What does the interaction "RBT: 'say ball' Child: 'ball'" exemplify?

The interaction "RBT: 'say ball' Child: 'ball'" exemplifies echoic skill. In this scenario, the Registered Behavior Technician prompts the child to repeat a word. The child responds by saying "ball," which demonstrates the ability to imitate the verbal behavior modeled by the RBT. Echoic behavior is characterized by a response that is an exact imitation of the antecedent verbal stimulus, meaning that the child's response is contingent upon hearing the RBT's verbal cue.

This is important as it showcases the child's ability to replicate sounds or words in response to direct verbal prompts, which is a foundational skill in language development and an essential component in applied behavior analysis (ABA) therapy. By reinforcing echoic skills, practitioners can facilitate further communication development in children.