Date of Award

8-1982

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Neil D. Kent

Second Advisor

Dr. R. Wayne Fuqua

Third Advisor

Dr. Alan Poling

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

A multiple baseline design across instructional conditions was used to assess the effects of a s ta ff training package consisting of written rules, daily monitoring, public posting of performance data, and allotments of contingent break-time privileges on the behavior management skills of tutors in suppressing the stereotypic behavior of retarded individuals. The intervention package was sequentially introduced in three different instructional conditions in the following order: a group session, a one-to-one session, and a transition period. Following baseline, three tutors were trained to apply consistent and accurate consequences to varying rates of self-stimulatory behavior exhibited by three impaired subjects. The findings suggest that the training package produced direct and transferred changes in behavior management s k ills . In addition, a substantial decrease in self-stimulatory behavior occurred as a result of improved and increased behavior management techniques. However, reliable changes in academic task performance were not observed.

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