Which scenario best represents a behavioral shaping strategy for a fifth-grade student with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)?

A behavioral shaping strategy involves reinforcing successive approximations of a target behavior until the desired behavior is achieved. In this case, the scenario that best illustrates this concept is where the teacher provides reinforcement after the student completes specified substeps of an assignment, which are progressively more challenging.

This approach allows the teacher to break down the larger task into smaller, manageable parts, encouraging the student to gradually work towards completing the entire assignment. By rewarding the student for completing each substep, the teacher helps the student build confidence and skills incrementally. This method is particularly beneficial for students with autism spectrum disorder, as it provides clear expectations and positive reinforcement at each stage, facilitating learning and mastery of more complex tasks over time.