress.

Furthermore, the use of contrived reinforcers in DTT is essential, as these reinforcers are deliberately presented by the therapist to encourage learning and reinforce desired behaviors. This aspect makes it distinct from more naturalistic approaches where reinforcers may emerge more organically in the environment.

In contrast, the other teaching procedures mentioned do not share the same level of therapist direction and structure or focus on contrived reinforcers. For instance, Natural Environment Teaching emphasizes learning in more naturalistic settings, allowing learners to engage with their environment and use naturally occurring reinforcers