| Precision Requests |
When to Use Precision Requests |
| A Precision Requests is a precise verbal statement made by an adult to enhance a child's compliance. Student compliance is typically defined as following directions within 10 seconds. |
Steps in using Precision Requests |
- Make a polite "Please Request" of the child/student (e.g., "Gary, will you please take out the garbage?")
- Wait 5 seconds for compliance.
- If the child complies with the request, provide a social reinforcer (e.g., "Thank you for... [be specific].")
- If the child does not comply with the request, the request should be re-stated a little more firmly (e.g., "Gary, you need to take out the garbage.")
- If the child does not comply, a pre-planned consequence is immediately imposed.
- At the end of the pre-planned consequence, the student is again asked to perform the same request (if at all possible) starting again at the "Please Request" stage.
- Repeat as necessary.
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Tips for Making Precision Requests Work: |
- The importance of having a pre-planned consequence cannot be overemphasised. Adults are often able to very accurately predict when a child will not comply with requests. It is important that we take advantage of that knowledge to ensure that we are prepared to intervene the next time a request is refused. Pre-planning has many obvious advantages over deciding consequences in the "heat of the moment."
- If possible, it is extremely important to insist that the child comply with the initial "Please Request" after completing the requirements of the Pre-Planned Consequence. By doing this, a consequence is provided for the refusal behavior AND the child does not have the opportunity to avoid or escape the initial "Please Request." Following this procedure will likely encourage compliance with the "Please Request" in the future.
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Precision Commands Handout |
.pdf, 6pp., 356 KB
From the Utah State Office of Education: LRBI Resources. This publication is an in depth explanation of Precision Requests (aka, Precision Commands). |
