A participant modeling procedure to train parents of developmentally disabled infants

Most of the procedures employed in parent training programs for handicapped children have been based on an operant conditioning model in general and contingency management procedures in particular. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of a participant modeling procedure in training parents to work with their developmentally disabled infants. Fourteen such parents received training in which a therapist initially modeled the activities with the infant and then guided the parent as she or he mastered the procedures. Five developmentally disabled infants received a more traditional early intervention program in which the therapist provided all child training. The results indicated that those infants whose parents were trained by the participant modeling procedure evidenced significantly more developmental gains than those infants receiving traditional child training. The results suggest that cognitive behavioral procedures, such as participant modeling, are an alternative to strict operant procedures in training parents of handicapped children.