Movement training: when trainer initiated reinforcement and self-monitoring are not enough

Area of Science:

• Applied Behavior Analysis
• Intellectual Disability Research
• Vocational Rehabilitation

Background:

• Trainer-initiated reinforcement and client self-monitoring are established methods for enhancing vocational productivity in individuals with moderate to severe intellectual disability.
• Previous studies indicate that reinforcement strategies may have limited effects on productivity in some cases.
• This study addresses the need for more effective interventions for this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To sequentially introduce reinforcement and self-monitoring to improve vocational productivity in five clients with moderate and severe intellectual disability.
• To compare self-monitoring with self-monitoring combined with movement training (task-analyzed efficient movements).
• To replicate the most effective treatment across sessions for each subject.

Main Methods:

• Sequential introduction of reinforcement and self-monitoring.
• Alternating treatments phase comparing self-monitoring to self-monitoring with movement training.
• Replication phase to confirm treatment effectiveness across sessions.
• Participants: Five clients with moderate and severe intellectual disability in an adult development center.

Main Results:

• Four out of five subjects showed minimal response to initial reinforcement or self-monitoring but improved with movement training.
• The improvement with movement training was replicated across sessions for three of these four subjects.
• One subject demonstrated substantial productivity gains with reinforcement, maintained with self-monitoring, and replicated with self-monitoring alone, showing no improvement with movement training.

Conclusions:

• Movement training is a highly effective intervention for improving vocational productivity in a majority of individuals with moderate to severe intellectual disability.
• Self-monitoring alone can be an effective intervention for some individuals, suggesting the need for individualized treatment approaches.
• The findings underscore the importance of exploring varied behavioral interventions to optimize vocational outcomes for individuals with intellectual disabilities.