Robert Schramm, BCBA, developed The Seven Steps to Earning Instructional Control as a framework for building positive teaching relationships with children based on mutual respect and motivation. Unlike traditional models that emphasize compliance through rigid prompting or external control, this approach, with slight modifications, prioritizes engagement, trust, and autonomy. By reinforcing communication, honoring requests for breaks or help, and avoiding coercion, these steps can be utilized as a model that aligns with modern, assent-based ABA practices.
The Seven Steps
- Control Access to Reinforcers – The instructor should be in control of preferred items and activities, not to exert power over the child, but to set the stage for meaningful interaction. The goal is to establish a structured environment where reinforcement is used intentionally to shape learning.
- Be the Source of Fun – Before expecting instruction to be followed, the child must associate the instructor with enjoyable, engaging activities. Instead of forcing participation, the child is drawn into learning through play and social connection.
- Follow Through Consistently – Predictability builds trust. If an instruction is given, it should be followed through with gentle guidance, ensuring the child knows what to expect. This does not mean forcing compliance or utilizing unwelcome prompting, but rather supporting the child in completing tasks while offering communication alternatives like requesting help, all done, no (if it’s not a safety risk) or a break.
- Make Following Directions Beneficial – Once a strong relationship is established, the child begins to see that engaging with instruction leads to positive outcomes (i.e., presentation of and access to those preferred items/activities we talked about controlling in step one). By structuring learning around reinforcement rather than demands, the child becomes more motivated to participate. It helps to start with ‘high probability’, or easy to follow instructions
- Reinforce Every Success Initially – In the beginning, every step in the right direction should be reinforced. As skills develop, reinforcement is faded to promote independence while still ensuring motivation. Early on, we want every instance of listening and interaction to contact positive outcomes…at this stage, the more fun the better!
- Prioritize What Matters to the Child – Effective reinforcement means knowing what is meaningful to the child; whether it’s a favorite toy, activity, or social praise. Personalized reinforcement increases engagement and ensures learning is rewarding. And remember, praise alone is not always reinforcing or valuable. It is important to monitor the impact of what we are providing for listening to determine if it is actually impactful to our kids.
- Avoid Reinforcing Problem Behavior – Instead of using punishment, the focus is on ensuring that challenging behaviors do not lead to desired outcomes. If a child engages in problem behavior to escape a task, teaching them to request a break instead respects their autonomy while maintaining instructional integrity.
Addressing Concerns About ABA
Critics of ABA often express concerns about coercion, loss of autonomy, and over-reliance on extrinsic reinforcement. With utilizing the above concepts, we are able to foster autonomy through communication, consent, and motivation. Rather than forcing compliance, children are taught functional alternatives such as requesting breaks, help, or alternative activities while learning the idea that working with trusted adults results in good outcomes.
Additionally, concerns about “bribery” are addressed by reinforcing behavior only after it occurs; making reinforcement an earned reward rather than a bargaining tool. Over time, reinforcement is faded, allowing intrinsic motivation to develop naturally.
