A social learning approach to vocational training of the severely retarded

Seven severely retarded adults from a small rural developmental centre were treated for in appropriate vocational behaviour in the centre's workshop. Target types of behaviour were accurate and efficient performance of three types of operationally defined work behaviour collectively called work skills. Specific inappropriate behaviour for individual residents included chin wiping, inappropriate touching, and eyes off task. Training involved providing instructions, performance feedback, role-playing, and social and monetary reinforcers, which resulted in improvement in all types of targeted behaviour. Follow-up four weeks after treatment was conducted revealed a maintenance of gains on target behaviour.