Glossary
Demonstration of the behavior
What is demonstration of the behavior?
Demonstration of the behavior provides an observable example of someone performing the target behavior, so that another person can imitate or aspire to it. The example may be live or shown through video or pictures.
Demonstration, instruction, and practice
Watching a demonstration differs from receiving verbal instructions or practicing the behavior. An intervention can include all three, but the taxonomy records them separately.
From seeing to doing
In Bandura’s account of observational learning, several processes matter. The learner must attend to relevant parts of the example, retain what was shown, and have or develop the skills needed to reproduce it. Having learned an action also differs from having a reason to perform it. Motivation can involve expected consequences, what happens to other people, and the learner’s own standards and satisfaction.
Example of a demonstration
Imagine a trainer demonstrating a workplace safety check. The trainer follows the approved sequence, points out what they inspect, and shows how they record a problem instead of continuing. The employee can see the order and the actions that a written instruction might leave unclear.
The employee then performs the check while the trainer observes and comments on any missed step. Watching the trainer is the demonstration; the employee’s attempt is practice; the comments are feedback. Separating these parts helps identify what is missing if the employee can describe the check but cannot yet carry it out.
Why demonstration matters
The original BCT Taxonomy v1 definitions specify this as technique 6.1. A demonstration makes the action itself visible: the learner can see what to copy. Whether the learner then performs it successfully is a separate question. The taxonomy names the technique; it does not establish how effective a particular demonstration will be.